Philadelphia Eagles Mount Rushmore
The Philadelphia Eagles are a storied franchise dating all the way back to 1933, yet despite this, they only have one Super Bowl victory to their name (2018). Nevertheless, there has still been a tremendous amount of talent that has suited up in the midnight green. Now, I wanted to try and rank the top four players in franchise history, compiling a Mount Rushmore of sorts. This list will combine pure on-field talent with how iconic and marveled they are within the great city of Philadelphia. And seeing as someone has already taken the Phillies Mount Rushmore and their current World Series run, it seems fitting to get the Eagles done as well.
Reggie White, DE, 1985-92
Perhaps the most obvious inclusion on this list is that of White, who is not only one of the best edge rushers in Eagles history but is widely regarded as the greatest overall pass rusher of all time.
White was taken fourth overall in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft and saw a career that led to two Defensive Player of the Year awards, 13 Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections, eight of which came as first team nods. He finished his career with 198 sacks, 124 of those coming with the Eagles in his eight years with the team. I could go on and on about the stats and ability of White, but I don’t think I really need to. He’s the clear and obvious first choice for any Eagles Mount Rushmore list.
Brian Dawkins, DB, 1996-2008
Dawkins is simply the embodiment of Philly sports. He was an undersized but fearless freak whose only desire in life was to win and put you in the ground while doing it.
Regarded as one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the league, Dawkins was able to earn nine Pro Bowl nods and was All-Pro five times as well. He finished his career with 1,131 tackles, 37 interceptions and 26 sacks — making him one of six players in history with at least 25 interceptions and sacks. He also recorded 120 pass deflections along with 36 forced fumbles in his time in the league.
But he also, arguably, holds the most impressive/peculiar single-season stat lines. He is the only player in league history to record a sack, interception, fumble recovery and touchdown catch in the same game. Overall, it would be very difficult to make this list and not include Dawkins. He perfectly encapsulates the essence of Philly sports and is an icon within the city.
Chuck Bednarik, LB-C, 1949-62
Now, Bednarik may be a bit before all of our time, but that doesn’t discredit the impact he had on the game of football and on the Eagles in general.
He is widely considered to have been the league’s last two-way player, featuring at both center and linebacker. Over his career, Bednarik would earn 10 first-team All-Pro selections and be selected to eight Pro Bowls. In 14 years with the Eagles, Bednarik missed all but three games and was the definition of durability and reliability.
Bednarik played at a time when a lot of the traditional stats we use today weren’t tracked. However, we do know that he had 20 career interceptions and was widely regarded as the best center in the league, as evidenced by being named the NFL’s all-time best center in 1969.
Bednarik was one of the league’s best players his entire career and is one of the most decorated Eagles of all time. So, it makes sense he finds his way onto this Mount Rushmore
Nick Foles, QB, 2012-14 and 2017-18
Now it’s time for, probably, the most controversial inclusion on this list.
There are a couple of names you may think of that deserve to be on this list over Foles. You may suggest Randall Cunningham for the explosiveness and excitement he brought to every game. You may suggest Donovan McNabb for the two NFC Championships he won and for being one of the best quarterbacks in Eagles history statistically.
But honestly, none of those things really matter to me and it’s for one simple reason. Nick Foles was able to do what no signal caller before him could do: win a Super Bowl. And it wasn’t just that he won a Super Bowl, it’s more so the fact he went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady and practically matched him on every throw to secure the Lombardi Trophy.
Yes, I know he’s a career backup aside from that one season in 2013 where he threw for 27 touchdowns and only two picks. But I really don’t care. He took a team that felt defeated after its loss of MVP candidate Carson Wentz and led them to a ring that no one thought they would win.
Again, he may not be the most talented of the bunch at quarterback, but from now until the day I die there will not be an Eagles fan who won’t know the name Nick Foles and won’t love him unconditionally.
And with that the Eagles Mount Rushmore is complete.
This was rather difficult to narrow down and a lot of amazing players were left off and just didn’t make the cut. This includes the likes of Cunningham, McNabb, Steve Van Buren and LeSean McCoy, among many others who I just couldn’t find a place for. That’s not to take away from what all of those guys have been able to do, but with only four spots available, there were bound to be some big names left off.
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