Occasionally, Eagles leave the nest even if we don’t want them to.
It’s hard to say goodbye to a fan-favorite that has worn the midnight (or kelly) green. More than 1,500 players have done so for the Philadelphia Eagles. This team has had 24 head coaches.
Many we won’t remember. Some we’ll never forget regardless of where their careers have taken them. Let’s take a few moments and tip the cap to three of them. Rest assured, if any of you were wondering, Jason Babin and Chip Kelly aren’t making this list.
The Minister of Defense, on the other hand, is a no-brainer.
REGGIE WHITE
Defensive End, 1985-1992
Reggie White landed with the Eagles as the fourth-overall selection in the 1985 supplemental draft. The USFL had just collapsed and Philadelphia bought out the remaining three years of his Memphis Showboats contract.
In his first game with Philadelphia, he tallied ten tackles and 2.5 sacks. At the close of his first NFL season, he had added 13 sacks in 13 games to his resume. For his efforts, he was named the NFC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
White would play in 121 regular-season games as an Eagles over eight years and make another five playoff appearances, collecting 124 sacks to become the franchise leader. When a player’s strike shortened the 1987 season to 12 games, White still found a way to come up with 21 sacks, setting the Eagles’ single-season record in the process.
Reggie White wasn’t just the best player on coach Buddy Ryan’s teams, he may have been the most popular. His ferocious play on the field was a sharp contrast to his work as an ordained minister, earning him the aforementioned nickname ‘Minister of Defense’. Reggie seemed to walk on water around the city until his contract was up in 1993.
At the dawn of free agency, former Eagles owner Norman Braman elected against paying top dollar to keep players in town, and as a result, guys just left.
A lawsuit filed by White and the NFLPA helped usher in a more lucrative era for NFL free agents. That most certainly rubbed Braman the wrong way. White signed a four-year, $17 million contract with Green Bay. How’s that for a bargain? He won a championship three years later. He should have been an Eagle for life.
The world lost a great man when he died in 2004. We will never forget him and modern-day players should appreciate what he did for the league.
TERRELL OWENS
Wide Receiver, 2004-2005
One of the largest personalities of his era, Terrell Eldorado Owens wasn’t in Philadelphia very long, but few Eagles have ever had such an impact. After eight spectacular and controversial years with the San Francisco 49ers, Owens wanted out. As was often his story, the exit brought with it drama.
After being traded from the Niners to the Baltimore Ravens, T.O. filed a grievance. Fortunately, before it could be heard, cooler heads prevailed. San Fran eventually sent Owens to Philadelphia for a conditional fifth-round pick and defensive end Brandon Whiting.
In 2004, Philly fans were desperate for a receiver to complement Donovan McNabb. Terrell Owens seemed to be the missing piece. He caught a 67-yard touchdown on the very first snap of his first preseason game. His 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns helped carry Philadelphia to Super Bowl XXXIX; a game that saw him catch nine passes for 122 yards while playing on a still-healing broken leg.
After the Super Bowl, Owens believed he deserved a new contract. He may have been right, but his antics and animosity towards McNabb became such a problem that coach Andy Reid suspended him after seven weeks and released him before the 2006 season.
Could Terrell Owens have handled things better as an Eagle?
Absolutely. Should the Eagles have taken better care of someone that carried the team to the game’s biggest stage? Probably. Could Donovan have swallowed his pride some? That may also be correct.
Regardless, it’s hard not to think about what could and should have been in 2005. This could have been one of the most successful runs by someone in an Eagles jersey.
BRIAN DAWKINS
Brian Dawkins (Safety, 1996-2009)
In 2016, Brian Dawkins came back to Philadelphia as a football operations executive. That’s nice, but he never should have left.
In 2009, Dawkins left the Eagles for the Denver Broncos. Not that we blame him. Back then the Eagles offered the 36-year-old safety a one-year contract; the Broncos offered a five-year deal worth $17 million contract that included $7.2 million guaranteed.
In Philadelphia, Dawkins was the unquestioned heart and soul of the team. With his leadership, the Eagles would play in five conference championships and one Super Bowl. Dawkins made nine Pro Bowls and was named to the 2000s All-Decade Team. His 35 career interceptions and 26 sacks put him in the exclusive 20-20 club (20 sacks/20 interceptions).
Let’s face it. After Dawkins’ departure, pregame appearances weren’t the same without a weekly appearance of Weapon X. Nobody ever took the field like B-Dawk, and nobody ever will again. It’s a shame the Eagles couldn’t find a way to keep him.
He had a few good years in Denver, but it would’ve meant more had they been in Philly. We’re glad you came back Brian, and we’re glad you got that ring, even if it was as an executive.