The Philadelphia Eagles Mount Rushmore
Photo Credit: Gillian Allen, AP Photo
The Philadelphia Eagles have a rich history as a team dating all the way back to the 1930s, and have been one of the more successful franchises of the 21st century, winning one Super Bowl and appearing in two more. With so many legendary players having suited up for the Eagles over the years, today we’re going to go over which 4 players would make the all-time Philadelphia Eagles Mount Rushmore.
Reggie White: Defensive End/Tackle (1985-1992)
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated Archives
One of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, ‘The Minister of Defense’ as he was affectionately called by fans, was dominant during his tenure in Philadelphia. In his eight years with the Eagles, he racked up 124 sacks, 18 forced fumbles, and 794 tackles, as well as making seven pro bowls, seven all-pro teams, and winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. White’s career in Philadelphia alone would’ve made him a Hall of Famer, as he didn’t have a single season with the Eagles where he had less than 13 sacks. Reggie White’s Kelly Green jersey is also one of the highest selling NFL jersey’s of all time, showing how much fans loved him as a player and the impact he had on the Eagles franchise. Unfortunately, White passed away in 2004 at only 43 years old, where soon after the Eagles retired his number along with the University of Tennessee and the Green Bay Packers.
Jason Kelce: Center (2011-Present)
Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff, Getty Images
A major figure in the football and sports media worlds along with his brother Travis, Jason Kelce was an absolute rock on the Eagles offensive line for over a decade. While Jason Kelce may be thought of as the less famous of the two brothers by some, his career and impact he’s made on several excellent Eagles teams proves him to be one of the best players in the history of the franchise, as well as a likely Hall of Famer. Throughout his career, Kelce compiled a resume of seven pro bowls, six all-pro teams, and a Super Bowl, as well as an incredible feat of not missing a single game in the past nine years. With Kelce having recently retired following the Eagles playoff loss to the Buccaneers, it will be interesting to see how well the interior of the Philly offensive line will hold up in 2024 and on.
Brian Dawkins: Safety (1996-2008)
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated
Considered to be one of the hardest hitters and most intimidating players in NFL history, Brian Dawkins AKA ‘Weapon X’ struck fear into the hearts of opposing offenses for over a decade in Philadelphia. In his tenure with the Eagles, Dawkins made seven pro bowls and four all-pro teams, as well as racking up 34 interceptions, 32 forced fumbles, and over 700 tackles, making a clear impact in the secondary for some stellar Eagles defenses. Another thing Dawkins was known for was his fiery personality on the field, and his legendary intensity when it came to the game he loved, teammates and opposing players have spoken about this quite a bit since Dawkins’ retirement with former teammate Takeo Spikes saying that Dawkins “Wanted to take the souls of their opponents”. When Dawkins retired he was the all-time leader in games played for the Eagles, and while he has since been surpassed by multiple current Eagles, his legendary career was solidified by him receiving his gold jacket in 2018.
Donovan McNabb: Quarterback (1999-2009)
Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
The all-time leader in nearly all passing categories for the Eagles, McNabb was an above average signal-caller for over a decade in Philadelphia. While some fans think that McNabb underachieved in his career due to never winning a Super Bowl, he led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC championship appearances from 2000-2004, one of which he won in 2004, before eventually losing to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. During his time with the Eagles, McNabb made six pro bowls, finished 2nd in MVP voting in 2000, and threw for over 32,000 yards and 216 touchdowns. While the Eagles have had plenty of other talented quarterbacks over the years, none have been as consistently good as McNabb was for the Birds.
Honorable Mentions:
Chuck Bednarik: Linebacker (1949-62)
Steve Van Buren: Running Back (1944-51)
Randall Cunningham: Quarterback (1985-95)
