Philadelphia Eagles

Lore & Background

The franchise was established in 1933 as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets when a group led by Bert Bell secured the rights to an NFL franchise in Philadelphia. Since their formation, the Eagles have appeared in the playoffs 32 times, won 17 division titles (including 14 in the NFC East), appeared in four pre-merger NFL Championship Games, winning three of them (1948, 1949, and 1960), and appeared in five Super Bowls, winning Super Bowls LII and LIX.

In Their Own Story

The Wild Card game was a tense, back-and-forth affair. The Eagles, who had started the season 8–2 before a three-game losing streak, fought hard to keep their repeat hopes alive. But the 49ers' defense held firm, and a late Eagles rally fell short. The final score of 23–19 echoed the narrow margins that have defined this rivalry. For the Eagles, it was a bitter end to a season that began with Super Bowl celebrations; for the 49ers, it was another step toward their own championship aspirations. The game was a microcosm of the rivalry: close, physical, and ultimately decided by the 49ers' ability to make one more play than the Eagles.

Reader's Guide

The Eagles are owned by Jeffrey Lurie, who bought the team in 1994 for $185 million. In December 2024, the Eagles became one of the first teams in the NFL to sell an ownership stake to outside investors. The deal sold 8% of the franchise at a valuation of $8.3 billion. The Eagles rank among the best teams in the NFL for attendance and have sold out every home game continuously since the 1999 season.

Did You Know?

• The Eagles were named after the Blue Eagle logo of the National Recovery Administration, a centerpiece of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies.
• The Eagles' first game was on October 15, 1933, against the New York Giants, losing 56–0.
• In 1935, Eagles co-owner Bert Bell proposed the annual college draft to equalize talent across the league.
• The Eagles merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1943 to form the 'Steagles' due to player shortages during World War II.