Philadelphia Eagles: All-Time Jersey Numbers, 1- 15
For many players, the number on their uniform is simply that: a number. It's a quick way to identify a player on the field and, unlike a name, it's much easier for fans to pick out from the nosebleed section.
Oftentimes, the number holds a personal significance to the player, such as a variation of his college number or the number of his favorite NFL star. However, such significance is rarely conveyed beyond the locker room.
Still, there are a few instances when the significance of a player's number transcends the norm. Through exceptional play on the field, a player can cause his number to become permanently associated with his name. Some, like the Bengal formerly known as Chad Johnson, take it a step further, going so far as to assimilate their number into their public personality.
While the following fifteen Eagles haven't exactly changed their last names to reflect the digits on their chest, they have made an impact to the franchise in such a way that a part of their legacy lives on through the numbers. Here are the most memorable Eagles ever to wear the numbers one through 15.
#1: Tony Franklin
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After getting selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft, placekicker Tony Franklin out of Texas A&M enjoyed a solid five-year career in Philadelphia.
What made Franklin so memorable was his barefoot kicking style. For every kick, he would trot out onto the field wearing nothing but a half-sock on his right foot.
Although unconventional, Franklin's tactic brought him success. During a game against the Cowboys in 1979, he managed to kick the fourth-longest field goal in NFL history (at the time): a 59-yarder which helped the Eagles to a 31-21 victory.
To this day, Franklin remains one of only a handful of players to ever placekick barefoot on a professional level.
#2: David Akers
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Any football fan who has followed the Eagles in the past decade is familiar with the impressive resume of placekicker David Akers.
In his 12 seasons with the Eagles, Akers has garnered six Pro Bowl selections (including one this past year), five All-Pro selections and three NFC Special Teams Player of the Month awards. He also holds the NFL records for most consecutive postseason field goal conversions (19), most points in a single decade (1,114) and points in Pro Bowl history (48).
Through his unbeatable poise on the field, Akers has solidified his legacy in Philadelphia, earning the following team records, including the record for breaking the most kicking records:
- Single-season field goal conversion success rate: 88.2%
- Field goals made in a single season: 33
- Career field goal conversions: 294
- Single-season extra point conversion success rate (tie): 100%
- Career extra point conversions: 441 (only 6 missed out of 447 attempts)
- Career games started: 188
- 50+ yard field goal conversions (lifetime): 15
- Points scored (lifetime): 1,327
It's hard to believe that, after going undrafted as a rookie, Akers was once summarily rejected by both the Panthers and the Redskins before landing with the Eagles in 2000.
#3: Jack Concannon
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Although quarterback Jack Concannon spent the majority of his time with the Eagles behind starter Norm Snead, he did have one very memorable season back in 1966.
Charged with the starting position after a quarterback rotation, Concannon led the Eagles on a three-game winning streak to finish the season 9-5 and earn a spot in the Playoff Bowl. During a regular season game against Pittsburgh, the nimble Concannon accumulated 129 rushing yards, the most by an Eagles quarterback in a single game until Michael Vick's 130 yard rushing game this past year.
Quickly developing a modest fan base, Concannon managed to impress his teammates as well, including center Ray Mansfield:
""If [Coach] Kuharich played either of the other two quarterbacks, [Norm] Snead or [King] Hill, our defense would've smothered them. But Concannon was something different. He was just too nimble. You don't expect to see a quarterback run for that kind of yardage."
Source: The Eagles Encyclopedia by Ray Didinger & Robert S. Lyons
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Unfortunately, Concannon's brief stardom would end with his four-interception performance in the Playoff Bowl against the Baltimore Colts. Although he was shipped off to Chicago the following season, he remained a curiously fond memory in the hearts of Eagles fans for years to come.
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#4: Kevin Kolb
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Although he has only had brief stints as a starting quarterback in the NFL, Kevin Kolb has become one of the most talked-about players in the 2011 offseason. Of the few Eagles players ever to don the number four, Kolb will doubtlessly rank among the most memorable.
In only seven career starts, Kolb has racked up nine passing touchdowns and one rushing score. He garnered two NFC Offensive Player of the Week awards for his victories over the Chiefs in 2009 and the Falcons in 2010.
Despite missing his chance to be the Eagles' permanent starting quarterback after a concussion in week one of 2010, Kolb has provided invaluable security behind Donovan McNabb and Vick and finally appears poised to take over as a full-time NFL starter.
#5: Donovan McNabb
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Love him or hate him, Donovan McNabb will go down in history as one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever wear an Eagles uniform.
McNabb's list of accolades accumulated over his 10 year career in Philadelphia could fill a small textbook. Among other honors, he was selected to six Pro Bowls, won the 2004 NFC Offensive Player of the Year title, and broke the following franchise records:
- Most Career Attempts (4,303)
- Most Pass Completions (2534)
- Most Passing Yards (29,320)
- Most Passing Touchdowns (203)
- Most Single-Season Completions (345, 2008 season)
- Most Single-Season Yards (3,916, 2008 season)
- Most NFC Championship Appearances (5)
Although one of McNabb's most memorable moments will be his failure to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl XXXIX victory, his ability to keep the Eagles a legitimate playoff contender over the course of 10 years should never be forgotten by the fans.
#6: Sav Rocca
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Sav Rocca's inclusion on this list among Eagles greats may come as a surprise to many, but the former Aussie-rules player presents one of the most intriguing storylines among the handful of Eagles to wear the number six.
After a prolific 15-year career in the Australian-rules Football League, the 33-year old Rocca wasted no time in starting the next stage of his athletic career. He sent highlight videos around to several NFL teams, searching for a job as a punter before getting invited to the Eagles' training camp in 2007. As a result, he was awarded the dubious honor of becoming the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL.
Once Rocca donned the midnight green, there was no turning back. He beat out incumbent punter and eight-year NFL veteran Dirk Johnson and has since enjoyed a four year career as the Eagles punter and as the holder for David Akers' placekicks.
So far, Rocca's inconsistency has kept him from earning a Pro Bowl selection, but he did manage to earn the NFL special teams Player of the Month award in September of 2008, leading the league with a 44.1-yard net punting average and having seven punts downed inside the 20-yard-line.
#7: Ron Jaworski
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Ron "Jaws" Jaworski left quite an impression during his ten season in the city of Philadelphia. The most memorable season by far was his 1980 run to Super Bowl XV.
With only brief appearances in the playoffs during the 1978 and 1979 seasons, Jaworski managed a Pro Bowl year in 1980, completing 257 out of 451 passes for 3,529 yards during the regular season, including 27 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions.
The magical run ended with the Eagles first-ever Super Bowl appearance, where they fell to the Raiders 27-10. Still, Jaworski had managed in a short amount of time to turn his team of misfits around and lead them to the franchise's first NFL championship game in twenty years.
At the time of his release in the spring of 1986, Jaworski had accumulated a franchise record 170 regular season touchdowns - a record that wouldn't be broken until Donovan McNabb came to town 22 years later.
#8: Davey O'Brien
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Most notable for having the Davey O'Brien Award (best collegiate quarterback) named after him, O'Brien also enjoyed a brief, but successful career in Philadelphia.
Despite being a miniscule 5'7" 151 pounds, O'Brien was considered to be one of the top prospects in the 1939 NFL Draft, and was chosen fourth overall by the Eagles. The TCU product fit in immediately as their starting quarterback and lived up to the hype by leading the league in passing yards as a rookie with 1,324 yards in 11 games.
In his second professional season, O'Brien again produced top statistics, leading the league in both attempts and completions. He also contributed as both a defensive back and as a punter, racking up four interceptions and a 40.7 yard punt average.
Unfortunately, O'Brien's great career ended almost before it had begun. Apparently, football was not his true love, because despite a $2,000 pay raise, he retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
Still, O'Brien's football legacy lives on, even if most of it is from his college days.
#9: Sonny Jurgensen
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Although Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen was only a starter with the Eagles for three seasons before his trade to the Redskins, he still managed to propel himself into the upper echelon of franchise players.
After getting drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 1957 NFL draft, Jurgensen spent three seasons behind Hall of Fame quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and was a member of the franchise's 1960 NFL Championship team.
In his first year as a starter, Jurgensen earned his first of five Pro Bowl selections, as well as passing for an NFL record 3,723 yards and tying the NFL record with 32 touchdown passes. The Eagles finished second in the division that year, going on to lose to the Lions in the Playoff Bowl.
Two more seasons under his belt (although injury plagued) were enough to entice the Eagles to use Jurgensen as trade bait, which they promptly did, netting the younger, less effective Norm Snead in return.
#10: DeSean Jackson
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In his three short years in the NFL, DeSean Jackson has already made a big impact on Eagles franchise history, becoming the first player selected to the Pro Bowl as both a wide receiver and a kick returner.
Although showboaty and cocky at times, many fans can't help but fall in love with Jackson's on-field antics. His big-play ability and sheer speed allow him to back up his showboating and make him a near-impossible player to catch, which he demonstrated in the 2009 season by racking up eight touchdowns of over 50 yards. The total was good enough for Jackson to tie an NFL record previously held only by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch and Devin Hester.
Jackson's most memorable play will forever stay in the minds of the Eagles fans lucky enough to witness it live: The Miracle at the New Meadowlands. On December 19th, 2010, the Giants and Eagles were tied 31-31 with 0:14 left in the game. A high snap by Giants center Zak DeOssie led to Matt Dodge's punt sailing straight into the waiting arms of Jackson, who returned it in a suspense-laden 65-yard run for the game-winning score.
With only three NFL seasons under his belt, one has to wonder how many more exciting plays DeSean Jackson will produce before his career comes to an end.
#11: Norm Van Brocklin
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As one of the few Eagles players to receive a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Norm Van Brocklin deserves a special place in the franchise history books.
In addition to earning a Pro Bowl berth for each of his three years on the team, Van Brocklin led the Eagles to their third NFL Championship victory in 1960. His 17-13 defeat of the Packers marks the only time legendary head coach Vince Lombardi suffered a playoff loss.
#12: Randall Cunningham
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A dual threat on both the ground and through the air, Randall Cunningham ranks among the most exciting players in Eagles history.
After taking over the reins from Ron Jaworski in 1987, Cunningham promptly turned the Eagles from a slumping franchise with a six-year sentence in the NFC's cellar to a competitive team that made the playoffs five times over the next eight seasons.
Through his 11-season tenure in Philadelphia, Cunningham racked up 150 passing touchdowns (third most among Eagles quarterbacks) and 32 rushing touchdowns (fourth most among all Eagles players). He was selected to three Pro Bowls and earned MVP honors in the 1988 Pro Bowl, leading the NFC over the AFC 34-3.
#13: George Keneally
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Turning the clock back to 1933, we find offensive lineman George Keneally, one of the scant few Eagles to be caught wearing the unlucky number 13.
However, despite the superstition surrounding the number on his chest, Keneally enjoyed a successful and productive NFL career. Originally joining the NFL in 1926 as a member of the Pottsville Maroons, Keneally took his leadership skills around the league, eventually finding his way to Philadelphia in 1933 and becoming one of the Eagles' inaugural members.
Over the next three seasons, Keneally enjoyed his status as team captain and assistant coach, earning his second All-Pro selection in the process.
#14: Ty Detmer
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Although his career statistics don't even approach those of Eagles quarterback greats like Norm Van Brocklin and Donovan McNabb, Ty Detmer managed to carve out a small legacy for himself during his two years as an Eagle.
Shortly after signing as a free agent in 1996, Detmer was thrust into the starting position after Rodney Peete was lost for the year. Detmer responded admirably by winning his first four games, including a four-touchdown performance against the Dolphins and a 31-21 thumping of the Cowboys. It was the first win the Eagles earned over Dallas since 1991 and it earned Detmer NFL Player of the Week honors.
Continuing his strong performance, Detmer led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and a Wild Card game appearance against Steve Young's 49ers. The following year, Detmer was part of a quarterback carousel that included Peete and Bobby Hoying, but was never again able to replicate the success of his 1996 season.
#15: Steve Van Buren
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As one of only six Eagles to have his number retired, Hall of Fame running back Steve Van Buren set the standard for greatness in the franchise.
Over the course of eight years in Philadelphia, the 6'1" 200-pound battering ram that was Van Buren earned seven All-Pro selections, as well as setting multiple league and franchise records. To this day, Van Buren still ranks as the Eagle with the most career rushing touchdowns (69) and the highest single-season rushing yards per game average (95.5 in 1949).
Most notable was Van Buren's propulsion of the Eagles to two consecutive NFL Championships, a 7-0 victory over the Chicago Cardinals (in which Van Buren scored the only touchdown) and a 14-0 shutout of the Los Angeles Rams.
However, all good things must come to an end. In 1952, a knee injury forced Van Buren's retirement, leaving him as the NFL record holder for career rushing yards (5,860) and career rushing touchdowns (69). To this day, Van Buren remains one of the greatest players to ever suit up in the Philadelphia colors.
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