A Fourth Year Frenzy
For the Eagles Quarterbacks and Philly, It’s A Fourth Year Frenzy.
During the 2020 season — in a frigid December game in Green Bay — the Eagles brought the Carson Wentz Era, which came to an end when he was sent to the bench in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts. The move wasn’t just because Wentz had become increasingly resistant to coaching, molding, and mentorship or that he had shown selfishness instead of selflessness, as documented in a video postgame showing a jubilant Eagles locker room after winning Super Bowl LII. At the same time, Wentz put his head in his hands. It wasn’t even because he had seethed at the selection of Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft just four years after the Eagles traded up to the first pick to select the North Dakota State product in the 2016 NFL Draft.
It was all of the above.
By the start of Training Camp in 2021, both Wentz and Doug Pederson were gone, and Jalen Hurts was the Eagles’ anointed starter. The Eagles were now his team. Over the next three seasons, Hurts guided the Eagles to three playoff appearances, one NFC Championship, and one Super Bowl.
History shows us that for franchise Eagles quarterbacks — year four is a tremendous ride.
Tommy Thompson
In a league where running, not passing, was the road to a championship, the vision-impaired Thompson returned to the Eagles in 1945 and became the starter in 1946 to lead the Eagles offense through the air.
By 1949, the Eagles were at the top of the NFL, and Thompson was a two-time NFL passing leader.
Ron Jaworski
When Jaworski was traded to the Eagles in 1977, he would join Dick Vermeil’s improving Eagles and lead them to the playoffs in four straight seasons. In 1980, the Eagles would make it to the Super Bowl with Jaworski at the helm of an offense, including Wilbert Montgomery and Harold Carmichael.
The Eagles would not challenge for a championship again for nearly 25 years.
Randall Cunningham
Perhaps the most athletic quarterback of any ever in Philadelphia, Randall was never surrounded by offensive talent.
In 1989, he rushed for 621 yards, threw for 3,400, and accounted for 25 touchdowns while leading the Eagles to the playoffs.
Donovan McNabb
Although Donovan McNabb became the Eagles franchise quarterback in 1999, his first full season as a starting quarterback wasn’t until 2000. In 2004, with the addition of Terrell Owens and Javon Kearse, McNabb and the Eagles defeated the Patriots to advance to Super Bowl XXXIX.
That season, McNabb threw 31 touchdown passes for 3,874 yards with a passer rating of 104.7.
2017 a former Andy Reid draft pick arrived back in Philadelphia after contemplating retirement. The 2017 season would be his fourth as an Eagle, two with Chip Kelly and one under Andy Reid. By the end of the 2018 Super Bowl, he’d be a World Champion.
His name is Nick Foles.
PHOTO: —
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Eagles Unique Columns