Stop me if you haven’t heard this one before: the Philadelphia Eagles are a team of losers and have never won a championship. This idiotic statement usually comes from a Dallas, New York, Washington or other “football” fan.
It is understandable because The Dallas Cowboys have won six Super Bowls, The New York Giants four and the Washington Redskins three. The Giants may have some clout when arguing, as they have won within the past decade.
However, The Cowboys and Redskins have nothing to talk about as their last championship was in the 90s. Yet, every “football” fan will say at least we won one. Let’s take a trip down memory lane, and we will see that Philadelphia is actually the city of Champions.
When were the Philadelphia Eagles created?
1933, however, for a few years before they were known as the Frankford Yellow Jackets, but went bankrupt and was then sold to Bert Bell and Lud Wray.
The New York Giants have us beat as they were founded in 1925.
When were the Cowboys created? 1960.
The Redskins were founded in 1932, but it wasn't until 1937 when they were called the Washington Redskins.
History is important as it will not just make Eagles fans champions, but it will also give more leverage to Giants' and Redskins' fans. Before the creation of the Super Bowl and the National Football League, NFL, we all know and love there was the American Football League and the NFL.
The game at the end of the year was called the NFL Championship. Not until 1968 when the two leagues, above, merged was the Championship game called the Super Bowl.
Now, let’s get to the fun stuff!
The year was 1948, no 1949, no 1960. Wait, it was actually all three of those years.
The Philadelphia Eagles are World Champions! The 1948 championship game was the first championship game to be televised. The 1949 championship, while being the first championship game being played on the West Coast, it was also one of the first times a team won back to back titles.
Now, let’s go to 1960. It would be the last and only championship game to ever be played at Franklin Field. The Philadelphia Eagles that year were stacked with future Hall of Famers Chuck Bednarik and Norm Van Brocklin. The team we would face was none other than the Green Bay Packers and future hall of Famer Coach Vince Lombardi.
If the name “Lombardi” sounds familiar, it is, because in 1967 the NFL decided to change the name of the trophy to the Lombardi trophy. So, some could say Coach Lombardi was a pretty big deal.
Guess what?
WE WON!
Guess what Vince Lombardi’s playoff record is?
9-1.
The only time he ever lost in the playoffs was against your Philadelphia Eagles.
I get it. The last championship for us was over 55 years ago. However, if you are arguing with another football fan, especially one from our division, make sure to talk about history.
Everyone is so proud of their trophies and rings from five, 10, 25 years ago. Well, we have three and no one, not anyone, can take that away from us.
I go to visit my grandfather sometimes to hear of those days, the days we were champions. He went to that championship game, and he says we are not losers.
We are just waiting for our next shot.
