RELATED: See our Top 20 Kansas City Chiefs of the 2000s here.
The Philadelphia Eagles are days away from playing in a third Super Bowl in eight seasons. It's the type of run that defies logic, given all that's transpired between the appearances, even if it pales in comparison to what is happening in Kansas City. For some reason, though, the magnitude of what's happening here hasn't hit me.
In the spirit of transparency, I'm a native of Arizona. I've never been to Philadelphia. I've yet to see a game live at the Linc. That might discredit everything I'm about to say. If that's the case, no worries. People have their standards for fandom, and I respect it. Truthfully, for many years, the day I fell in love with the Eagles was one I wished went down differently. The relationship was very much a one-way street, and I was sick of this team never loving me back.
There wasn't anything I could do, though. I was hooked. A seven-year-old kid from Phoenix, Arizona, in awe of Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens. I was a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and, more importantly, the game of football.
Given all that's happened this season, I've found it tough to stay present and accept reality. There will be another Super Bowl played. Against a modern dynasty. The Eagles may win. They could also be the bookends of history. Regardless, reflecting on everything that's happened between then and now has made me feel a sense of gratitude. I've found myself thinking about the guys I believe have made the most significant impact on this team. The next logical step was to sit down and rank some of the top names in recent Eagles history.
While many players have a legitimate candidacy, this is my best shot at ranking my top 20 Eagles of the 2000s. To say this was difficult would be an understatement.
Honorable Mentions
In alphabetical order, they are Alshon Jeffery, WR (2017-2020), Darius Slay Jr., CB (2020-2024), and Michael Vick, QB (2009-2013). These players just missed the cut.
The Top 20 Philadelphia Eagles of the 2000s, Nos. 20-11
20. Jason Peters, OT (2009-2020)
19. Jeremiah Trotter, LB (1998-2001, 2004-2007, 2009)
18. Trent Cole, OLB (2005-2014)
17. A.J. Brown, WR (2022-2024)
16. Brian Westbrook, RB (2002-2009)
15. DeVonta Smith, WR (2021-2024)
14. Malcolm Jenkins, DB (2014-2019)
13. Brandon Graham, OLB/DL (2010-2024)
12. Lane Johnson, OT (2013-2024)
11. Jalen Hurts, QB (2020-2024)
10. Fletcher Cox, DL (2012-2023)
Throughout the modern history of the Eagles, there's been a foundational defensive player in the front seven who's served as the core of the group. Andy Reid's early teams had Jeremiah Trotter. He was eventually joined by Trent Cole, who later mentored Fletcher Cox. The Mississippi State product spent his entire 12-year career with the Eagles, earning six-straight Pro Bowl nods and a spot on four All-Pro teams. He served as a defensive anchor through three different coaching tenures, and his 70 sacks are the fifth-highest in Eagles history. His role on the Super Bowl team made him an all-timer for me. He'll likely be immortalized in Canton at some point.
9. DeSean Jackson, WR (2008-2013, 2019-2020)
One of my all-time favorite Eagle memories is watching Jackson look back at LaRon Landry after scoring on the opening play of Monday Night Football in 2010. That year also brought his walk-off punt return that completed the second Miracle at the Meadowlands. Even his lowlights – like dropping the ball before crossing the goal line – were must-see plays. Jackson's arguably the most lethal deep threat the NFL has ever seen. Rarely are splash players also consistent. Jackson was both. In his eight seasons with the Eagles, Jackson averaged 17.2 yards per reception on four receptions per game. He likely would've added to his three 1,000-yard seasons in Philadelphia if he wasn't traded to Washington by Chip Kelly. It's a move that still draws the ire of Eagle fans, and Jackson himself. Even with the interrupted tenure, he's a top-five receiver in Eagles history and one of the best of his era.
8. Zach Ertz, TE (2013-2021)
You'll notice a trend starting to develop here with Ertz. For whatever reason, Eagles franchise legends tend to end up in Washington colors. When you catch the touchdown that seals a team's first-ever Super Bowl title, though, you're forever affiliated with that franchise. Ertz ascended into the upper tier of NFL tight ends under Doug Pederson. In his nine years with the Eagles, Ertz caught 4.7 passes per game for an average of 10.8 yards per reception. His three-year stretch between 2017-2019 led to three Pro Bowl nods and the Eagles single-season reception record – he caught 116 passes in 2018. His rapport with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles was invaluable on teams lacking one dominant wide receiver. In 2019, he was the Eagles' leading receiver with 916 yards. His trade to Arizona in 2021 signaled the franchise retooling under new head coach Nick Sirianni. Regardless, Ertz's legacy as an Eagle is solidified. You don't just forget his catch on fourth down in the 2017 Super Bowl.
7. Donovan McNabb, QB (1999-2009)
The big win eluded him in his career. Still, he made the fans who booed him on draft night regret that decision. McNabb is the closest the Eagles have come to employing a league MVP. He finished as the runner-up for the award in 2000. Carson Wentz had a similar sophomore season, finishing second in MVP voting in 2017. McNabb, though, played for the Eagles for another nine seasons, which is slightly different from Wentz's trajectory. In his 11 seasons, McNabb led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championships between 2001 and 2004. He didn't win one until 2004. He didn't get back to the game until 2008, when the Eagles lost to Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals in Arizona. It was his final trip to the penultimate game of the season. He went 1-4 in NFC Championships and 0-1 in Super Bowls. Still, he's well-represented in the Eagles record books. He's the all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and wins. Given his lead in those categories, it'll be a long time before anyone has a shot at dethroning him. The guy who threw up in the huddle during the Super Bowl became the best quarterback in Eagles history. Also, he's another guy who spent some time in Washington, for what that's worth.
6. Terrell Owens, WR (2004-2005)
I'm not sure there's an adjective I can use to accurately describe how much fun I had watching Terrell Owens play. He's one of the reasons I fell in love with football. Sentiment aside, though, you'd be hard-pressed to find an all-time great receivers list that didn't feature Owens near the top five. In my eyes, he's the most talented receiver to wear the uniform, and he only wore it for 22 games, including the 2004 playoff run. In that time, Owens averaged 93.5 receiving yards and almost a touchdown per game in the regular season. His driveway interview and the improbable Super Bowl return are the two most noteworthy moments from his run in Philadelphia. He played the Patriots six weeks removed from a broken fibula and torn ankle ligament. Owens caught nine passes for 122 yards. It's not unfair to call the effort superhuman. His run with the Eagles was short. Still, his name is synonymous with the position and the franchise.
5. LeSean McCoy, RB (2009-2014)
A true home-run hitter and the franchise's all-time leading rusher. His 4.6 yards per carry is tied with former teammate Brian Westbrook for the most in Eagles history. Beyond that, though, he earned two first-team All-Pro nods with 1,309 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011 and 1,607 rushing yards to go with nine touchdowns in 2013. It wouldn't be hyperbolic to say the day he was traded to Buffalo after the 2014 season was among the worst in my time as a fan. I remember where I was. My college dorm room, staring at my phone, while my roommate laughed at me. I like to think it's how Dallas fans felt when they saw the Luka trade. Repressed trauma aside, the names Kiko Alonso and Chip Kelly are unfortunately connected to the best running back to wear the uniform. Judging by his subsequent four seasons in Buffalo, McCoy may have set nearly untouchable records if Kelly was never handed personnel control. That reality makes his standing with the franchise even more special.
Side note: If I ever list my least favorite Eagles of the 2000s, I'll make an exception for coaches, and Kelly will be near the top.
4. Jason Kelce, C (2011-2023)
When the Eagles won the 2024 NFC Championship over the Commanders, one of my first thoughts was about Jason Kelce. If he had waited one more year to call it a career, he likely would've had his shot at redemption against his brother in the Super Bowl. That's not to take anything from Cam Jurgens, who couldn't have filled the Kelce void any better. It was more of a reckoning with how terrible the 2023 season was. I hate that it was Kelce's last season with the Eagles. Many fans feel that connection to Kelce because of everything he poured into the franchise. Beyond his first-ballot Hall of Fame candidacy, or his six First-Team All-Pro nods in seven seasons, he was the face of the team; toughness personified, and one of the smoothest centers to ever play the position. From 2015 on, he didn't miss a single game. His standing as the core of the offensive line, which has been this team's identity for many years as a result of Kelce, solidified the group's elite reputation around the league. There likely won't be another center like Kelce, or another player who bears the face of a franchise moniker like he did.
3. Saquon Barkley, RB (2024)
Your recency bias alarms might be sounding. That's okay. Hear me out. We've seen seasons like 2023 before. It happened in 2012. Then in 2020. Down seasons, in which rosters with expectations drastically underwhelmed and whiffed on lofty expectations. In each of the previous iterations – I'm referring to 2012 and 2020 – coaches were fired. Rosters were deconstructed. Timelines were reset. There's nothing worse than being blindsided by a rebuild. 2023 was different, though. While things seemed to be trending toward Nick Sirianni being fired one year after leading a team to the Super Bowl, he deviated from the Doug Pederson course. Sirianni moved on from Brian Johnson, Sean Desai, and Matt Patricia. He brought in seasoned coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio and decided he would play the role of the CEO coach. Many were skeptical – rightfully so. Howie Roseman, on the other hand, got started on retooling the roster. His splash was giving Saquon Barkley $37.75 million over three years in a league where the value placed on running backs was as low as it had ever been. The result was 14 wins, 2,005 rushing yards, and a trip back to the Super Bowl. It's the best season an Eagles running back has ever had. More than that, Barkley solidified the Eagles' identity as an elite running team in a passing league. His 2024 season corrected the course of the franchise and kept history from repeating itself. It's one of the best seasons I've ever seen from any Eagles player. Thank you, New York.
2. Brian Dawkins, S (1996-2008)
You can't make a list like this and not include Brian Dawkins. He might be the most influential Eagle of all time. I'd lean closer to calling him positionless than I would a safety. In his 13 years with the Eagles, he intercepted 34 passes – tied for the franchise lead – picked up 21 sacks, and 45 tackles for loss. These numbers aren't typical at the safety position. Dawkins played all over the field and treated each game like a spiritual experience. The standard he set elevated the players around him and led elite Eagle defenses in the early 2000s. His approach to the game was one-of-one. There aren't guys like him. There likely won't ever be another Dawkins. The fact that he was an Eagle is something fans should be proud of.
1. Nick Foles, QB (2012-2014, 2017-2018)
If this is controversial, so be it. I had tears in my eyes when I got the notification that Carson Wentz was done for the season in 2017. All those promising seasons; the times this team had been right there and couldn't seal the deal, came flooding back to me as I looked down at my phone. The 2004 Super Bowl, the 2008 NFC Championship, and the promise of the “Dream Team” in 2012. This 2017 season would be filed into that vault. Doug Pederson preached belief. That was his job. He couldn't say it was over. I knew it was, though. Thankfully, Foles never got that memo. There was a time when I thought Foles could be the guy. Guys don't just throw 27 touchdowns to two interceptions in 10 games as a starter if they aren't talented. Things stalled out. He was traded to the Rams in 2014 for Sam Bradford, and the fans turned the page with Chip Kelly.
That's why I knew he could be a capable backup when he returned to the Eagles in 2017. An above-average option on the roster in case of an emergency is never a bad thing. Except for when that above-average guy now needs to do something that's never been done before and in a position built for someone else. What Foles did in those next six games is something I'll tell my future kids about. Winning his second career playoff game against the Falcons, throwing for three touchdowns against the Vikings in the NFC Championship, outdueling Tom Brady in a Super Bowl – with a receiving touchdown for good measure – to bring the Eagles their first championship. It's among the most unlikely playoff runs in the history of the NFL. It's often forgotten he almost did it again the next year. He might've authored a sequel if not for an untimely Alshon Jeffery drop. As great as everyone else is on this list, none of them did what Nick Foles did. He gave me the best sports memory of my life.
Who Should Be Higher, Lower?
For those of you with differing opinions on these rankings, I'd love to hear them. We all have our criteria and rationale for thinking the way we do. That's what makes fandom great. Find me @FFCDod on X, and let's talk about it. Also, go check out Jeff Blaylock's look at the Top 20 Chiefs of the 2000s.