Philadelphia Eagles - Pro Football Betting, Online Sportsbook Casino
Philadelphia
Eagles History
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Philadelphia Eagles, professional
football team and one of five teams in the Eastern Division
of the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football
League (NFL). The Eagles play at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and wear uniforms of green, silver, black, and
white. The team began play in 1924 as the Frankford (Pennsylvania)
Yellow Jackets. Owners Bert Bell and Lud Wray moved the team
to Philadelphia in 1933 and changed its name to the Eagles after
the symbol of the National Recovery Administration, which had
been created as part of the New Deal.
The Eagles captured three NFL titles from 1948 to 1960, earning
consecutive crowns in 1948 and 1949 under head coach Earle “Greasy”
Neale. His potent offensive squad starred future Hall of Fame
members end Pete Pihos, halfback Steve Van Buren, and center
Chuck Bednarik, who also played linebacker for the defensive
unit.
Led by wide receiver Harold Carmichael and quarterback Ron Jaworski,
Philadelphia played in Super Bowl XV in 1981 but lost to the
Oakland Raiders. The club qualified for the playoffs six times
from 1988 to 1996, with lineups starring wide receiver Fred
Barnett, quarterback Randall Cunningham, running backs Herschel
Walker and Ricky Watters, and defensive end Reggie White.
In 1933 Bert Bell and Lud Wray bought the NFL’s Frankford
Yellow Jackets and moved the team to Philadelphia. Renamed the
Eagles, the club struggled, posting losing records in each of
its first ten seasons.
By the mid-1940s, however, the Eagles had improved. From 1947
to 1949, Greasy Neale piloted the club to three consecutive
Eastern Division crowns and two league titles. Steve Van Buren,
a mainstay of these teams, captured three of his four NFL rushing
titles from 1947 to 1949. Pete Pihos led the league in receptions
three times during his career and in receiving yards twice.
Chuck Bednarik missed just three games in 14 seasons in Philadelphia.
After posting five losing records in the 1950s, the Eagles won
their third NFL crown in 1960. Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin,
playing his final season, was named the league’s most
valuable player (MVP) after passing for nearly 2500 yards. Van
Brocklin’s favorite targets, wide receivers Tommy McDonald
and Pete Retzlaff, helped Philadelphia rally to defeat the Green
Bay Packers in the championship game.
In 1961 Van Brocklin was replaced at quarterback by another
eventual Hall of Fame member, Sonny Jurgensen. In his first
full season Jurgensen threw for a league-record 3723 yards,
breaking the previous mark by more than 600 yards. (The record
is now held by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins, who threw for
5084 yards in 1984.) Nearly a third of Jurgensen’s yards
went to McDonald, who led the league in yardage (1144) and touchdowns
(13).
From 1962 through 1977 Philadelphia employed six different head
coaches, but the team could not remain an NFL force. Although
the Eagles boasted individual stars in running back Timmy Brown,
wide receiver Harold Jackson, quarterback Roman Gabriel, and
linebacker Bill Bergey, the Eagles did not reach the playoffs
until 1978, Dick Vermeil’s second year as head coach.
From 1978 to 1981 Vermeil guided the Eagles to four consecutive
playoff appearances. In 1981 the team advanced to the Super
Bowl, where they lost to the Oakland Raiders 27-10.
After a six-year playoff drought, Philadelphia qualified for
the postseason four times from 1988 to 1992. Guided by former
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the Eagles developed
a slashing offense centered around Randall Cunningham, who became
a skilled passer and also emerged as one of the greatest running
quarterbacks in NFL history. Cunningham was the Eagles’
top rusher each year from 1987 to 1990; in 1990 he threw for
30 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1000 yards. Under head
coach Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia earned Wild Card berths in the
playoffs in 1995 and 1996.
1981 Super Bowl XV Lost to Oakland Raiders, 27-10.
2005 Super Bowl XXXIX Lost to New England Patriots, 24-21. |
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