The Philadelphia Eagles are a historic franchise that was founded in 1933. While the Eagles haven’t won many championships, several legendary players have worn the wings on the side of their helmets in the City of Brotherly Love.
Ranking the Greatest Players in Philadelphia Eagles’ History
Throughout the franchise’s history, many popular players have played for the Eagles. Yet, the greatest players in Eagles’ history established a relationship with the fan base that went far beyond their play on the football field.
Philadelphia is truly the definition of a “sports town,” and its greatest players understood that better than anyone else. Here are the 10 best players in Eagles history!
10) Lane Johnson
The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft was a historically bad group, as several of the top selections flamed out quickly. Yet, the Eagles drafted a foundational, Super Bowl-winning player in Lane Johnson with the fourth overall selection.
Although Johnson was raw when he arrived in Philadelphia, he developed into one of the best offensive tackles in the league, holding down the right tackle spot for over a decade. Johnson’s elite play was recognized with five trips to the Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections.
9) Fletcher Cox
One year before adding Johnson, Philadelphia selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cox made his presence known immediately in Philadelphia, with 5.5 sacks in just nine starts during his rookie season.
Alongside Johnson, Cox served as a cornerstone for over a decade — helping power the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory. Cox was a dominant force along the defensive line in Philadelphia, earning six trips to the Pro Bowl and being named an All-Pro team four times.
8) Randall Cunningham
While Johnson and Cox played in the trenches, Randall Cunningham played a flashier position as one of the greatest quarterbacks in franchise history. Cunningham was nicknamed the “Ultimate Weapon” due to his ability to do it all on the field.
Not only was Cunningham a dangerous passer, but he was also one of the original dual-threat quarterbacks.
Cunningham finished his career third all-time in Eagles history with 22,877 passing yards and sixth all-time with 4,482 rushing yards. Let’s not forget his epic 91-yard punt against the New York Giants in 1989.
7) Harold Carmichael
When the Eagles selected wide receiver Harold Carmichael in the seventh round of the 1971 NFL Draft, they likely didn’t have high expectations. Yet, after 13 seasons in Philadelphia, Carmichael established himself as the greatest wide receiver in franchise history.
Carmichael finally received the gold jacket that he deserved after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. His receiving records in Philadelphia are close to untouchable, given his availability and consistency. Carmichael is first in franchise history with 589 receptions for 8,978 yards and 79 touchdowns.
6) Jason Peters
While Johnson was holding down the right side for over a decade in Philadelphia, Jason Peters was the franchise’s reliable left tackle.
The Eagles acquired Peters from the Buffalo Bills via trade in April 2009. This was easily one of the greatest trades in franchise history.
Peters took another step in Philadelphia, establishing himself as one of the NFL‘s elite offensive tackles. Although he battled several injuries, Peters was a seven-time Pro Bowler in Philadelphia. He was also a four-time All-Pro for the Eagles, rightfully earning “The Bodyguard” nickname.
5) Donovan McNabb
While Carmichael may have been the most entertaining quarterback in Eagles history, he wasn’t the best. Donovan McNabb earned that title due to both his performance and the team’s success during his tenure.
Philadelphia selected McNabb No. 2 overall in the 1999 NFL Draft, which was met with boos from some fans. McNabb used the boos as fuel to become elite. Although the Eagles went just 2-4 during McNabb’s starts as a rookie, he took a huge step forward in 2000.
MORE: Ranking the Best Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks of All Time
From 2000-2004, McNabb was named to five consecutive Pro Bowls. In that span, he led the Eagles to four straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game, including a trip to the Super Bowl. McNabb finished his career with Philadelphia as the franchise’s all-time leader with 32,873 passing yards and 216 touchdowns.
4) Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik was one of the best two-way players in NFL history. After being selected first overall by Philadelphia in 1949, the man known as “Concrete Charlie” played both linebacker and center for the Eagles.
Bednarik spent 14 seasons with the franchise. He was a dominant force, having been named a first-team All-Pro a whopping 10 times as an Eagle.
Bednarik also won two NFL Championships with the Eagles in 1949 and 1960. He’s also responsible for one of the greatest plays in NFL history, thanks to his vicious hit on Giants running back Frank Gifford in September 1960.
3) Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins was selected by the Eagles in Round 2 of the 1996 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a key player on Philadelphia’s highly feared defense.
Dawkins earned the nickname “Weapon X” due to his similarities to Wolverine, crawling out of the tunnel on game day and unleashing the beast on the field.
Dawkins encapsulated everything that the city of Philadelphia was, thanks to his toughness and undeniable passion. He made plays all over the field and is widely regarded as one of the best safeties in league history.
Dawkins was a four-time All-Pro in Philadelphia, while also earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish his career with the Eagles, yet he still holds several records. Dawkins is first in franchise history with 34 interceptions and 32 forced fumbles.
2) Reggie White
While some fans believe Dawkins is the greatest defender in franchise history, it’s hard to argue against Reggie White earning that spot. White landed in Philadelphia after the USFL collapsed in 1985. Signing him could arguably be the greatest move in franchise history.
White was a dominant force for the Eagles, earning his “Minister of Defense” nickname due to his religious background and play on the field. He recorded 11 or more sacks in all eight seasons that he played in Philadelphia.
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In 1987, White was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording an incredible 21 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 76 total tackles. He finished his career in Philadelphia with an absurd 124 sacks, which may be an untouchable record, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
1) Jason Kelce
There’s not a player on this list that embodies Philadelphia more than center Jason Kelce.
In 2011, the Eagles selected Kelce in the sixth round of the draft. At just 6’3″ and 295 pounds, nobody else seemingly wanted to take a chance on the undersized center.
Nevertheless, Kelce eventually developed into the face of the franchise, both on and off the field. His relentless passion and toughness were everything that Eagles fans wanted to see. His underdog mentality helped fuel the team’s first Super Bowl victory in 2017.
Despite his size limitations, Kelce became the top center in the NFL for nearly a decade. He was a six-time first-team All-Pro while also making seven trips to the Pro Bowl.
Kelce spent all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Eagles, further cementing his legacy as the greatest player in franchise history.