The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the oldest franchises in the entire National Football League. Over the years, there have been some great players that have played for the team too. The Eagles as a team have played in a number of great, even important, games over the years. Here is a look at five things you may not know about the Philadelphia Eagles.
1. The Philadelphia Eagles joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1931, replacing the Frankford Yellow Jackets which had gone bankrupt. The team’s name was inspired by the eagle insignia of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act.
2. The first touchdown pass that quarterback Donovan McNabb ever threw in the NFL was thrown to Chad Lewis and came in the fourth quarter of a 44-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the 11th game of the 1999 season.
3. No Philadelphia Eagles player has gone to more Pro Bowls than linebacker Chuck Bednarik went to eight during his career (1950-54, 1956-57, and 1960). Tied for second on the list at seven Pro Bowls apiece are defensive back Brian Dawkins and defensive lineman Reggie White.
4. The college that the Eagles have drafted the most players out of over the course of their existence in the NFL is Notre Dame. Twenty-eight players have come from Notre Dame over the years. Three colleges are tied for second on the list with 21 players each being selected in the draft by Philadelphia: Penn State, Texas, and USC.
5. The Philadelphia Eagles have had some great running backs over the years, but one of the team’s best runners was quarterback Randall Cunningham who played for the team from 1985 to 1995. On the team’s career rushing yards list, Cunningham ranks 5th behind Duce Staley, Steve Van Buren, Brian Westbrook, and Wilbert Montgomery. Some of the many players that Cunningham ranks in front of on the team’s career rushing yards list include Ricky Watters, Timmy Brown, Keith Byars, Charlie Garner, Herschel Walker, Anthony Toney, Correll Buckhalter, Heath Sherman, and Swede Hanson.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a prd a proud oud fan base istory inthe NFL. After so many years as one of the more important teams in the league, it is safe to say that they will continue to be both a favorite and influential team in the future too.