1 of 2

Write now Article Tools

Birds Still Flying After 75 Years
The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their 75th anniversary by wearing their light blue and yellow throwback jerseys during the, game played against the Detroit Lions Sunday, September 23rd. The Eagles won that game, securing their first win of the season, by a score of 56-21. They had lost their two previous games against Green Bay and Washington by fewer than ten points each. The uniforms worn by the Eagles, looked rather alien to fans but served as a lucky charm for the Eagles; they were the first uniforms worn by the Eagles franchise.

In 1931, the Philadelphia football team, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, faced financial troubles and fell into bankruptcy halfway through their season. They stopped all of their games and stadium operations, and it looked as though the National Football League would need to find a replacement team to continue play into later seasons. But after more than a year of searching, Philadelphia received a second chance to be represented in the NFL.
The NFL handed the Philadelphia franchise over to two University of Pennsylvania teammates, Lud Wray and Bert Bell, for a minor fee. Inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the two named their new franchise The Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia was back in the NFL! The Eagles took the Yellow Jackets' colors as their own for their first season of play.
After a year of preparations and mounted excitement, the new Eagles played their first game against the New York Giants in October 1933. To general astonishment, the Eagles lost 56-0. Their first decade of playing in the NFL would be difficult, and they would complete many seasons with losing records. After all, few players from the Yellow Jackets team had carried over to the Eagles; the team was mostly made up of former college players who played for a few years and moved on to other careers once their contracts were up.
Over the next few decades, the Eagles have had both winning and losing seasons. The Philadelphia franchise has evolved into a professionally run organization and a very lucrative business. In the more recent years, the Eagles have made many bids for the playoffs and Super Bowl. The team has also had its even more recent share of troubles, such as the consecutive injuries of quarterback Donovan McNabb and the team's arguments with former Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens.
The win on September 23rd over Detroit boosted morale for both players and fans. The team, after losing 13-16 to Green Bay and 12-20 to Washington, was finally able to win. By scoring 56 points in that one game, they were able to prove that they outscored their total opponents while having a losing record. If the Eagles can keep their momentum going, they will have another opportunity at reaching the Super Bowl. Some of their tougher opponents this year include the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New England Patriots( who have recently been found guilty to espionage). If they can continue racking up over 500 yards of total offense, they'll have no problem getting past them. Maybe they should wear those old uniforms more often.

Learn more about this author, David A. White.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about History of the Philadelphia Eagles?
We want to hear your view. Write now!