Over the years, many star athletes have played for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won various NFL championships between 1948 and 1960, but their first Super Bowl win was in 2018. Here are some star players who appear in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Reggie White
When playing football at the University of Tennessee, Reggie White was an All-American in his senior year. In his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, he accumulated many accolades. He was known for his dominance as a defensive player when playing for the Eagles from 1985 to 1992. White had 128 sacks during this time, more than any other player in this period.
In 1987, he had 21 sacks and became the Defensive Player of the Year in the league. He was also the sack leader in 1987 and 1988 and made seven Pro Bowls. White was an ordained Baptist minister, which earned him the nickname “Minister of Defense.” White is in the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2017, Pennsylvania legalized sports betting. The first sports wager at a land-based casino happened in 2018. This was the same year the Eagles won the Super Bowl. PA online sports betting became legal in 2019. When looking at NFL spreads, the Eagles have been favorites more than underdogs since they won the Super Bowl.
Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik played for the University of Pennsylvania and won All-America honors as a center in his last two seasons. He played for the Eagles from 1949 to 1962. As an offensive center, he was a bulldozing blocker. On defense, he could stop even the best runners. In 1950, he received All-NFL recognition as a center, but it was as a linebacker that he received the most attention.
Bednarik made eight Pro Bowls and won two NFL championships. One of the moments people remember was his tackle on the New York Giants’ Frank Gifford. The running back didn’t play football for a while after this. Another tackle in the 1960 championship game against the Green Bay Packers stands out. Jim Taylor seemed to be going for a winning touchdown when Bednarik brought him to the ground.
Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins was selected by the Eagles in 1996, and they didn’t regret their choice. Over his seasons of playing with them, he grew into one of the best safeties in the league. He led Philadelphia in interceptions in 1997 and 1998. In 2002, he earned a team tackle title. The legendary safety was able to cover ground quickly, much like what people expect from high-speed internet.
The 34 interceptions Dawkins made while playing for the Eagles are a tie with those of Eric Allen and Bill Bradley. He also leads the franchise with 132 passes defended and 32 forced fumbles. Dawkins made seven Pro Bowls as an Eagle and was a four-time first-team All-Pro.
Steve Van Buren
Van Buren was a first-team All-NFL selection in each of his first six seasons for the Eagles. In 1945, he won a triple crown when he led in rushing, scoring, and kickoff returns. His 69 rushing touchdowns are the all-time Eagles record. He was a halfback who played more like a fullback and was part of the Eagles team that was a dominant force in the NFL in the late 1940s.
When Van Buren came on the stage in 1994, the Eagles hadn’t ever finished above fourth place in the NFL championship. They finished second that year and were runners-up for two more years. They won the NFL title in 1948 and 1949. In the 1949 title game against the Los Angeles Rams, Steve carried 31 times for a record 196 yards, and the Eagles won 14-0.
Current top players
The Eagles’ 2025 schedule has been announced. A game against the Cincinnati Bengals will kick off the preseason on August 7. In the regular season that starts on September 4, the first game will be against the Dallas Cowboys. At present, Jalen Hurts tops the list of players as the team’s quarterback. Another top player is Jalen Carter, the All-Pro defensive tackle. The Eagles have plenty of star power on both sides going into the 2025 season.