Relax, the Eagles didn’t forget to resign a key free agent. At least not that we know of.
And this isn’t an unexpected visit from Captain Davy Jones from The Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, arriving to cash in on your debt.
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No one hundred years aboard The Flying Dutchman for you.
The Eagles have re-signed veterans this offseason, added free agents in key positions of need, and earned an outstanding Draft Day Grade for brilliantly plucking talent from the collegiate ranks that somehow all other 31 NFL teams didn’t even detect.
Off the field, the Eagles made big moves, too. They moved closer to international fame by scheduling a first home game in Brazil to kick off the season on a September Friday night in Primetime.
Back home, they have added renovations to Lincoln Financial Field, including a TikPick Section in the Stadium.
As the anticipation for the 2024–2025 NFL season grows around Philadelphia, the Eagles have one last great responsibility.
That responsibility is to you.
The goal of every NFL team each season in early summer is to lay the groundwork to challenge for a championship in February. But this responsibility isn’t just to play another shiny piece of hardware in the Novacare Complex showcase named after Green Bay’s legendary coach and polished on a regular schedule.
On February 6th, 2018 — seconds after a Tom Brady Hail Mary pass fell to the turf at U.S. Bank Stadium — you finally came to your just reward. For ten seconds, the Eagles defense and every household in the metropolitan Philadelphia area froze and asked, “Did we just win the Super Bowl?”
The pandemonium that followed — an event that took 58 years to happen again — was a feeling that Eagles fans deserve to feel every several years, not every half a century. You joined fellow Eagles fans at local bars, poured onto Philadelphia Streets in celebration, and climbed street light poles.
We let our youngest Eagles fans stay up late, and for those whose bedtime was hours before, we woke them. We wanted them to remember where they were on this night for the rest of their lives. The night that the Philadelphia Eagles were once again World Champions.
For nearly ninety-one years since Bert Bell utilized the likeness of FDR’s blue Eagles for his “New Deal” as the iconic visual of his new franchise, you have loved your team unconditionally.
Eagles fans withstood almost a decade of losing right after the team’s inception, shoveled out Shibe Park in the 1948 NFL Championship Game in a blizzard, and then saw them repeat in 1949. They froze in the stands the Day after Christmas at Franklin Field in 1960, withstood nearly fifteen years of losing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and decimated the living room furniture when they lost Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XXIX.
When they lost Super Bowl LVII because of a penalty late in the game, you rallied behind their young quarterback, who promised to “win or to learn.”
Each summer, you participate in the Eagles tradition by spending thousands on season tickets, hundreds on merchandise, and even more on travel to see away games. In 2022, the Eagles grossed over $598 million in revenue.
This year, you might even be flying to Brazil.
PHOTO: Wiki Commons
Philadelphia’s love of its Eagles isn’t an arrogant, obnoxious attitude; it’s a dedication to our football team, like having another child. They are ours, win or lose, home or away.
Football was built for Philadelphia. We supported the University of Pennsylvania as far back as 1876 and attended games at Franklin Field as far back as 1895. When Guy Chamberlain’s Frankford Yellow Jackets endured two fires at Frankford Stadium, were ravaged financially by the Great Depression, and were no longer viable in 1933, Philly was looking for a team to love.
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They found it in the Eagles and have loved them with unwavering devotion ever since. Other NFL franchises are devoted to their teams, but not like Philadelphia and the Eagles.
As the creeping humidity of May and June grows, the excitement of another Eagles season with rookie camps and OTA’s and the promise of another NFL Championship — that championship would be for you.
It is the Eagles who owe you, Philadelphia. Payment begins on September 6th in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at 9:15 p.m. I have already bought my T-shirt.
Oh, and that night of February 4th, 2018? That night was ours.
With the Philadelphia Eagles’ schedule becoming official on Wednesday, May 15, it’s a great time to predict their game-by-game results.
This is usually a pretty difficult thing to get correct, but it’s nonetheless a good exercise just to gauge what they might be capable of. Without further ado, what can we expect from the Eagles in 2024?
Week 1: Sept. 6 vs. Green Bay Packers
This one should be a welcomed challenge for the Birds. While the Eagles should have the advantage in terms of sheer roster talent, the Packers aren’t a team to scoff at anymore. They are young, hungry, and a well-oiled machine from top to bottom. Quarterback Jordan Love and a revamped Green Bay running back room could give the Eagles some fits.
Regardless, this should still be a win for Philadelphia. Objectively, they are still the better team and had more significant improvements roster-wise than Green Bay did during the offseason. On the international spotlight in Brazil, we’ll say the Birds clutch out an exciting affair and start the season off with a bang.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sept. 16 vs. Atlanta Falcons (MNF)
The Falcons finally got their Matt Ryan replacement at quarterback in Kirk Cousins, but they went just 7-10 last season. Their defense isn’t a particular strong suit of theirs, which serves as a major advantage for Philadelphia. The Eagles’ talent at virtually every position outweighs Atlanta’s, and this is also a home-opening, primetime matchup for the Birds. Football can be unpredictable sometimes, but this is a game that the Eagles have no business losing.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sept. 22 at New Orleans Saints
The Eagles have had their issues in the Superdome before, but this is not the Drew Brees Saints anymore. New Orleans has a few solid pieces on their team, but they are also led by Derek Carr with a relatively average roster and coaching staff around him. While they did beat Philadelphia in 2022, Jalen Hurts was out with injury. If both teams are healthy, the Eagles should get a victory and keep their undefeated season alive.
Record: 3-0
Week 4: Sept. 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This will be the third time in the past two seasons that the Eagles are visiting the Buccaneers, and it’ll be a chance for Philadelphia to get a little bit of revenge after their wildcard loss. Tampa Bay might have a decent team, but the Eagles have an elite team; there are levels to the NFL.
In 2024, the Buccaneers were lucky to catch Philadelphia at their absolute lowest. Now with a better team, better coaching, and momentum in their direction, the Eagles should run away with this one; they have too many top-notch players not to.
Record: 4-0
Week 5: BYE
The infamous early-season bye week is sort of a stinger for the Eagles. They are pretty important for rest and whatnot, but that’s the hand that Philadelphia was dealt. It’s a big reason why getting the first seed in the NFC is so important, otherwise, they’ll have no rest for four months straight if they go on a Super Bowl run.
Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns will be a pretty interesting team to monitor in 2024. Without Nick Chubb nor a true starting quarterback in 2023, they won 11 games. If Deshaun Watson can just be average, his team could be a tough unit to handle. If he is anything more, they could be an underdog for one of the best teams in the NFL. While the Eagles can definitely win this game, we’ll say they lose a close one for their first defeat of the season.
Record: 4-1
Week 7: Oct. 20 at New York Giants
The Giants might be a better team in 2024 than they were in 2023 if they aren’t forced to start backup and third-string quarterbacks again, but they still aren’t anything resembling a good football team at this time. They need more assets to even beat average clubs consistently, let alone elite ones like the Eagles. Rivalry games are usually somewhat close for the Birds no matter the foe, but they shouldn’t have any Sunday Scaries against the G-Men.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: Oct. 27 at Cincinnati Bengals
When healthy, the Bengals are a legitimately great team. The fact that they came close to making the postseason without Joe Burrow for a little while is pretty impressive. He was clearly not 100 percent through most of his campaign, and that sunk his team. He is truly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at full strength, and Cincinnati has a no-joke roster. On the road, the Eagles battle but fall to a respectable club.
Record: 5-2
Week 9: Nov. 3 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (SNF)
Back in Philadelphia, the Eagles have a date with the Jaguars on Sunday Night Football. Jacksonville was a team that was supposed to take a leap in 2023, but they, ironically, took a step backward by losing five of their last six contests just like the Eagles did. They didn’t take any massive strides in the offseason, as quarterback Trevor Lawrence lost a pretty solid receiving threat in Calvin Ridley.
Lawrence could take the next step to being a superstar quarterback and elevate the talent on the roster by himself, but nothing he did in 2023 suggests that he is at that level yet. The Eagles, clearly the better team, should win this one.
Record: 6-2
Week 10: Nov. 10 at Dallas Cowboys
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The Eagles have certainly had their fits in Jerry World in the past, but it’s 2024 now. Erase everything you know about Philadelphia and its history with the Cowboys from your mind; this is a new team. When taking a step back, it’s pretty amazing how two of the biggest rivals in sports have been so evenly matched over the past few seasons. It’s anyone’s guess as to who wins this game with two elite offenses and skill players matching up with one another, but Philadelphia should have a slight edge.
Even though they haven’t won a game in Dallas since 2017, the Eagles are poised to end the losing streak once and for all. This would be a clutch, season-defining win; it means everything.
Record: 7-2
Week 11: Nov. 14 vs. Washington Commanders (TNF)
The last time these two teams were playing primetime football, things didn’t work out so well for the Eagles. With that out of the way, the Commanders are still trying to figure out their identity. They just drafted their quarterback of the future in Jayden Daniels, and they really aren’t trying to win a Super Bowl in 2024. They could be a sneaky-good team, but just not one the Eagles should be losing to. They’ll probably make it close, but talent rules in the NFL, and Philadelphia has a ton of it.
Record: 8-2
Week 12: Nov. 24 at Los Angeles Rams (SNF)
Aaron Donald’s retirement is going to be an obstacle for the Rams’ defense to overcome in 2024, but they’re a pretty fascinating team all the same. They made the playoffs when most didn’t expect them to due to winning five contests in 2022 and not exactly getting better in 2023 on paper, which says a lot about their culture and coaching. Make no mistake: the Eagles should win this game, but that doesn’t mean they will. They get their stinker out of the way in Los Angeles.
Record: 8-3
Week 13: Dec. 1 at Baltimore Ravens
This will be another one of those season-defining games. The Eagles and Ravens are two of the best teams in the NFL, and Baltimore isn’t the easiest environment to play in. However, the best needs to win in all kinds of environments. If the Eagles fancy themselves as a Super Bowl team, they should have as good of a chance as the Ravens do to win this game.
On the road, we’ll say that the Eagles get an upset victory to avenge their primetime loss the week before. This is a “hear me out,” type of pick, but the Birds also beat the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in 2023. Anything can happen between two great teams.
Record: 9-3
Week 14: Dec. 8 vs. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers probably shouldn’t be as dreadful as they were in 2023 in 2024, but they also won two football games and traded Brian Burns in the offseason. They’re a rebuilding team that is just trying to see some progression out of quarterback Bryce Young. Even without the benefit of hindsight, this is a game that the Eagles should have their way in on both sides of the ball.
Record: 10-3
Week 15: Dec. 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers changed some things up at quarterback with a Russell Wilson and Justin Fields duo, but they are still a pretty mediocre football team. Just like it was in their 35-13 route of the Steelers in 2022, the Eagles’ star power should be able to overpower Pittsburgh and help the Birds match their 2023 win total of 11 with three contests to spare.
Record: 11-3
Week 16: Dec. 22 at Commanders
The Commanders probably should have beaten the Eagles in one or both of their games in 2023 given how close they were, but that’s all history. This game could be one where all Washington has to gain is pride, given it’s pretty late in the season. They could make it close, but Philadelphia should come away with this one.
Record: 12-3
Week 17: Dec. 29 vs. Cowboys
The iconic Cowboys split is very real, but it’s also not a guarantee. We’ve already established that both of these teams are good, and so most of the time these games will be a coin flip. It’s not the best historical bet, but we’ll say that the Eagles finally end the drought and have a sweep of their rivals in Texas. If they actually did so, it would say a lot about the growth the Birds have had from 2023 to 2024. They have to win these big games.
Record: 13-3
Week 18: Jan. 5 vs. Giants
If the Eagles really do end up with 13 wins by Week 18, there’s a good chance that they won’t have anything to play for by that time and clinch the top seed in the NFC. Assuming that’s the case, they get some extra rest for the postseason and put their backups on the field. Yes, even the Giants should be able to beat backups almost every time. The Eagles may drop this one, but they have their eyes on the Super Bowl.
Record: 13-4
The Eagles are, really, capable of beating every team on their schedule. It’s always a pretty good position to be in where everyone as a collective doesn’t chalk a certain week up to be a loss; that says a lot about where the Eagles are at.
In an albeit hopeful scenario, the Eagles get a 13-4 record and a first-round bye week to boot.
After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago. News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.
The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:
QB Jalen Hurts
QB Kenny Pickett
WR A.J. Brown
WR DeVonta Smith
RB Saquon Barkley
LT Jordan Mailata
LG Landon Dickerson
OL Tyler Steen
RT Lane Johnson
Not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!
But how did the Eagles get all these top tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)
Ahead Of The League
This is now back to back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.
QB Frenzy
Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks
Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th 2023
Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th 2023
Offensive Line Mania
Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3 year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.
There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value giving some previously signed OT’s including:
Laremy Tunsil – 3 year, $75M signed on March 19th 2023
Andrew Thomas – 5 year, $117.5M signed on July 26th 2023
However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.
Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall 2021
Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall 2021
Ronnie Stanley – 5 year, $98.75M signed in 2020
Setting The WR Market
And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.
Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal. They would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record breaking deals done first.
Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.
DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3 year, $75M deal.
Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th year option for $19.74M
Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD.
Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th year option for $17.99M
With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list. The next big milestone will be the draft. Just one week away.
The Week 1 contest of the Philadelphia Eagles is official. They will face the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Sept. 6, setting the stage for the 2024 NFL season.
While it will surely be a fun experience and environment, this game will allow the Eagles to put their 2023 woes to rest. Against a young, up-and-coming Super Bowl contender, Philadelphia can start off their season right this time.
Eagles Won Unconvincingly in 2023
It was apparent from the moment the Eagles’ 2023 season started that they were a bit of a step behind where they were in 2022. Sure, they won 10 of their first 11 games, but they did so in an unconvincing fashion. They had many one-score games and typically played down to opponents. Their elite level of talent bailed them out of certain doom on countless occasions, and it just wasn’t a sustainable model.
Photo: Getty Images
Now that the Eagles have new coaches on the offense and defense as well as new voices in the locker room, that has the potential to change. While this season’s team will have a similar structure, it will be different in many senses. They can finally shake the “fraud” narrative that, frankly, ended up being true. They have to get that monkey off of their backs and look good on both sides of the ball.
Not winning games by big margins wasn’t necessarily the Eagles’ problem. Sometimes, your best is only enough to win by one score. Therein lies the issue — the Eagles never gave their true best. Whether it was poor ball security, defensive play, or play-calling, something went horribly wrong in every game for Philadelphia. It wasn’t just against contenders — it was essentially every week.
So, what does that mean for the 2024 team?
Starting off strong could really help them down the stretch.
Forming better habits might help them succeed. For arguably all 10 of the Eagles’ wins when they started off 10-1, they got away with not playing their best football. It’s ignorant to assume the team would have a perfect game all the time, but they were playing like a .500 NFL team and not the best in the league, as their record suggested. When they won by just five points against the lowly 4-13 New England Patriots in Week 1 in a game where they were arguably outplayed, things never got better. They kept winning largely because of the talent gap.
It’s a new season now, and the talent gap between Philadelphia and Green Bay is much more subtle. The Eagles objectively have the better on-paper roster and should match up well with them, but the game will indicate where Philadelphia is at. Week 1 has been a nice indicator for them for a while now.
In 2023, they struggled but won mostly because of their talent. In 2022, they had an explosive offense against the Detroit Lions, but they didn’t close out the game well with some defensive blunders in a 38-35 final — sound familiar? In 2021, they showed flashes on both offense and defense despite being a young team coming off of a bad season against the Atlanta Falcons. In 2020, they lost by two scores to the Washington Commanders.
There’s no point in being redundant — Week 1 in the NFL is huge. It sets the tone for the entire season and has done so for a very long time. The Eagles don’t necessarily have to beat the Packers, but they will have to show up. A win only means something if they play well.
Are the Packers Next Up?
While the Packers were only 9-8 last season and won a single playoff game, they were one of the more impressive NFC teams. Despite being among the younger teams the NFL has seen in the Super Bowl era, they made the playoffs and were pretty impressive in them. They routed the Dallas Cowboys on the road in a first-half stunner, leading 27-7 after 30 minutes. In a one-score showdown, they fell to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
But does this make them a legitimate contender in the NFC? Will they see regression, or will progression be in their future due to their youthful nature?
Quarterback Jordan Love was very impressive last season, so it’s possible that the 25-year-old will only continue to get better. Now that he has a full season under his belt, he could take the Packers to contention with him.
With the NFC seemingly getting just a bit stronger from where it was entering last season, the Eagles have to prove that they are still among the best. After a disappointing season where they didn’t win as much as a playoff game, they can’t fall off the map. Week 1 can prove that.
While the 2024 Eagles and 2023 Eagles are two completely different teams, there are some narratives that they will need to put to rest.
Does Philadelphia have what it takes to start off strong and put up a fight against a solid Packers team, or will they falter and put themselves in a bad place early?
After a relatively addition-free offseason just a season ago, GM Howie Roseman has gone all out in 2024. He has, at the very least, improved every position of need for the Philadelphia Eagles, minor or massive.
More than anything, that says that he is not keen on letting the Eagles’ winning culture fade. It means a lot in the NFL, and he’s not about to let that go away. He wants to get better no matter what.
Roseman’s Additions
In the opening days of free agency, Roseman most notably helped acquire running back Saquon Barkley, defensive end Bryce Huff, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and linebacker Devin White.
Photo: Russ Heltman
Having money for the future is important — the salary cap, believe it or not, does actually exist. Backloading contracts and restructuring them does come into play at some point or another, so Roseman has gone all out.
Three of the Eagles’ biggest needs going into the offseason were all pretty apparent: the secondary, running back, and linebacker. There’s still plenty of time (and an entire draft class) to add more, but Roseman prioritized his team needs while getting younger in the process. It would be one thing to sign veterans for an “all-in” season, but he’s maximizing his window here. Each of these players is relatively young, with Barkley being the oldest at 27.
Getting to what these deals actually mean, let’s first start with Barkley. He was a more explosive back (10+ yard rushes) on a per-play basis than D’Andre Swift, who signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason for a decent sum of money. And he did that behind, arguably, the worst offensive line in football versus Swift doing it behind, arguably, the best. Barkley is the only running back to have a top-10 score in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) in both 2022 and 2023, so he still has a lot left.
Both Huff and Gardner-Johnson are huge, young additions that help the Eagles have long-term hope at their respective positions. Huff has a lot of upside, while Gardner-Johnson is the exact energy Philadelphia was missing last season. The latter was a big culture signing, but more on that in a bit.
White is an athletic linebacker who didn’t have the best season in 2023, but he should still be a solid asset for the Eagles. On a one-year deal, there is little risk involved.
The Importance of Culture
It’s hard to call what happened to the Eagles last season a lack of culture, but it’s clear that the vibes around the team were far lower than they were in 2022 when they went to the Super Bowl. You don’t have to be in the room every day to know that. And the fact that the Eagles dropped six of their last seven games, including their Wildcard loss, probably didn’t help matters.
So what did Roseman do? He brought back an energy player in Gardner-Johnson. Not only was he a really good player for the Eagles when he was there during their run to the Super Bowl, but he gave them a little bit of spice. The Detroit Lions know all about this, especially when he taunted the San Francisco 49ers’ crowd during the NFC Championship when he was up by 13— just to lose anyway.
But that’s the sort of attitude the Eagles need. There was far too much of the cliches last season — every player on the team promised they’d be better the next game and never got better. In an endless loop, the team needed real character and emotion. That was acquired. It might seem trivial, but “vibes” are very real. Look no further than when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 — that team was full of “vibes”. Perhaps the best team in that department the Birds have ever seen.
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Not every team needs to adopt the “Patriot Way.” Players need to have fun and enjoy themselves. The Eagles sort of lost their character — that’s what made them special. With Roseman showing belief in his players by adding legitimate stars to both sides of the ball, the Eagles have veteran leadership and character in a player like Brandon Graham, skillful youth in someone like Jalen Carter, and stars in their prime, including A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Jordan Mailata just to name a few.
Having a good, young team with a GM who is willing to make sacrifices to add to that helps build culture. The Eagles lost in the Super Bowl, started out as hot as ever the following season with a 10-1 record, faded, and got much better. They made changes. They have a lot of draft picks to work with. They have the recipe in place to be a good team again. Roseman deserves credit for that.
The Eagles aren’t playing any games this season. They saw what failed just a year ago. Roseman is doing everything to not let it happen again.
Growing as a GM, it is becoming apparent that Roseman could remain with the Eagles for a while. Not doomed to repeat history, he has evolved his entire career. He likely recognized just how influential culture is in football.
The Eagles have acquired their 2nd Quarterback of the free agency period.
While they had to trade a pair of 2025 7th round picks and drop from 98th to the 120th pick in this years draft when acquiring Pickett from Pittsburgh last week.
It was only a day later when the Steelers announced they had traded a 2025 6th round pick for Bears QB Justin Fields. Some had wanted the Eagles to pursue Fields as an Eagles backup. However, with only 1 year under contract before a $25.6M 5th-year option (which the Eagles would most likely not pick up).
Going after Pickett for 2 years with only $4.6M guaranteed is very similar to when they traded a 2022 6th round pick for 2 years of Gardner Minshew, who only cost the Eagles $3.39M.
With the following Quarterbacks under contract for multiple years
There’s nothing to blow out of proportion with the Eagles signing Will Grier. Who will most likely be the 4th QB on the depth chart.
After Grier spent 2 seasons in Dallas he found himself signed to the Chargers practice squad last December, ending up with Eagles new OC Kellen Moore again. Moore is probably the biggest reason why the Eagles made this move. Bringing in a familiar face for a new system, and will bring competition to both Tanner McKee and Kenny Pickett.
Long Way Till Final Roster Cuts
Much like the Eagles signing of DeVante Parker, there’s no guarantee we’ll see Grier make it through 53-man roster cuts and could end up on the practice squad. So there’s no reason to overreact to the Eagles weekend signing. We’re a long way from the August deadline.
With the additions of LB Oren Burks, DT P.J. Mustipher, CB Tyler Hall, WR Parris Campbell, between the QB moves this week. The Eagles depth chart is being rounded out with over a month until the 2024 Draft, where the Eagles still hold three picks in the top 55. And have previously made outstanding moves in the draft, including last years Day 3 trade for D’Andre Swift.
As we inch closer and closer to April 25th, who do you expect the Eagles to announce with the 22nd overall pick?
Eagles fans should get ready for their next jersey, with the team at risk of losing three of four running backs to free agency.
D’Andre Swift (25-years-old), Boston Scott (29), and Rashaad Penny (28) can sign with any team, and while Howie Roseman is no stranger to re-signing a reliable back, the odds he outsources some of these roster spots is all but certain. Only Kenneth Gainwell (25) is set to return, hitting the final year of his four-year rookie deal.
The good news? That means the current depth chart at the position costs just $1.055M. That leaves plenty of wiggle room, and Philadelphia is sure to address one of these openings in the draft. That leaves two open spots beside Kenny G and this unnamed rookie sensation – so the question stands: Who do the Eagles sign?
Here are the top five options the Eagles should consider, in ascending order:
5. AJ Dillon
AJ “Quadfather” Dillon — how he got the nickname, no one knows
This would be one of two VERY Howie Roseman moves – find a high-value guy who hasn’t been a lead back, pay him a million or so, and toss him in a committee with three other guys. AJ Dillon has been splitting carries with Aaron Jones his entire career, having never hit more than 187 carries in a season. In a list with some grizzled veterans, Dillon would represent an option with a ton of tread still on the tires.
Additionally, Dillon has only had fewer than 4.1 yards per carry once in his four-year career. Benefiting from fresh legs as an RB2 certainly helps, but he would arrive to a familiar scene in that sense. If Howie wants to find an affordable guy to get consistent, strong yards, Dillon would be a buy-low candidate.
4. Derrick Henry
Number FOUR? It’s difficult to imagine three running backs who are better than King Henry AND a free agent. Hell, it’s tough to name three better backs in the game at all!
Derrick Henry has been the face of the Tennessee Titans since 2016, landing signature stiff-arms and carrying caravans of defenders with him across the goal line. The Alabama alum is a four-time Pro Bowler with 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns to his name. His career-worst 4.2 yards per attempt was 18th in the NFL last season – but 8th when limited to backs who crested 1,000+ rushing yards.
His downfall? Age. Henry just turned 30 in January, famously the age we see running backs drop off (except, of course, Philly legend Frank Gore).
The reason Henry still fits in the Eagles’ running back plans are their historic approach to the position. In Philadelphia, Henry would see a massive drop in total carries. For example, last season D’Andre Swift carried the ball 229 times, 51 fewer than league-leader Derrick Henry with 280. The year before that, Miles Sanders led the team with 259, well behind Josh Jacobs at … 340! Throw in Jalen Hurts’ rushes and Henry might pull a Joe Flacco and fall asleep on the sideline.
3. Joe Mixon
Unlike Dillon, Mixon is NOT known for his efficiency, clearing 4.1 yards per carry just once in his career (2018). The other thing he isn’t known for is fumbling – he has only dropped the ball 6 times over 1,854 touches in 7 seasons. Insanity. He is also a sneaky-good receiver, with 154 catches in the last three seasons. In 2023 he had the 9th most receptions by a running back, and in 2022 he was No. 5 in the NFL in this category.
What’s more, the Bengals have also boasted a dreadful offensive line throughout Mixon’s career. For the Oklahoma product to even be a Pro Bowler is a testament to the powers of individual effort. Four of five healthy seasons, Mixon has rushed for over 1,000 yards. If Philly wants a workhorse who can get the job done, this could be the guy.
2. D’Andre Swift
Howie still has Swift’s number, and giving the back a ring might be his best option. Swift has been an affordable solution to the running back question his entire career, never costing more than $1.7M while cresting 4.1 yards per carry every season. His efforts earned him a Pro Bowl appearance this year, the first of what could be an illustrious career.
In Detroit Swift established himself as one of the position’s best receivers, catching 156 passes in three seasons. He finished fourth in catches in 2021 and 12th in rushes in 2023, demonstrating his utility as a dual-threat. I don’t need to waste by breath telling Philly what it already knows, but in his first full season as an RB1 this year he accrued his first 1,000+ yard season. Bringing back Swift represents an affordable option that keeps things consistent after a rocky end to the year.
1. JK Dobbins
There’s no joking when it comes to Dobbins’ talent. The oft-injured running back has started just 10 games and only played in 24 over four seasons. He missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and only played a single game last year, rushing for 22 yards and a TD. So what’s the hype?
Check out the efficiency: JK Dobbins has a massive 5.8 yards per attempt over his entire career. Derrick Henry’s best season saw just 5.5 yards per attempt. Sure, Dobbins hasn’t shown an ability to stay healthy, but the Eagles have one of the best fitness staffs in the league. Philadelphia’s has been one of the healthiest rosters in the NFL the last two seasons – if the team can get a full season out of Dobbins?
We always hear that the NFL is a copycat league, which is both real and ongoing.
We saw the Philadelphia Eagles go from one of the most efficient and effective offenses in recent memory to one that seemed to be missing something in just a single season. By the end of their 2023 campaign, there wasn’t much gas left. Coaches adjusted with an entire season of film at the palm of their hand — the Eagles suffered mightily.
But with new coordinators and an offensive scheme that needs to be reworked rather than replicated like was the case last season, that should be the least of Philadelphia’s issues. In reality, their roster construction might be what needs to change. The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs might be just the place to look.
Preaching Youth & Cap Space
The Chiefs had the second-best defense in the NFL last season in points against per game (just 17.3), but they also had one of the youngest. Other than veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones, their entire defense was different from the last time they faced the San Francisco 49ers back in 2019, and they filled it out with youth. Their oldest defensive starter is Jones himself at age 29, with players such as George Karlaftis and Trent McDuffie both being under the age of 24 yet pretty important pieces for them.
While the Chiefs didn’t have to let go of too many elite stars on the defense, losing veterans like Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark hurt. It wasn’t absolutely gutwrenching, but the former was a first-team All-Pro in his last two seasons in Kansas City, while the former had three Pro Bowl nods. And, getting to the offense, they also lost Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins before the 2022 season. To build around quarterback Patrick Mahomes, they had to free up as much money as possible. Since they said goodbye to Mathieu and Hill after losing in the AFC Championship in 2021, they have won two Super Bowls. Yes, they’ve gotten better after getting rid of stars — ironic, isn’t it?
Photo: Adam Schultz
Now, the Chiefs might be better off with these players, but their young core has made up for them admirably. McDuffie was in the Hill trade, and they likely don’t win a championship without him — he was a first-team All-Pro last season. 23-year-old Rashee Rice also too some massive strides at wide receiver in 2023 and was pretty much the only player at his position that Mahomes could look at consistently.
The best part of all this? Those players are making next to nothing. The salary cap is a real thing in the NFL, and eventually, restructuring deals comes back to bite teams. But not the Chiefs. They parted ways with superstars and simply drafted new ones. Judging from what they’ve done, that cycle will repeat in the near future. For now, they will ride out their rookie contracts and get impactful play out of youngsters. With the extra money, they will continue to pay the veterans they cannot function without.
To win as consistently as the Chiefs have, a balance has to be met.
What This Means for the Eagles
With all of that being said, that doesn’t mean the Eagles should just trade everyone on their roster. But it also doesn’t mean they should hand out extensions like they’re candy, either. Yes, they’re going to have to make some tough decisions and part ways with some key players, one potentially being 29-year-old Haason Reddick, who had a little bit of drama recently. That’s not even an opinion, either. At some point, the Eagles will have to rid of some of their elite talent. If they do it soon, it will help out their cap situation for years to come and allow them to build around quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Photo: Philadelphia Sports Nation on X.
Now that Hurts is making a lot of money, the Eagles are going to have to cheap out elsewhere. A championship roster is harder to construct with glaring holes throughout it. Nowadays, Super Bowl champions are largely built through drafting young players. The Eagles have this formula down to an extent, but it will be time soon to pay these players who don’t have a big deal. Instead of restructuring deals every season and hitting a wall like they did in 2020 when they went 4-11-1 (although injuries and the regression of star quarterback Carson Wentz played a role), it would be wise to extend their window. If Hurts is the real deal, they have to maximize his contention era instead of shortening it.
For a while, the narrative was that teams shouldn’t pay their quarterbacks because teams paying them a lot of money didn’t win was prevalent. Well, Mahomes has proved that wrong twice now. What’s important to take away from that is that, sometimes, other parts of the roster will suffer. If Hurts is a truly elite quarterback, he will need to have a massive role in that. It is essentially impossible under the current landscape of the league to have what the 49ers do, for example, and a highly-paid quarterback on top of that. Having a cheap quarterback like San Francisco has allowed them to splurge on elite talent such as Christian McCaffrey and not feel the hurt. Since Hurts is being paid, the Eagles are not so lucky.
But it must be reiterated that Hurts making money isn’t a bad thing. If he’s a great quarterback, he will be able to overcome these obstacles. He doesn’t have to be generational, but some improvement from last season will be needed. If he can return to his 2022 form, the Eagles can afford to cheap out at some places on their roster. Whether it be on offense or defense, something or someone will have to give. Trading an elite player will never be popular, but it will allow the Eagles flexibility in the future. Hurts is only 25, and the rest of the team is fairly young, aside from a few stars. This is not the team to go all in with.
In the NFL, many teams are the hare. The Eagles should consider being the tortoise.
The Importance of the Draft
The only reason why the Chiefs have been able to survive the on-paper regression they’ve had from 2021 to now is because of their drafting. There has to be some sort of plan to find replacements because winning a championship then would be almost hopeless. At some point or another, the day that all those restructured deals and backloaded contracts come. If Hurts was still a good quarterback at that point, that would be eliminating a season of his, if not multiple. That process is repeated every time a team goes “all in.”
It’s fine to restructure deals and hand out extensions, but not to every single player. After losing in the Super Bowl in 2022, the Eagles did a relatively good job of this. They had to let go of Javon Hargrave, C.J Gardner-Johnson, T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, and Marcus Epps — all pretty important players. But those were free agents, and the Eagles never adequately replaced them. Unable to trade them and draft their replacements, new areas of the field became liabilities that were not the season prior.
Photo: —
Trading is always tricky in the NFL, as stars are traded for essentially nothing all the time. Sometimes, though, nothing is really something. A player like Reddick, although immensely valuable to the Eagles, likely won’t be at his best for the next three or so seasons — a possible length of the extension he will be eligible for next season. If the idea is that he is elite early on and then becomes a cap liability later on, that will limit Philadelphia’s upside. If the Eagles could theoretically get a third- or fourth-round pick for him instead of paying top dollar, they might have to at least consider, especially if they fancy themselves as long-term contenders.
It’s not pretty, and you’d hope it’d be more, but it saves money that championship teams need. Philadelphia is already seeing the repercussions of extending veterans with the miserable campaign James Bradberry had in 2023. When in doubt, preach cap space and draft picks. If they aren’t sure that a player will play up to their contract for its entirety, they probably shouldn’t be signing it.
With this logic, that would mean that not even DeVonta Smith is safe. But getting to an earlier point, some players are too important to let go. Maybe Reddick falls in that category; maybe he doesn’t. General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles will have to figure out who those athletes are. For those that aren’t, trades for draft picks will be in their future.
If those draft picks are used well, it could be the difference between becoming a dynasty and a one-year wonder.
Kansas City has gone for the former. The Eagles can do the same.
Last season, the Eagles were the buzz of the league with their surprising 14-3 record. The 1st seed in the NFC was on its way to the Super Bowl in Arizona. Their players and coaches lined the finalists for most of the categories.
Only for none of them to win. To make matters worse. They didn’t win the Super Bowl later that week either.
During last years awards, the Eagles had the following players received votes for for: – Jalen Hurts, OPOY & MVP – Haason Reddick, DPOY – Nick Sirianni, COY – Shane Steichen, ACOY
You can view a breakdown of the snubs and award losses from last year here.
2023’s Hope For Individual Awards
Once again, the Eagles saw themselves the talk of the NFL for the first 11 weeks of the season. But putting on a show in October and November doesn’t get you very far when you manage to go 1-6 in the final 7 weeks of your season.
Maybe if the Eagles managed to keep their season afloat, some recognition might’ve been acknowledged come award season. Instead, the Eagles only saw one player nominated for an award at by the end of the year.
While Jalen Hurts was in MVP talks after his overtime victory against the Bills. 6 Losses to end the year regardless of a defensive collapse or a stale offense by design, will minimize any hype you might’ve had during week 11.
The ONE Eagle who was able to receive votes for an award was 9th overall pick DT Jalen Carter. Projected to be a frontrunner for the award the ENTIRE season. Here’s how Defensive Rookie Of The Year was broken up.
Player
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Total
Will Anderson Jr.
16
21
8
151
Jalen Carter
14
14
10
122
Kobie Turner
14
6
7
95
Devon Witherspoon
4
7
16
57
Joey Porter Jr.
1
0
1
6
Here’s how the top 3 finalists did during their 2023 rookie season.
Will Anderson Jr. 15 Games Played, 7 Sacks, 45 Combined Tackles, 10 TFL, 22 QB Hits
Jalen Carter 16 Games Played, 6 Sacks, 33 Combined Tackles, 8 TFL, 9 QB Hits, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1TD
With nobody on the Eagles defense making significant impacts in the final weeks of the year. Perhaps the Defensive Coordinator change was truly the end to the Eagles season.
This just in, Philadelphia fans: the Eagles will kick off the season under the Friday Night Lights of … São Paulo, Brazil!
Roger Goodell announced the news of Philadelphia’s Week 1 game in Brazil on Monday evening. The news comes with excitement and a healthy dose of Philadelphia skepticism, as it does ultimately strip the Eagles of a home game. As the officially recognized “Home” team in the Southern hemisphere, the team will play one less game at the Linc.
This game will be the first in NFL history to take place in South America — truly a groundbreaking moment for the sport. Mexico City
The Eagles’ opponent is yet to be named, with potential opponents being the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Steelers, Packers, and Panthers. Notably, the Miami Dolphins have a marketing and expansion deal with the country of Brazil, but will not face the Eagles in this game. Philadelphia’s marketing and expansion partnership is with Australia.
The birds have not thrived when passports get involved, carrying with them a meek record of 2-3 in the following games:
1978, Mexico City: New Orleans Saints 14, Philadelphia Eagles 7
1989, London: Philadelphia Eagles 17, Cleveland Browns 13
1991, London: Buffalo Bills 17, Philadelphia Eagles 13
1993, Tokyo: New Orleans Saints 28, Philadelphia Eagles 16
2018, London: Philadelphia Eagles 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 18
As the Eagles head into 2024, they carry more questions than answers — yet despite being named the hosts in their season opener, the birds will migrate to Brazil to take on their first foe.
If any team knows the importance of depth at the running back position, the Philadelphia Eagles might be first on that list.
Their 7,414 regular season rushing yards in the three-season Nick Sirianni era rank third to only the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, while the Birds rode that wave into Super Bowl LVII with a league-leading 531 rushing yards that playoff.
With that being said, the Eagles are now in a predicament that could leave them without their lead back in D’Andre Swift and third- and fourth-stringers Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny — all three of them being unrestricted free agents.
The Eagles’ bread-and-butter rushing offense could take a massive hit in the 2024 season if they aren’t careful.
With some good money to spare and high-end draft picks at their disposal, there should be no reason why they avoid the running back market; this time, it’s a necessity.
A Somewhat Regressing Rushing Attack
In 2023, the Eagles’ rushing attack ranked eighth with 2,190 overall yards and tied for eighth at 4.3 yards per attempt. Those are still solid numbers, but for how fantastic their offensive line is, it’s not good enough. While Swift became just the tenth back in team history to reach the illustrious 1,000-yard total in his first season with the Birds, he did so with -65 rushing yards above expected (RYOE), suggesting he was one of the less effective high-end rushers in the NFL.
Among backs with 100 or more carries, he ranked 40th of 49 in the category — just the 18th percentile. When adjusting for RYOE per attempt, he was not much better at the 24th percentile. This is not a point to rip on Swift but to highlight some of the inefficiencies in Philadelphia’s backfield as a whole. With how good their offensive line is, they could have been better.
Even Jalen Hurts saw his worst season as a rusher, with 3.9 yards per carry despite having a career average of 4.8. Hopefully, getting a new offensive mind will start to fix this, but whether Kliff Kingsbury, Kellen Moore, or anyone else gets the job, they will need some help.
The Eagles have issues all over the field that they will need to address, but an offense that scored just nine points in their early-playoff exit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has to become more explosive on the offensive side of the ball. If anything, it was their defense that kept them in that game, though the 32-9 final would suggest otherwise.
All season long, the Eagles have struggled to truly incorporate their rushing attack like they have in years past under Sirianni. The last time it truly felt as though they did this properly was in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, way back on Sept. 14. In fact, that feeling is backed up by the stats. From Oct. 1 until the end of the season on Jan. 15 — a 15-game span — the Birds did not have a single player reach 100 rushing yards in a single game.
Having 100 rushing yards is no small feat, as the Eagles only had a player reach this total four times in 2022, but their passing attack was also one of the best in the league. They didn’t have the duel threat in 2023, with Hurts regressing a bit stats-wise from his 2022 campaign, making it something they arguably should have leaned on more. At times, it felt as though they were not a threat at all on offense despite their elite talent on that front.
What a Move Could Entail
Whether or not General Manager (GM) Howie Roseman can land — or even afford — a game-altering back this offseason, it should be something he pushes for. It’s not always the best use of assets, but he and the Eagles know all too well what Christian McCaffrey has done for the San Francisco 49ers. Leading the NFL with 349 RYOE, it’s no surprise that he has made the NFC Championship with his new squad in each of his first two campaigns.
Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
It’s very rare for a younger, talented back like McCaffrey to be on the market, but it’s not like the Eagles won’t have options. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two positive RYOE, 100-attempt backs in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris. Meanwhile, the lowly 6-11 Tennessee Titans could be shopping Derrick Henry, who finished with 84 RYOE and 0.31 RYOE per attempt. There are options that should be available, but sacrifices will have to be made.
If Swift doesn’t re-sign to become the lead back and the Eagles can’t land one of the top available players, they might be in some trouble. While Kenny Gainwell is still under contract and got a decent workload with 84 carries in the regular season and 4.3 yards per attempt, he really isn’t in a place to see a massive uptick in his involvement in the offense. Between Hurts and him, there will need to be another body mixed in there, if not multiple, that can be heavily involved in the rushing attack.
In his Jan. 24 end-of-season press conference, Sirianni preached “fresh ideas.” While this might not have been referring to his back, it’s very clear that a shakeup is necessary.
If the Birds can put more faith in them and have it be a staple of their offense, it might be the first step in returning to the Super Bowl. They have a few months to figure out how they want to attack this dilemma.
Source: Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images
2023 was another Golden Corral buffet of premium shenanigans from Pound Town to Montgomery, Alabama where Ancestrally-Charged African-American Avengers dragged anglo-aggressors into the alabaster abyss during the now-infamous “Fade In The Water.”
Easily the greatest moment of 2023, the now-infamous “Riverboat Rumble” stirred up HILARIOUS jokes, memes, and commentary in yet another example of Black Twitter being the epicenter of entertainment.
It was a year of SkeeYees, super freaky pop-pops, shiny Renaissance fabrics, and the hoaxiest hoax of all hoaxes committed by Cheez-It-dusted viral villain Carlee Russell.
Source: Hoover Police Department
After days of confusion and public scrutiny, Russell admitted that she was not abducted after “stopping to check on a baby walking alone.”
There was no baby on Alabama’s Interstate I459 and the entire thing was described as an “elaborate” hoax
Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, sent a statement to Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis confirming that her kidnapping was a farce.
“Dear Chief Derzis, my client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf: There was no kidnapping on July 13, 2023. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself,’’ Anthony wrote according to AL.com.
Russell was eventually found guilty of two misdemeanor crimes, false reporting to law enforcement authorities, and falsely reporting an incident with the judge recommending that she pay $18,000 in restitution and spend six months in jail per charge for a total of one year.
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Once again for No-Shave November, we’re giving thanks for beautifully bearded panty melters burning up the Internet with their good looks, God-given talent, and flourishing follicles.
Source: BERTRAND GUAY /AFP/ Taylor Hill/ FilmMagic/ Joe Maher/ BFC/ Getty
As the No-Shave November season continues, men worldwide are participating in Movember to raise cancer awareness by encouraging men to embrace the facial hair that many cancer patients lose.
For 30 days embracing beards reaches a fever pitch each year, but we celebrate the glory of them all year.
With that in mind, we’d be remiss not to share some of our favorite fellas sizzling skivvies and doing so while sporting beards.
See some No-Shave November panty melters we’re thankful for this holiday season.
This Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII will feature many historic firsts, including the first ever head-to-head Super Bowl matchup between two starting Black quarterbacks. Kris Van Cleave has more.
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Advertisers looking to make the most of their limited and expensive Super Bowl time slots this year are shifting strategies by running ads days earlier, and featuring an abundance of celebrities. Michael George reports.
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The historic matchup between Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles as the first head-to-head matchup between Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl has not been lost on Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl more than three decades ago.
“I know there’s a lot of young guys across the country, realize that if it’s a dream, it could happen,” Williams, 67, told CBS News this week. “Because it happened for these guys.”
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are the first-ever Black starting quarterbacks to play against each other in the Super Bowl.
Getty Images
In the eyes of Williams, who is the Washington Commanders’ senior advisor to team president Jason Wright, the impact of having two top Black quarterbacks in the big game on Sunday has already taken effect with Mahomes and Hurts – this season’s AP NFL MVP and the runner-up, respectively. However, Williams, who was a college and high school coach, believes teams around the league need to work on hiring more Black coaches.
“It’s time to open the doors for more Black coaches,” he said, adding that he wants owners to “open up their heart and their mind” to deserving coaches to lead teams in the NFL – a league made up of 70% of players of color.
“There’s an awful lot of guys out there of color, Black guys out there that deserve the opportunity to be a coach,” he said.
There are only six head coaches of color currently in the NFL, which includes the Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Todd Bowles, the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh, the Washington Commanders’ Ron Rivera and the Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed some of the NFL’s diversity concerns during the annual Super Bowl news conference on Wednesday, saying “it’s never enough.”
Ahead of the #SuperBowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says there’s still “more work ahead” when it comes to increasing diversity in the league.
Williams also reflected on the legacy of Black quarterbacks in the league – who were long subjected to racist stereotypes – and what he calls the fraternity of Black quarterbacks in the NFL.
“I think every Black quarterback knows that this role wasn’t always easy for us,” he told CBS News. “It’s a lot of easy for the guys playing in this week than it was the guys behind. Because when I think of those two guys [Mahomes and Hurts], I cannot help myself to think of James Harris, Joe Gilliam, Warren Moon and Marlin Briscoe. All the guys back then who did not get the same opportunity to equal opportunity as these two guys got. You gotta think about those guys who had the talent but just wasn’t let in the door.”
Doug Williams, a quarterback with the then-Washington Redskins, scrambles with the ball during the 1987 season.
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
But he sees progress on that front. Eleven quarterbacks who started on Week 1 of this season were Black. When the postseason came around, five of the 14 postseason teams had a Black quarterback, according to 247 Sports. Potential top picks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are projected to be NFL starters when they enter the league. And on Sunday, Mahomes and Hurts are headlining Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“Before I won the Super Bowl [with the then-Washington Redskins], there was no Black quarterback in the Super Bowl,” he said. “It’s just 35 years ago, so I think it’s fitting to talk about it. Now, the most important thing now, we’ve done it, let’s stop talking about it and accept whoever the quarterback is and let’s go with it.”
As for whether he’s rooting for Mahomes or Hurts on Sunday, Williams already won.
“All I can answer is the fact that I cannot lose,” he said.
PHOENIX (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is thrilled young aspiring football players all over the world will get to watch two Black quarterbacks face each other for the first time in the Super Bowl.
He’s also pleased they get to watch two really, really good quarterbacks.
“I’m really excited for both quarterbacks, what they can represent to a ton of kids,” Sirianni said at Monday’s Super Bowl media night. “Not only are they two African-American quarterbacks, but they’re the two best quarterbacks in the NFL this year. First-team All-Pro, second-team All-Pro.
“They both play at the highest level.”
There are many storylines for this Super Bowl, but the duel between Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is right at the top of the list.
The significance of Sunday’s matchup in Glendale, Arizona, isn’t lost on Mahomes.
“I think about it a lot,” Mahomes said. “The quarterbacks that came before me — Shack Harris, Doug Williams — that laid the foundation for me to be in this position. It goes across all sports. If you think about Jackie Robinson and the people who broke the color barrier in baseball, I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for them.
“To be lucky enough to be in this position — and play against another great guy like Jalen — it will be a special moment. I’m glad we’re here today, but how can we keep moving forward? How can we motivate kids who are younger, who want to follow their dreams to be a quarterback?”
It’s not just the quarterbacks who are relishing the groundbreaking matchup. Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon said players are well aware of what they’re witnessing.
“There’s history being made,” McKinnon said. “That’s a beautiful thing. Something I can look back and tell my kids that, ‘I was a part of that, I experienced that.’ So it’s a blessing. This whole experience is a blessing.
“To have that on top, just adds to it.”
In addition to being good, both quarterbacks are also tough.
Hurts missed two games late in the season with a shoulder injury that’s still bothering him. The Eagles haven’t had to lean on him in two lopsided playoff wins. He has 275 yards passing and two TDs along with 73 yards rushing and two scores, pedestrian numbers by his standards.
Mahomes hobbled around on a badly sprained ankle to help the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 and advance to their third Super Bowl appearance in four years.
“It’s amazing — especially being Black History Month as well,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said. “I’m thankful for this moment, to be a part of this. This is crazy with two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl, one of the biggest games in the world.”
Washington’s Doug Williams was the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl following the 1987 season. That’s back when Black quarterbacks were fairly rare across the NFL.
This season — 35 years later — began with 11 Black QBs starting in Week 1 and now ends with a historic matchup.
Mahomes can become the first two-time winner if he leads the Chiefs to victory on Sunday. Hurts aims to become the fourth Black QB to win the Super Bowl, joining Williams, Mahomes and Russell Wilson.
Steve McNair, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton and Wilson also started in a Super Bowl and lost.
Now it’s Hurts vs. Mahomes.
After McKinnon heard that Sirianni said the two quarterbacks were the top two in the league, he had a one-word response: “Facts.”
“It’s going to be a showdown — all four quarters,” McKinnon said. “It’s going to come down to the last second. Jalen Hurts is phenomenal, I’ve been watching him since college. The things he does and brings to the table are phenomenal.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this story.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
When Super Bowl LVII kicks off in Arizona on February 12, Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts will make history as the first-ever Black starting quarterbacks to play against each other in the championship.
Mahomes will be making his third trip to the big game after a dramatic 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He was the third Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 2020 when he led the Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers. He lost against the Tampa Buccaneers a year later.
If Mahomes wins against the Eagles, he will be the first Black quarterback with multiple Super Bowl wins.
If the Eagles beat the Chiefs, Hurts would become the fourth Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, joining Mahomes, Doug Williams and Russell Wilson.
Kansas Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Phiadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts are the first-ever Black starting quarterbacks to play against each other in the Super Bowl.
Getty Images
The history-making matchup wasn’t lost on some on Twitter.
Warren Moon, a Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and who is Black, said he was “proud” to see them both in the Super Bowl.
I’m so proud to see Jalen and Patrick as the first 2 African American QBs to face each other in the Super Bowl!
Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson remarked on it, also pointing out that both quarterbacks are in the running for the league’s MVP race.
“What a historic moment, this will be the first time two Black starting quarterbacks will face each other in the Super Bowl, and they both are leading candidates for NFL MVP! I can’t wait to watch!” he wrote.
Sports journalist Taylor Rooks tweeted that it was “glorious” to have two Black starting quarterbacks in the game.
2 black QBs in the Super Bowl. First time ever. Glorious. Advancements. Don’t let anybody tell you that’s not important!
Athletic reporter Mike Jones pointed out their matchup comes more than three decades off another history-making moment in the NFL.
“First time two Black quarterbacks have faced in the Super Bowl 35 years after Doug Williams became the first to start in and win a Super Bowl,” Jones wrote.
Williams told Andscape in an interview he “couldn’t be happier” to see Mahomes and Hurts in the big game.
“I’ve got such a smile on my face right now, but I’ve got water in my eyes, too,” he told the outlet, formerly known as The Undefeated. “I’m talking, but I don’t think I can even explain what this means. We have come such a long way. It has been so hard, so many barriers, but we did it.”
Mahomes and Hurts aside, the game will also feature Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce and Eagles center Jason Kelce, the first-ever brothers to play against each other in the Super Bowl. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will also be coaching against his former team, which he was a part of from 1999 to 2012.
This Saturday kicks off the biggest holiday weekend since New Years: the NFL Playoffs. With the Wild Card round beginning January 14 and streaming acrossing all ESPN platforms, America is about to run on football playoffs.
All 32 teams play 17 regular season games for a chance to get to the Playoffs and win it all. And we’ll be updating you with all of the 2023 NFL Playoff news you’ll need each week. Starting off with this weekend’s Wild Card Round:
The Wild Card Round
Joe Burrow
Jeff Dean/AP/Shutterstock
The NFL splits their 32 teams into two conferences: the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. During the Wild Card round this weekend, there will be six games: three AFC games and three NFC games.
Since the #1 team from each conference has a bye week, they won’t play until the weekend of the 20th during the Divisional Round. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will benefit with the rest from the bye, and will face the lowest seed from the winners of the Wild Card Round.
According to the ESPN website, the games will go as follows:
After the Wild Card round, teams will be re-seeded by the NFL. This ultimately becomes more fun if there are upsets. For example, if the New York Giants beat the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson, the Giants may have a chance to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. Since both the Giants and the Eagles are in the same division during the regular season, this would be their third time playing each other this year.
The Divisional Round
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jeff Lewis/AP/Shutterstock
Typically throughout the playoffs, the highest seeded teams get home field advantage until the Super Bowl. The Divisional Round games will be played in Kansas City and Philadelphia, as will the AFC and NFC Championships if both teams advance.
Conference Championships
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Abbie Parr/AP/Shutterstock
On January 29, the final two games before the Super Bowl will commence. The remaining highest-seeded teams will have home field advantage. However, if the Chiefs end up playing the Buffalo Bills, the game will be held at a neutral site in Atlanta.
The neutral location decision was determined after the tragic Damar Hamlin injury during the Bengals-Bills game. Since the game was ruled a “no contest,” the Chiefs automatically became the #1 seed.
Super Bowl LVII
Josh Allen
Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock
The respective winners from the AFC and NFC Championship games will meet in Glendale, Arizona on February 12 for Super Bowl LVII. Get ready for commercials, the Rihanna halftime show, and some of the best football you’ll see all year.
What Makes The Playoffs Fun?
Jalen Hurts
Chris Szagola/AP/Shutterstock
This year, everyone has something to prove in the playoffs. We are potentially seeing Tom Brady’s final year at QB after a 27-year reign in the NFL. Fan favorite Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is looking for a return to the Super Bowl after losing to the Los Angeles Rams last year – and that’s not all.
The New York Giants are seeing playoff contention for the first time in years, and the San Francisco 49er’s will be led by third-string QB, last pick in the NFL Draft, Brock Purdy. Purdy has 1,374 yards and a pass completion of 67.1%, showing he maybe isn’t Mr. Irrelevant after all.
Young teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars will have chances to prove themselves. Lamar Jackson will make his return to the Baltimore Ravens after battling an injury towards the end of the season, while the Buffalo Bills led by a Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs duo will be hard to beat.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a slow start to the season, but have had a Cinderella story throughout. We have more exciting teams like the Seattle Seahawks, led by potential Comeback Player of the Year, Geno Smith, and the Philadelphia Eagles and KC Chiefs are looking to prove why they’re the #1 seed.
The stakes are high. Playing at the highest level of the game means anything can happen. While you may think the script is written and the best teams on paper will win, I have a feeling the playoffs are going to consist of some major upsets.
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