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Tag: Buddy Ryan

  • In Eric Allen’s Career — Quinyon Mitchell Can Find A Model of Excellence. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Nearly 70,000 fans in South Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday bore witness at halftime of one of the finest cornerbacks in the 90+ years of the Eagles history who had attended the game as an honorary captain become inducted into the Eagles Ring of Excellence. That cornerback was none other than Eric Allen.

    This past summer, one of the greatest defensive backs ever to don the Kelly Green in Philadelphia was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Allen had a (thirteen-year) career, including nine seasons with the Eagles. He and Waters were part of Buddy Ryan’s Eagles’ secondary that didn’t protect against hard hits — it promoted them. On the podium , Eric Allen spoke extremely fondly of his days wearing green in Philadelphia.

    Nearly thirty-five years ago in December of 1992 — the Eagles had a week sixteen matchup across the South Philadelphia Sports’ Complex with Washington. The winner would get a berth in the NFC Wildcard Playoffs — the loser would be home for them. As Washington quarterback Mark Rypien sprinted out, avoided contact, and threw the ball toward a diving Gary Clark. Eric Allen knocked the ball away and galloped down the Veteran’s Stadium sideline in celebration.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    On the field — Eric Allen got a front row seat to the Eagles in their iconic Kelly Green and Philadelphia’s current number one cornerback. Last season — Mitchell and fellow rookie Cooper DeJean were the perfect compliment to Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson. So much so that Slay and Gardner-Johnson are now gone — and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio trusts Mitchell as isolation on the opponent’s best receiver. 

    Last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history — that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and, perhaps — a Super Bowl appearance. This year is also the first time in the thirty-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    Last February — in the midst of a cold Super Bowl Championship Parade when Darius Slay stepped to the podium outside of the Art Museum — he didn’t talk about his decade plus NFL career. He didn’t talk about the culmination of his NFL accolades in the nearly complete defensive shutdown that was Super Bowl LIX.

    Nope. He let Philly know that they now have two young lockdown NFL cornerbacks in Mitchell and DeJean for years to come. 

    Tags: Buddy Ryan CJ Gardner-Johnson Cooper DeJean Darius Slay Eric Allen Mark Rypien Quinyon Mitchell Vic Fangio

    Categorized: College Eagles More PHL News Unique Columns

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Showdown At the Superdome: A History of the Eagles and Saints – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Showdown At the Superdome: A History of the Eagles and Saints – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles of the Late 80s and Early 90s Had Done Amazing Things On the Field.
    Winning a Playoff Game Hadn’t Been One of Them.

    For today’s Eagles faithful, it’s hard to envision a time when the Birds couldn’t maintain a top-10 NFL offense and hadn’t won a playoff game in over a decade. But that will be the long-standing legacy of Buddy Ryan and Rich Kotite in Philadelphia.

    Unfortunately, a record-setting defense and quarterback complete with acrobatic excellence does nothing if you don’t win. And if you call your boss “the guy in France,” you’d better win.

    Nearly 30 years ago, in Rich Kotite’s second season as Head Coach, the Eagles were in a wildcard game in New Orleans down on the Bayou. In 1988, the Eagles lost the Fog Bowl at Soldier Field in Chicago — a place that an NFL team from Philly hadn’t won since the Frankford Yellow Jackets beat the Bears in the final game of 1931. In 1989, the Eagles lost to Steve Everett and the LA Rams at home, and 1990 Body Bag Game #2 went to Washington.

     PHOTO: WikiCommons

    With an 11–5 record, the Eagles were in the playoffs once again. The beginning of this one seemed to unfold just as in previous contests. Down 20–7 in the third quarter, Randall Cunningham connected with Fred Barnett on a 35-yard touchdown pass. A six-yard Heath Sherman rushing touchdown gave the Eagles the lead. That proceeded a Reggie White safety in the end zone on Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert.

    Finally, an Eric Allen 18-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the deal.

    The win would prove to be Kotite’s only one as Eagles Head Coach. The 1992 team would be Reggie White’s last as Eagles.
    The following week, the Eagles would be throttled by the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, 34–10.  But even that couldn’t diminish the comeback at the Superdome.

    PHOTO: ClutchPoints

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Crushing the Champs at Candlestick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Crushing the Champs at Candlestick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    It’s Been 30 Years Since the Eagles Dominated the World Champions at Candlestick Park.

    Thirty years ago — in an early October meeting in 1994— two of the NFC’s most formidable teams faced off at Candlestick Park. Since the 1980s, Buddy Ryan’s Eagles and Bill Walsh’s 49ers had some truly memorable games.

    Now, two disciples—Rich Kotite for the Eagles and George Seifert for the 49ers—lead both clubs.

    Much like in 2024, the Eagles and 49ers were two of the most formidable teams in the NFC.

    From the opening kickoff, the 2–2 49ers were out-hustled and outplayed by the 2–1 Eagles in almost all phases. With Randall Cunningham directing the opening drive, Charlie Garner sprinted for a one-yard touchdown run. After Eric Allen then intercepted Steve Young, Garner scampered 24 yards for the second score — a play that included a great block by Fred Barnett on Deion Sanders at the goal line.

    By the time Randall Cunningham found Victor Bailey for a 32-yard score — the Eagles were up 23–8, and the rout was on. One highlight for Eagles fans came in the third quarter, with the Eagles up 33–8. In the middle of a Steve Young play call, backup quarterback Elvis Grbac raced onto the field and replaced Young — leading to a sideline tirade by Young with Coach Gary Kubiak.

    Garner would end up with 111 yards on 16 carries and another 28 yards receiving.

    As with most great Eagles moments in the 1990s, the victory was short-lived. George Seifert’s 49ers would go on to beat Stan Humphries and the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl that year, 49–26. The Eagles would squander at a 3–1 start and finish 7–9. New Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would fire Rich Kotite at the end of the season and hired Ray Rhodes. One year later — in a bitter quarterback controversy with Rodney Peete- Randall Cunningham would play his last game as an Eagle in Dallas in 1995.

    We’ll always have Candlestick Park — October of 1994.

    PHOTO: WikiCommons

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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