100 Philadelphia Eagles Facts: The Ultimate Fan Guide

When you think of the NFL, it’s hard not to think of the passion, the intensity, and the deep-rooted history of the City of Brotherly Love. 100 Philadelphia Eagles facts tell a story of a team that has faced incredible highs, heartbreaking lows, and some of the most iconic moments in sports history. Whether you are a die-hard fan who bleeds midnight green or a curious newcomer, these facts will give you a complete look at the franchise.

The Early Years and Foundation

1. The Philadelphia Eagles were established on July 8, 1933.
2. The team was founded as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets.
3. The franchise was purchased by a group led by Bert Bell and Lud Wray for just $2,500.
4. The team’s name was inspired by the Blue Eagle, the symbol of the National Recovery Administration during the Great Depression.
5. In their first-ever game in 1933, the Eagles lost 56-0 to the New York Giants.
6. The Eagles won their first-ever game on November 5, 1933, beating the Cincinnati Reds 6-0.
7. The first points in franchise history came from a 35-yard touchdown pass from Roger Kirkman to Swede Hanson.
8. Because of player shortages during World War II, the Eagles and Steelers merged for one season in 1943, becoming the “Steagles.”
9. The Steagles finished that season with a 5-4-1 record.
10. The Eagles didn’t have a winning season until 1944.

NFL Championships (Pre-Super Bowl Era)

11. The Eagles won their first NFL Championship in 1948, beating the Chicago Cardinals 7-0.
12. That 1948 title game was played in a massive blizzard in Philadelphia.
13. They repeated as champions in 1949, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 14-0.
14. The Eagles are the only team in NFL history to win back-to-back championships by shutout.
15. In 1960, the Eagles won their third NFL Championship by defeating the Green Bay Packers 17-13.
16. That 1960 victory remains the only postseason loss Vince Lombardi ever suffered as a head coach.
17. Chuck Bednarik played nearly every minute of that 1960 championship game at both center and linebacker.
18. Norman Van Brocklin was the quarterback for the 1960 title-winning team.
19. Steve Van Buren was the star of the 1940s championships, once rushing for 196 yards in a playoff game.
20. Head coach Earle “Greasy” Neale led the team to those first two titles.

Super Bowl Glory and Heartbreak

21. The Eagles have appeared in five Super Bowls (XV, XXXIX, LII, LVII, and LIX).
22. Their first Super Bowl appearance was in 1981 (Super Bowl XV), where they lost to the Raiders.
23. In 2005 (Super Bowl XXXIX), they lost a close game to the New England Patriots.
24. The Eagles finally won their first Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 (Super Bowl LII).
25. They defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in that historic win.
26. Backup quarterback Nick Foles was named the MVP of Super Bowl LII.
27. The “Philly Special” is one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history, where Foles caught a touchdown pass.
28. The Eagles set a record for the most total offensive yards in a Super Bowl during LII (613 yards).
29. In 2023 (Super Bowl LVII), Jalen Hurts set a Super Bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (70).
30. The Eagles won their second Super Bowl in 2025 (Super Bowl LIX), defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.

Iconic Players and Legends

31. Reggie White, “The Minister of Defense,” is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks with 124.
32. Chuck Bednarik was the last of the “Sixty-Minute Men”—players who played both offense and defense.
33. Brian Dawkins, known as “Weapon X,” is the only player in NFL history with 25+ sacks, 25+ interceptions, and 25+ forced fumbles.
34. Donovan McNabb holds the franchise record for most career passing yards (32,873).
35. LeSean “Shady” McCoy is the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher with 6,792 yards.
36. Harold Carmichael, standing 6’8″, is the franchise’s all-time leading receiver.
37. David Akers is the leading scorer in Eagles history with 1,323 points.
38. Jason Kelce is widely considered the greatest center in Eagles history.
39. Randall Cunningham was known as “The Ultimate Weapon” for his incredible scrambling and punting abilities.
40. In 1989, Randall Cunningham unleashed a 91-yard punt against the Giants.

Home Fields and Fandom

41. The Eagles currently play at Lincoln Financial Field, which opened in 2003.
42. Before “The Linc,” the Eagles played at Veterans Stadium from 1971 to 2002.
43. Veterans Stadium was famous (or infamous) for having a jail and a courtroom in the basement.
44. Franklin Field was the team’s home from 1958 to 1970.
45. The Eagles have sold out every home game since the 1999 season.
46. The team’s fight song is “Fly, Eagles Fly.”
47. The “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!” chant is one of the most recognizable in all of sports.
48. Eagles fans are often cited as the most passionate (and sometimes toughest) in the NFL.
49. The famous “Santa Claus” incident happened in 1968, when fans booed a substitute Santa during a blizzard.
50. The Eagles’ mascot is an American bald eagle named Swoop.

Coaching Greatness

51. Andy Reid is the winningest coach in franchise history with 130 wins.
52. Reid led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games in eight years.
53. Doug Pederson was the first coach to bring a Super Bowl trophy to Philadelphia.
54. Nick Sirianni led the team to a Super Bowl in just his second season (2022).
55. Dick Vermeil took the Eagles to their first Super Bowl and was famous for his emotional coaching style.
56. Buddy Ryan was the architect of the “Gang Green” defense in the late 80s.
57. Greasy Neale is the only Eagles coach in the Hall of Fame with multiple NFL titles.
58. Ray Rhodes was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1995, his first season with the team.
59. The Eagles hired their first-ever coach, Lud Wray, in 1933.
60. Current head coach Nick Sirianni is known for his “growing the roots” analogy.

Team Records and Stats

61. The Eagles have 16 division titles in their history.
62. The team has made 31 playoff appearances.
63. The Eagles’ highest-scoring game was a 64-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1934.
64. In 2017, the Eagles tied a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins.
65. They broke that record in 2022 by winning 14 games.
66. The Eagles once had 10 sacks in a single game against the New York Giants in 1991.
67. In 2022, the Eagles’ defense recorded 70 sacks, the third-most in NFL history.
68. Jalen Hurts tied the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season (15) in 2023.
69. DeVonta Smith holds the franchise rookie record for receiving yards (916).
70. A.J. Brown set the franchise single-season record for receiving yards with 1,496 in 2022.

Rivalries and Key Moments

71. The Eagles’ biggest rival is the Dallas Cowboys, a matchup often called “The Battle of the East.”
72. The “Bounty Bowl” in 1989 was a controversial game where the Cowboys accused the Eagles of putting “bounties” on players.
73. The “Miracle at the Meadowlands” happened in 1978 when Herman Edwards returned a fumble for a game-winning TD.
74. “Miracle at the New Meadowlands” (2010) featured DeSean Jackson’s walk-off punt return touchdown.
75. The Eagles have a fierce rivalry with the New York Giants, dating back to their first meeting in 1933.
76. The “4th and 26” play in the 2003 playoffs against the Packers is one of the most clutch plays in team history.
77. The “Fog Bowl” (1988) was a playoff game where visibility was almost zero.
78. The “Body Bag Game” in 1990 saw the Eagles’ defense knock nine Redskins players out of the game.
79. The Eagles’ rivalry with the Washington Commanders is one of the oldest in the league.
80. The 2017 NFC Championship win (38-7 over the Vikings) is considered the loudest the Linc has ever been.

Interesting and Fun Facts

81. The Eagles’ colors are midnight green, silver, black, and white.
82. Originally, the team colors were Kelly green and white.
83. The Eagles are the only team in the NFL to have their logo facing left on their helmets.
84. This is so the “E” in the eagle’s feathers is visible.
85. The first player ever drafted in the first NFL Draft (1936) was Jay Berwanger, picked by the Eagles.
86. Berwanger never played a single game in the NFL.
87. The Eagles were the first team to ever have a permanent cheerleading squad (The Eaglettes).
88. The movie Invincible is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who made the team as a 30-year-old walk-on.
89. The movie Silver Linings Playbook heavily features the Eagles and their fan culture.
90. Every time the Eagles score at home, they blast “Fly, Eagles Fly” and shoot off fireworks.
91. The Eagles’ official charity, Eagles Autism Foundation, has raised millions for research.
92. The “Tush Push” (or Brotherly Shove) became a national phenomenon in 2023.
93. Jeffrey Lurie, the current owner, purchased the team in 1994 for $185 million.
94. As of 2024, the team is valued at over $8 billion.
95. The Eagles’ practice facility is called the NovaCare Complex.
96. Philadelphia hosted the very first NFL Draft in 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
97. The Eagles have nine retired jersey numbers, including #5 (McNabb) and #20 (Dawkins).
98. Merrill Reese has been the radio voice of the Eagles since 1977, the longest-tenured announcer in the NFL.
99. In 2024, the Eagles became the first team to play a regular-season game in Brazil.
100. The Philadelphia Eagles are more than a team; they are a lifestyle for millions of people worldwide.