The best players by jersey number in Eagles history (2024)

There’s much about a player that becomes obscured with time, from dates and statistics to particular moments. A jersey number, though, often endures.

It becomes a child’s number in little league, a part of a password or a mnemonic device. Ask an Eagles fan how many interceptions Brian Dawkins had, and he or she might not remember. Ask what number Dawkins wore, though, and few will forget. You might not be able to make out Chuck Bednarik’s face by memory, but encounter someone in a No. 60 Eagles jersey, and you know who once wore it. And good luck seeing No. 92 anywhere and not thinking about Reggie White.

The Eagles have had players wear every number from 1 to 99. They’ve officially retired nine numbers: 5, 15, 20, 40, 44, 60, 70, 92 and 99. Nobody has worn No. 12 in a game since Randall Cunningham left, and no one has worn No. 25 since LeSean McCoy was traded. Neither appears coincidental.

Otherwise, almost every number is fair game and has a history in the organization.

Picking the best player who’s worn each jersey number is a challenge. Football has evolved in such a way that statistics from different decades are tough to compare. The passing game was different in 2019 than in 1959. A defensive lineman before the 1980s could not be measured with sacks. There is little objective data about the quality of an offensive lineman. An accolade in a 12-team league, such as reaching an All-Pro roster, was easier to achieve than in a 32-team league. Setting a cumulative record in a 16-game season is easier to accomplish than in a 12-game season. And what matters more: Peak performance or consistency over a career? Should team success be a factor?

Plus, not every number was created equal. The best No. 39 or No. 49 is like securing a ticket to a preseason game — it’s not hard to find a way in. The best No. 25 or No. 55 is like trying to attend the Super Bowl — there’s a lot of demand and limited supply.

Here’s one attempt to name the best players by jersey number in Eagles history.

1: Tony Franklin

Franklin kicked for the Eagles from 1979-83 and ranks sixth in franchise history in scoring (412 points) and tied for fifth in field goals made (80). His 59-yard field goal in 1979 is the second-longest ever by an Eagle.

2: David Akers

The best kicker in team history, Akers’ 1,323 points over 12 seasons are 442 more than any other Eagle and his 294 field goals are 203 more than the next player on the list.

3: Mark Sanchez

The other Philadelphia teams have better players who wore No. 3. Sanchez’s four wins while starting for the Eagles included a memorable 2014 Thanksgiving victory over the Cowboys. Jack Concannon was another No. 2 quarterback in consideration.

4: Jake Elliott

Elliott’s only been with the Eagles for three seasons, but that’s long enough to make a franchise-long 61-yard field goal and a clutch field goal in Super Bowl LII.

Donovan McNabb in 2007. (Nick Laham / Getty Images)

5: Donovan McNabb

Although McNabb never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, he did just about everything else in an Eagles uniform. He holds franchise records in passing yards, touchdowns and completions. He led the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games. Roman Gabriel had success in No. 5, but not to McNabb’s level. Nobody else will wear No. 5 again.

6: Caleb Sturgis

Sturgis didn’t have a long Eagles tenure (30 games), but his 35 made field goals in 2016 are the best in Eagles history. He also made seven field goals of 50-plus yards.

7: Ron Jaworski

If not for McNabb, Jaworski would lead the Eagles in career passing yards, touchdowns and completions. He spent 10 seasons with the team from 1977-86 and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in the 1980 season. Jaworski easily gets the nod over Michael Vick, who led the Eagles to a division title with an outstanding 2010 campaign. Since his retirement, Jaworski has remained a fixture in the Philadelphia area as a businessman and broadcaster. He was a part owner of the Philadelphia Soul, operates golf courses throughout the region and assisted the Eagles in their search for a head coach in 2016.

8: Donnie Jones

The Eagles’ punter in Super Bowl LII punted only once in that game, but during his five seasons with the team, he pinned the most punts inside the 20-yard line (138) in franchise history since 1976 and owns four of the six best seasons in net punting average.

9: Nick Foles

Foles has a statue outside Lincoln Financial Field and an untouchable spot in Eagles history. He was the Super Bowl MVP in February 2018, has the team’s best all-time quarterback rating (93.2) and had a historic 2013 season (27 touchdowns, two interceptions, 119.2 rating). If not for Foles’ second stint with the Eagles, Sonny Jurgensen would be the best No. 9. The Super Bowl was the clincher.

DeSean Jackson in 2019. (James Lang / USA Today)

10: DeSean Jackson

Jackson is No. 4 on the Eagles’ all-time list in receiving yards (6,276) and No. 8 in receptions (365). He has three of the top 10 single-game performances in receiving yards and the Miracle at the New Meadowlands was one of the franchise’s historic plays. The great what-if of Jackson’s career is what would have happened if he wasn’t unceremoniously released in 2014, costing him five years to rewrite Philadelphia’s record books.

11: Carson Wentz

A strong argument could be made for Norm Van Brocklin here, considering he quarterbacked the Eagles to a championship, but Wentz’s 2019 campaign — in which he became the first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history — bolstered his Eagles résumé. The eras must be taken into consideration during an evaluation, yet it’s hard to ignore Wentz’s records for yards and touchdowns. Until Wentz wins a playoff game — much less a championship — this is up for debate. A year ago, it might have been Van Brocklin. One year from now, it might be an easy call to go with Wentz.

12: Randall Cunningham

Cunningham is No. 3 on the franchise’s list in passing yards, touchdowns and completions and also ranks No. 6 on the all-time rushing list. In a different era or with different coaching, perhaps Cunningham’s career would have been even greater than it was in Philadelphia. Nobody has worn No. 12 in a game since Cunningham left Philadelphia after the 1995 season. After retiring from the NFL, Cunningham settled in Las Vegas and founded Remnant Ministries, where he’s a pastor.

13: Nelson Agholor

For whatever bad taste is left in the mouths of Eagles fans about the way Agholor’s career finished in Philadelphia, this should be his lasting legacy: nine catches and 84 yards in Super Bowl LII. And on the Eagles’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, Agholor caught three consecutive catches to bring them from the 48-yard line to the 14-yard line.

Doug Pederson in 1999. (Tom Mihalek / Getty Images)

14: Doug Pederson

More productive players have worn No. 14 (Ty Detmer, Riley Cooper, A.J. Feeley), but Pederson gets this spot for what he did after he wore No. 14 for the Eagles. If he didn’t spend 1999 as the team’s quarterback, he might never have become the head coach who led the Eagles to three postseason appearances and their lone Super Bowl victory.

15: Steve Van Buren

There’s no question about this one. Van Buren, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, played for the Eagles from 1944-51. He led the NFL in rushing yards four times, won two NFL championships and retired as one of the greatest Eagles of all time. His 69 career touchdowns are an Eagles record and his No. 15 has long been retired.

16: Norm Snead

Snead’s ignominious role in Eagles history is as the player acquired for Jurgensen, but he spent seven seasons with the team and ranks No. 4 on the franchise’s all-time list in passing yards (15,672) and touchdowns (111).

17: Harold Carmichael

Carmichael finally earned his due as a Pro Football Hall of Famer this year, an honor that Eagles fans who watched Carmichael long awaited. Carmichael has the most receptions (589), receiving yards (8,978) and touchdowns (79) in franchise history. He played 162 consecutive games in an Eagles uniform and was on the NFL’s 1970s all-decade team.

18: Jeremy Maclin

Maclin ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, even though he played only five seasons for the Eagles. His 2014 campaign was one of the best by an Eagle (85 catches, 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns), although Ben Hawkins led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,265 in 1967 while wearing No. 18 for the Eagles. Hawkins could easily have this spot, too.

19: Tom Dempsey

Dempsey kicked for the Eagles from 1971-74 and led the NFL in field goal percentage in ’71 when he connected on 70.6 percent of his kicks. (It was a different era …) Famous for his square shoe, Dempsey is best known for a 63-yard field goal while with the Saints, but his 54-yard field goal in 1971 was also the league’s longest that year. Dempsey is currently recovering after testing positive for COVID-19.

Brian Dawkins in 2018. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

20: Brian Dawkins

A first-ballot Hall of Famer in The Athletic’s Philadelphia Hall of Fameand a 2018 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dawkins is an Eagles icon who made nine Pro Bowls, was a four-time All-Pro and played with a combination of passion and ferociousness that distinguished him among the great athletes in Philadelphia history. As Bo Wulf wrote, “No one whipped the city into a frenzy like Dawkins, and it’s hard to imagine anyone ever will.”

No one will ever wear a No. 20 Eagles jersey again, either.

21: Eric Allen

A compelling case could be made for Allen’s worthiness for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At a minimum, he’s the best No. 21 to play for the Eagles, with Pro Bowl bids in five of his seven seasons. He’s tied for the franchise record with 34 interceptions.

22: Timmy Brown

Brown gets the edge over Duce Staley and Asante Samuel because of an eight-year career that included three Pro Bowl appearances and a championship in 1960. A runner, receiver and returner, Brown has the sixth-most touchdowns (62) in Eagles history. Samuel was tough to omit after making the Pro Bowl three times in four seasons and totaling 23 interceptions — including an NFL-leading nine in 2009. Staley ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards.

23: Troy Vincent

One of the best free-agent signings in team history, Vincent made the Pro Bowl in five of eight seasons in Philadelphia. He ranks No. 7 all-time with 28 interceptions and helped lead the Eagles to the postseason five times. Vincent is now the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations — one of the most prominent positions in the league office — and was previously the president of the NFL Players Association.

24: Nate Ramsey

Ramsey played 10 seasons for the Eagles from 1963-72, starting 121 games and swiping 21 interceptions. Sheldon Brown was also a candidate, but he found his way onto this list in a different way. (See No. 39.)

LeSean McCoy in 2013. (Drew Hallowell/ Getty Images)

25: LeSean McCoy

This was the toughest decision on the list: McCoy or Tommy McDonald? McCoy is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and McDonald is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The eras make a comparison uneven, but the statistics give McCoy the edge — he had 6,792 rushing yards in six seasons here and also ranks No. 13 in receptions. The Eagles traded McCoy away too soon, and they haven’t given No. 25 to any player since he left. McDonald, though, deserves to be recognized. He had 66 touchdowns in seven years with the team and ranks No. 7 in receiving yards.

26: Lito Sheppard

Sheppard made two Pro Bowls in seven seasons with the Eagles, recording 18 interceptions and scoring three touchdowns. If this list is made at the end of the decade, though, Miles Sanders might be the top No. 26.

Malcolm Jenkins in 2018. (Kim Klement / USA Today)

27: Malcolm Jenkins

Jenkins was let go after six seasons with the team, but that was long enough to become the best No. 27. Jenkins never missed a game and barely missed a snap, was the defensive captain on the Eagles’ only Super Bowl-winning team and made three Pro Bowls. He returned four interceptions for touchdowns in his Eagles career. The other contender for this spot was Irv Cross.

28: Bill Bradley

A star safety who was also a punter, Bradley played for the Eagles from 1969-76 and left as the franchise leader with 34 interceptions — a mark he still holds with Dawkins and Allen. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1971-73 and led the NFL in interceptions in 1971 and 1972.

29: Harold Jackson

Jackson played wide receiver for the Eagles from 1969-72, leading the NFL in receiving yards in his first and fourth seasons and in receptions his fourth season. The Eagles traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for Gabriel.

30: Charlie Garner

Garner’s best seasons came after leaving the Eagles. He was nonetheless productive during five years in Philadelphia, including two seasons with more than 500 rushing yards. Corey Clement’s Super Bowl performance also made him a candidate.

31: Wilbert Montgomery

This was an easy choice. Montgomery is No. 2 in Eagles history in rushing yards (6,538) and rushing touchdowns (45). He led the NFL in scrimmage yards in 1979 with 2,006 and his 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the NFC Championship Game in January 1981 helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance.

32: Ricky Watters

Watters spent only three seasons with the Eagles, but he excelled each year as an all-purpose offensive player, totaling 3,794 rushing yards and 1,318 receiving yards. He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 1996 with 1,855. Safety Michael Lewis was also a Pro Bowler while wearing No. 32.

33: Russ Craft

Craft played eight seasons for the Eagles from 1946-53 on both offense and defense. He made two Pro Bowls and won two NFL championships. Barnes had 19 interceptions, three receiving touchdowns and one return touchdown. Ollie Matson (his best years came elsewhere) and Bill Barnes were also considered.

34: Herschel Walker

Walker didn’t join the Eagles until he was 30, starting three seasons and totaling 3,732 yards from scrimmage. In 1994, he became the first player in league history with a rush, reception and return of 90 yards or more in a season. Terry Hoage was another option for No. 34. Walker, who’s famous for doing more than 1,000 pushups each day, was an Olympic bobsledder and won two MMA bouts.

35: Pete Pihos

Pihos is one of the great players in team history, making six Pro Bowls, five All-Pro teams and winning two NFL championships during a nine-year career that landed him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pihos had 61 receiving touchdowns, including three seasons in which he reached double digits. He missed only one game in his career.

36: Brian Westbrook

There’s no question this should be Westbrook, who ranks No. 3 on the franchise’s all-time rushing list (5,995 yards), No. 4 on the all-time receiving list (3,790 yards) and No. 3 in touchdowns (68). He made two Pro Bowls during his eight seasons with the Eagles, but Westbrook stands as one of the great offensive players in Eagles history.

37: Tom Woodeshick

Woodeshick played nine seasons in Philadelphia from 1963-71, earning a Pro Bowl invitation for the 1968 season. He never had a 1,000-yard rushing season as a fullback, but rushed for 21 touchdowns and was a fan favorite due to his playing style.

38: Sam Baker

Baker spent the final six seasons of his 15-year career kicking and punting for the Eagles, making Pro Bowls with the Eagles in 1964 and 1968. He’s No. 3 on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 475.

39: Sheldon Brown

This might be bending the rules because Brown began his career wearing No. 39 before switching to No. 24 in 2003. He’s still the most accomplished player to wear the number, starting 98 games for Philadelphia. Brown led the NFL with 27 passes defended in 2005 and started 10 postseason games for the Eagles.

40: Tom Brookshier

Brookshier’s No. 40 was retired by the Eagles following a seven-year career in which he helped the team to the 1960 championship. He was a Pro Bowler in 1959 and 1960, and had 20 career interceptions before becoming a popular broadcaster.

41: Randy Logan

For 11 seasons from 1973-83, Logan was a constant in the Eagles secondary. He started 154 of 159 games and had 23 interceptions. His 159 consecutive games rank behind Carmichael and Jon Dorenbos for most in franchise history. Keith Byars and Jerry Norton were also under consideration, but there was another way to sneak Byars onto this list.

42: Keith Byars

Like Sheldon Brown, Byars wore this number only during his rookie year. But it’s a way to get him on the list, because Byars deserves the distinction after catching 371 passes as a running back in seven years with the Eagles. He had 6,204 yards from scrimmage and 30 total touchdowns. Kurt Coleman would have been the pick had Byars’ career been limited to only the year he wore No. 42.

43: Roynell Young

Longevity helps the case of Young, a defensive back who played all nine seasons of his career with the Eagles and made one Pro Bowl. He’s tied for 10th on the franchise’s all-time list with 23 interceptions and had three interceptions during the Eagles’ postseason run in 1980. With more service time, though, Darren Sproles would have a worthy case.

44: Pete Retzlaff

Some of these are up for debate; No. 44 is not. Retzlaff, whose number is retired, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who made five Pro Bowls and won a championship with the Eagles. He ranks No. 3 on the franchise’s all-time receptions list (452) and No. 2 in receiving yards (7,412).

45: Don Burroughs

Burroughs spent the last five years of his career with Philadelphia, starting in the defensive backfield on the 1960 championship team. His 29 interceptions rank sixth on the franchise’s all-time list.

Herman Edwards (46) and the Miracle at the Meadowlands in 1978. (Associated Press)

46: Herm Edwards

From 1977-85, Edwards started every game he played in an Eagles uniform. He had 33 career interceptions, one behind the three leaders on the franchise’s all-time list, and recovered Joe Pisarcik’s fumble to score a touchdown in the Miracle at the Meadowlands. Dorenbos deserves recognition for longevity (162 consecutive games). Edwards, who was previously the head coach for the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, might be most known for an answer during a 2002 press conference: “You play to win the game!” He’s now the head coach at Arizona State.

47: Greg Jackson

Jackson played only two seasons for the Eagles (1994-95), and his first year included six interceptions and one touchdown. He also had an interception in the 1995 postseason. The Eagles should hope that by the end of the 2020 season, Nate Gerry takes his place here.

48: Wes Hopkins

A popular safety who spent his entire career with the Eagles from 1983-93, Hopkins totaled 30 interceptions, 12 sacks and 16 fumble recoveries. He was an All-Pro in 1985.

49: Glen Glass

It’s a challenge to find a worthy No. 49, but the most productive to wear the number was Glass. He wore it in 1964-65, when he had 15 receptions on offense and one interception on defense.

50: Guy Morriss

Morriss started at center for 11 seasons, snapping in 151 of 158 regular-season games and seven postseason games, including Super Bowl XV. Garry Cobb was also a possibility.

51: William Thomas

“Willie T” was one of the best pass-coverage linebackers in the NFL when he played. He had 18 interceptions in nine seasons with the Eagles from 1991-99, and his seven interceptions were the most by a non-defensive back in team history. Thomas also had 33 sacks with the Eagles. He made the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1996.

52: Wayne Robinson

Robinson played linebacker for the Eagles from 1952-56 and made two Pro Bowls. He was named one of the team’s 75 best players ever by The Philadelphia Inquirer at the franchise’s 75th anniversary in 2007. Dave Lloyd was also in consideration.

53: Hugh Douglas

This is debatable because Alex Wojciechowicz is a championship-winning Pro Football Hall of Famer, but Wojciechowicz was in the twilight of his career when he joined the Eagles in 1946, while Douglas’ prime came in Philadelphia. Douglas had 54.5 sacks (No. 4 in franchise history) in six seasons with the Eagles and made the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Jeremiah Trotter in 2016. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

54: Jeremiah Trotter

Trotter started 95 regular-season games and 11 postseason games during eight seasons with the team. The “Axe Man” brought a toughness to the middle of the defense, and he made four Pro Bowls with the team. Jim Ringo also deserves consideration; the Pro Football Hall of Famer made Pro Bowls in three of four seasons with the Eagles. Trotter’s longevity gives him the edge. And get used to hearing about more Trotters. His son, Jeremiah Jr., is one of the top football recruits in the Class of 2021 and has committed to Clemson. Another son, Josiah, is a freshman who’s already received a scholarship offer from Temple.

55: Maxie Baughan

There are three strong candidates for No. 55, but Baughan deserves the honor because of five Pro Bowl campaigns in six seasons with the Eagles and an NFL championship in 1960. He started all 80 games he played and is a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame. But Frank LeMaster is a tough omission and Brandon Graham’s career renaissance included a strip sack of Tom Brady to help the Eagles win Super Bowl LII.

56: Byron Evans

In a competition of productive linebackers, Evans has the edge over Jerry Robinson. Evans started 91 games over eight seasons and was a steady middle linebacker for the early-’90s Eagles defenses. Robinson made one Pro Bowl during his six years with the team.

57: Chris Gocong

The list of players who have worn No. 57 is not distinguished, so Gocong makes the cut because of 35 starts during three seasons. James Darling and Keith Adams were under consideration. Bill Cowher, though, is the most famous No. 57 in Eagles history.

Trent Cole (58) and Brandon Graham (54) in 2012. (John McDonnell / Getty Images)

58: Trent Cole

One of the franchise’s best defensive linemen, Cole trails only Reggie White on the Eagles’ all-time sacks list with 85.5. He had four seasons of double-digit sacks and earned two Pro Bowl invitations.

59: Seth Joyner

A member of the Eagles Hall of Fame, Joyner was one of the NFL’s best linebackers during eight seasons in Philadelphia. He earned three Pro Bowl invitations and is one of 15 players in league history with 20 career interceptions and 20 career fumbles. (Dawkins and William Thomas are on the list, too.)

60: Chuck Bednarik

Bednarik became an Eagles icon after the franchise selected him with the No. 1 overall pick out of Penn in 1949. “Concrete Charlie” played through 1962, winning two championships as a linebacker and center. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro. He made the game-saving tackle in the 1960 NFL championship. The No. 60 is fitting for Bednarik, who was known as the “60-minute man.”

61: Stefen Wisniewski

Wisniewski started in parts of three seasons with the Eagles from 2016-18 and was the team’s left guard in Super Bowl LII. That achievement gives him the edge over Steve Everitt or Bill Dunstan.

Jason Kelce celebrates after the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. (John David Mercer / USA Today)

62: Jason Kelce

Whenever Kelce’s career ends, he’ll be considered among the most popular Eagles. He’s started every game he’s ever played (126 in the regular season, seven in the postseason) and developed into a three-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. His epic speech at the Super Bowl parade will always be a part of Eagles lore.

63: Hank Fraley

Fraley started 71 games in the regular season and 10 more in the postseason from 2001-05, a historic stretch of Eagles seasons. He beats out Ron Baker, who spent nine seasons with the Eagles from 1980-88. The most accomplished No. 63 was Norm Willey, although he spent only one season in the number.

64: Ed Blaine

Blaine started at left guard for the Eagles from 1963-66. Also under consideration: Ed George, who spent three seasons with the Eagles in the 1970s.

Lane Johnson, left, and Carson Wentz in 2019. (Eric Hartline / USA Today)

65: Lane Johnson

Two Johnsons who wore No. 65 deserve recognition: Lane and Charlie. Lane has played seven seasons with the Eagles, earned three Pro Bowl trips and won a Super Bowl. Charlie played five seasons for Philadelphia, making three Pro Bowls as a nose tackle. Both would be worthy selections.

66: Bill Bergey

Bergey spent the last seven years of his career with the Eagles, starting 91 games (and four postseason games) while helping lead the team to Super Bowl XV — his last game in the NFL. Bergey made five Pro Bowls while with the Eagles.

67: Jamaal Jackson

Jackson replaced Fraley at center in 2005 and held the position through 2009 before giving way to Kelce. An undrafted rookie from Delaware State, he started 72 regular-season games and five postseason games.

68: Dennis Harrison

A defensive end for the Eagles from 1978-84, Harrison reached double-digit sacks during his last three years in Philadelphia — the only years he played in which sacks were kept as an official statistic. He made the Pro Bowl in 1982.

69: Jon Runyan

Runyan signed with the Eagles as a free agent in 2000 and spent the next nine seasons as a constant on the right side of the offensive line and a major force during the franchise’s emergence under Andy Reid. A one-time Pro Bowler, Runyan was known for his toughness and durability. His 144 consecutive games rank fifth in Eagles history and most among offensive linemen. Runyan served in Congress (New Jersey’s third district) from 2011-15 and is now an NFL vice president. His son, Jon Jr., is an offensive line prospect in this year’s draft.

70: Al Wistert

A standout lineman for the Eagles from 1943-51, Wistert was a four-time All-Pro and a two-time champion. Two players wore No. 70 after Wistert before the franchise eventually retired the number.

Jason Peters in 2017. (Bill Streicher / USA Today)

71: Jason Peters

The Eagles acquired Peters from Buffalo in 2009, and he became one of the best players in franchise history, making seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. He’s in line to be the franchise’s next Pro Football Hall of Famer and it’s reasonable to consider whether he’s the last player to wear No. 71 for the Eagles.

72: Tra Thomas

Before Peters’ long hold on left tackle, the Eagles had Thomas. He played left tackle from 1998-2008, an 11-year run that included 17 postseason starts and 166 regular-season games. He made three Pro Bowls with the Eagles. Thomas had a brief coaching stint with the team and had recently been a radio host on 97.5 The Fanatic. He announced Tuesday that he was let go because of cutbacks.

73: Shawn Andrews

Andrews was on track to have a storied Eagles career before it was rerouted by injury. He made two Pro Bowls in his first four seasons but played only two games for the Eagles after age 25.

74: Mike Pitts

Pitts is the least heralded of the Eagles’ top defensive linemen from the Buddy Ryan era, starting 59 games between 1987-92. He had 19.5 sacks during that span.

75: Stan Walters

Walters played nine seasons for the Eagles from 1975-83, blocking Jaworski’s blindside in Super Bowl XV and earning two Pro Bowl invitations before becoming a color commentator for the Eagles.

76: Jerry Sisemore

Another difficult selection, as this could be Bob Brown or Frank Kilroy, too. Sisemore gets the nod because he spent his whole career wearing No. 76 for the Eagles, starting opposite Walters in Philadelphia from 1973-84. He’s in the Eagles Hall of Fame. Brown, though, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

77: Artis Hicks

Hicks played only three seasons for the Eagles and started 31 games, but that still makes him the best No. 77. Hicks started at left guard in Super Bowl XXXIX.

78: Carl Hairston

Hairston served as captain for five of his eight seasons on the Eagles’ defensive line from 1976-83. He missed only one game during his tenure here.

79: Brandon Brooks

This was one of the more challenging numbers to pick. Todd Herremans and Vic Sears are also worthy selections who had longer careers in Philadelphia than Brooks. The reason Brooks is the choice? He’s been viewed as an elite player during this period, making the Pro Bowl three times while helping the Eagles win a Super Bowl.

80: Irving Fryar

Fryar didn’t join the Eagles until he was 34, but he made his mark by topping 1,000 receiving yards in two of three years in Philadelphia. Fryar had 222 catches, 3,067 yards and 19 touchdowns from 1996-98. The best player to wear No. 80 was Cris Carter, but his standout years came in Minnesota.

Terrell Owens in 2004. (Drew Hallowell / Getty Images)

81: Terrell Owens

Owens played only 21 games and a Super Bowl in an Eagles uniform — enough time to become the best No. 81. His 2004 season was unforgettable, catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns before an ugly divorce. If not for Owens’ brilliance, Jason Avant would have taken this spot.

82: Mike Quick

In 1983, Quick set the franchise record for receiving yards with 1,409, which led the NFL. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in three of his first four seasons and ranks No. 3 on the franchise’s all-time list (6,464).

83: Bobby Walston

Walston played 12 seasons for the Eagles from 1951-62 and earned a spot in the Eagles Hall of Fame. He was a member of the NFL’s all-decade team in the 1950s, playing wide receiver, tight end and kicker. Walston once scored a franchise-record 25 points in a game against Washington. For a sentimental favorite, Vince Papale would make the list.

84: Keith Krepfle

Krepfle was the tight end on the 1980 Eagles team that reached the Super Bowl and he scored Philadelphia’s lone touchdown in that loss to the Raiders. In seven years with the Eagles, Krepfle totaled 151 catches, 2,420 yards and 19 touchdowns.

85: Charles Smith

Another member of the 1980 team, Smith played 118 games for the Eagles from 1974-81 and totaled 218 catches, 3,349 yards and 24 touchdowns. His best season came in 1980 when he set career highs in catches (47) and receiving yards (825).

86: Zach Ertz

Already one of the best players in Eagles history, Ertz is in position to rewrite the team’s record books. He’s No. 2 in career receptions (525) and needs 65 catches next season to pass Carmichael. He’s No. 5 in yards (5,743) and needs 3,236 more yards to reach No. 1. Ertz set the NFL’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end (116) in 2018, making him the only player in Eagles history to reach 100 catches. He also caught the go-ahead touchdown in the Super Bowl LII win.

Brent Celek in 2013. (Al Bello / Getty Images)

87: Brent Celek

Celek played his entire 11-year career here. He ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time list in receptions (398) and fourth in games played (175). Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey wore this number, too, but his best years came in Atlanta. Celek, who still resides in the area, has a budding real estate company. The Eagles recently hired him as a personnel consultant.

88: Keith Jackson

This number came down to production versus longevity. Gary Pettigrew and John Spagnola played longer for the Eagles, but Jackson’s four years with the team included outstanding production. He was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in his first three years with the team and finished with 242 catches, 2,756 yards and 20 touchdowns before signing with Miami.

89: Chad Lewis

A reliable target for McNabb, Lewis was a three-time Pro Bowl tight end in his nine seasons with the Eagles. He had 228 catches, 2,349 yards and 23 touchdowns during his Eagles career. He suffered a foot injury in the NFC Championship Game in January 2005 and wasn’t able to play in Super Bowl XXXIX. Calvin Williams and Wally Henry were also possibilities.

90: Corey Simon

Simon, a steady player during the Reid-era Eagles, had 32 sacks in five seasons after the team selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in 2000. He started all 78 regular-season games and all 12 postseason games he played for the Eagles.

91: Fletcher Cox

In eight seasons with the Eagles, Cox has earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles (five Pro Bowls) and is the centerpiece of Philadelphia’s defense. He has 48 career sacks, but his presence influenced the production of the edge rushers who’ve benefited from playing next to him.

Reggie White in 1988. (Focus on Sport / Getty Images)

92: Reggie White

Perhaps the best modern-era player in Eagles history, White totaled a franchise-record 124 sacks in eight years in Philadelphia, making seven Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pros. The Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, he remains the only Eagle to win the award. His number is retired; White is one of only two players to ever wear No. 92. (The other was Smiley Creswell.)

93: Jevon Kearse

Although Kearse might not have lived up to his lucrative contract, “The Freak” totaled 22 sacks in four seasons and changed the Eagles defense upon his arrival. Also under consideration: Jason Babin, who had 18 sacks in 2011 while wearing No. 93.

94: N.D. Kalu

Kalu spent only one season as a full-time starter, but his 18.5 sacks in parts of six seasons in Philadelphia make him the choice at No. 94. Beau Allen played four seasons in the number and appeared in 63 games. Babin also wore the number for one season.

95: John Bunting

Bunting’s longevity gives him the edge over William Fuller at No. 95. Bunting played 11 seasons for the Eagles and started 116 games (plus six postseason games). He was the signal-caller for a defense that limited opponents to the fewest points in the NFL from 1979-81 — a group that reached the Super Bowl. Fuller spent three seasons with the Eagles in his 30s, enough time to collect 35.5 sacks and push his way into the top 10 in franchise history.

96: Clyde Simmons

There’s no debate about No. 96. Simmons’ eight seasons with the Eagles included 76 sacks (No. 3 all-time), two Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pros. He had 19 sacks in 1992 as part of one of the best defensive lines in league history.

97: Darwin Walker

Walker started 75 regular-season games and nine postseason games for the Eagles in the 2000s. He had 27.5 sacks as an interior rusher and was part of a defense that went to the NFC Championship Game in four consecutive years and reached the Super Bowl. Rhett Hall, who had 13.5 sacks in four seasons with the Eagles, was also a contender. Walker has a degree in civil engineering, started an engineering firm as a player and now has a commercial real estate portfolio that includes at least two South Jersey Wawa properties, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

98: Greg Brown

Brown played for the Eagles from 1981-86 and ranks sixth on the franchise’s all-time sacks list with 50.5 — including 16 sacks in 1984 and 13 sacks in 1985. Those seasons put him ahead of Connor Barwin, another worthy No. 98 who made the Pro Bowl in 2014.

99: Jerome Brown

Brown played five seasons with the Eagles before his tragic death in June 1992. He was 27. Those seasons were enough to carve a significant role in Eagles history. A two-time All-Pro, Brown still had his prime years ahead of him and was on his way to becoming one of the great players in franchise history. The Eagles retired his No. 99.

More: The best Philly players by uniform number

(Top photo of Brian Dawkins in 2008: Drew Hallowell / Getty Images)