Greatest Eagles Players of All-Time
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the most historic franchises in the NFL that was founded in 1933. While the Eagles have only won five league championships in franchise history, several legendary players have worn the wings on the side of their helmets in the City of Brotherly Love.
In the fifth and final installment of my G.O.A.T. series for The Philly Special Show, I’m going to rank the top 10 greatest players in franchise history. While a player’s talent level and individual accolades matter, I’ll also factor in the team’s success during their tenure and the overall impact that they had in Philadelphia.
Here are my top 10 greatest Eagles players of all-time:
10) Brandon Graham
Graham’s career got off to a slow start in Philadelphia but he eventually turned things around and holds the franchise record for games played (206). While Graham was only named to the Pro Bowl once, he was a captain on both of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl winning teams. Graham recorded 76.5 sacks in his career with the Eagles, third-most in franchise history. Graham’s No. 55 will likely be retired by the Eagles and never worn again in the City of Brotherly Love.
9) Donovan McNabb
McNabb arrived in Philadelphia with a ton of pressure as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. He helped lead the Eagles to four NFC Championship games as one of the best quarterbacks in franchise history. McNabb was named to the Pro Bowl six times and is the franchise leader in both passing yards (32,873) and passing touchdowns (216). If he was able to win a Super Bowl, McNabb would be higher on this list.
8) Fletcher Cox
Cox was a consistent, dominant force for the Eagles throughout his 12-year career in Philadelphia. At his peak, Cox was regarded as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Cox was named to the Pro Bowl in six consecutive seasons and was a four-time All-Pro. He was a key player on Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl winning team and finished his career with 70 sacks, fifth in franchise history.
7) Jason Peters
The Eagles traded for Peters in 2009 and “The Bodyguard” was elite from day one in Philadelphia. Peters was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and a four-time All-Pro during his tenure with the Eagles. He was regarded as one of the best left tackles in the NFL and named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Peters will eventually be honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after finally retiring in 2025.
6) Jalen Hurts
Hurts arrived in Philadelphia as the backup quarterback behind Carson Wentz. Yet Hurts quickly earned the starting role and powered the Eagles to levels of dominance that were never achieved in franchise history. In four seasons as the full-time starting quarterback, Hurts has led Philadelphia to two Super Bowl appearances and one victory, in which he was also named Super Bowl MVP. At just 26-years old, Hurts has plenty of time to ascend up this list in the future.
5) Chuck Bednarik
The man known as “Concrete Charlie” was selected by the Eagles with the No. 1 overall pick in 1949. He played both center and linebacker as one of the best two-way players of all-time. Bednarik was named a First-Team All-Pro a whopping 10 times during his career with the Eagles. He also helped the franchise win two championships and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
4) Brian Dawkins
Dawkins arrived in Philadelphia as a second-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL, while embodying the passion of Eagles’ fans on the field. Dawkins earned the nickname “Weapon X,” as he often resembled Wolverine with his power and aggression. He was a four-time All-Pro and named to the Pro Bowl seven times, eventually being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
3) Jason Kelce
No player embodied the City of Brotherly Love quite like Kelce did. As a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Kelce exceeded everyone’s expectations, eventually becoming one of the best centers in NFL history. Kelce was a First-Team All-Pro six times and named to the Pro Bowl seven times. He helped lead the Eagles to the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory and will eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2) Reggie White
After spending time in the USFL, White joined the Eagles in 1985. “The Minister of Defense” was dominant from day one in Philadelphia, as White recorded 11 or more sacks in all eight of his seasons with the Eagles. In 1987, White was named Defensive Player of the Year after recording 21 sacks. White is easily the best defensive player in franchise history and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
1) Lane Johnson
Johnson was the first draft pick of the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia. While Johnson has been forced to play under four different head coaches, he has continued to play at an elite level. Johnson has earned six trips to the Pro Bowl and a five-time All-Pro. Most importantly, Johnson played a key role as Philadelphia’s starting right tackle on the only two Super Bowl winning teams in franchise history.