With their dominant 55-23 win over NFC East rival Washington Commanders in the NFC title game, the Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl once again. This marks the franchise’s second appearance in the big game in the last three years, their third in the last eight years, and their fourth since 2004.
With this trip, the Eagles have broken a tie with the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, and Giants, all of whom have made three Super Bowl appearances since 2000. By reaching their fourth Super Bowl, Philadelphia now holds the most NFC championships since the turn of the millennium.
To put this achievement in perspective, the only teams with more Super Bowl appearances during this time are the dynastic New England Patriots (9) and the Kansas City Chiefs (5). Given the competitive nature of the league and the difficulties of maintaining success in an era that deals with a salary cap, the Eagles' continued successes is truly remarkable.
However, when we discuss some of the best NFL franchises of this century, Philadelphia often seems to be left out despite how much winning they do in the City of Brotherly Love. A lot of the discussion focuses on higher-profile dynasties, such as Kansas City and New England, or even a team like the 49ers that hasn't won a Super Bowl in this time frame.
Their success is even more remarkable since, unlike many of their peers, they haven't relied on a generational quarterback to lead them for decades. To compete at the highest level, the Eagles have relied on flexibility and smart roster building, in contrast to organizations like the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes and the Patriots with Tom Brady. From Nick Foles' historic 2017 playoff run to Donovan McNabb in the early 2000s, they have had Super Bowl runs with a wide range of quarterbacks. Now, Jalen Hurts, who is good, but no doubt does have his flaws, is headed to the Super Bowl for the second time. Every journey to the Super Bowl for Philly has been different, showing the Eagles' ability to put together competitive teams with a variety of players and styles of play.
Furthermore, the Eagles have maintained this consistency under a number of head coaches, each of whom has contributed a different philosophy to the group. Doug Pederson helped win their first Super Bowl in 2017, Andy Reid guided them to their first appearance in the big game of the twenty-first century in 2004, and now Nick Sirianni has them back on the biggest stage in football for the second time in his tenure as head coach. All of this makes the Eagles rather unique compared to some of the best NFL franchises of the last 25 years.
The man behind Philadelphia's long-term success, general manager Howie Roseman, is at the heart of it all. Roseman deserves significant praise for his vision and judgment in navigating the NFL's highs and lows. His ability to anticipate when or whether the franchise needs to make a major change has been consistently demonstrated, and his decisions have generally yielded favorable outcomes. Roseman's knack for balancing immediate needs with long-term goals has made him one of the most respected executives in the game.
Whether it’s drafting Jalen Hurts after committing significant resources to Carson Wentz, trading for A.J. Brown, selecting a slender wide receiver in DeVonta Smith despite widespread doubts, taking a calculated risk on Jalen Carter by betting on the team’s infrastructure, or even pulling the rug out from under the New York Giants by signing running back Saquon Barkley—who may be on track for one of the greatest seasons ever—Roseman’s ability to reshape the team's roster on a consistent basis is remarkable and should not be understated.
In addition to their achievements on the field, they have developed a tough and consistent culture. The Eagles have maintained their status as a consistent contender by uniting one of the NFL's strongest fan bases with a forward-thinking front office, while other teams have spent decades trying to find relevance. Their capacity to bounce back swiftly from years of decline is reflective of an organizational culture that places a high value on sustained success.
So why don’t they receive more credit? Maybe it's because their success isn't linked to any one defining period or legendary coach or player. Rather, their story is one of consistent success across several versions of teams, which may make them more difficult to categorize. But there's no denying that the Philadelphia Eagles have developed an organization that deserves to be discussed as one of the best in the league.
Perhaps it's time to reevaluate the Eagles' place in NFL history as they get ready to play in another Super Bowl. Philadelphia has defied the odds in a league where maintaining a competitive edge year after year is frequently seen as an uphill task. In my opinion, the Eagles might just be the most underappreciated sports franchise of the twenty-first century.
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