Philly fans are a different breed. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of Broad Street after a big win, you know it’s less of a celebration and more of a spiritual awakening. But for the longest time, the narrative was brutal. Rival fans from Dallas or New York would just hold up their hands to show off multiple rings, while Eagles fans had to talk about 1960. That’s the year they beat Vince Lombardi’s Packers, but it wasn't a Super Bowl. It was just a "Championship."
So, let's get into the brass tacks: have eagles won super bowl titles recently?
Yes. Exactly one.
But that one win in February 2018—Super Bowl LII—was arguably the most significant underdog story in the history of the NFL. It changed the DNA of the city. It turned Nick Foles into a demigod. It finally gave a tortured fanbase the right to say they reached the mountain top. To understand why that single ring matters more than some teams' entire legacies, you have to look at the close calls, the heartbreak of the Andy Reid era, and the sheer audacity of the "Philly Special."
The Night the Underdogs Bit Back
If you ask any casual fan about the 2017 season, they remember the masks. Lane Johnson and Chris Long started wearing rubber underdog masks because nobody—and I mean nobody—expected them to win a playoff game after Carson Wentz tore his ACL. Wentz was playing at an MVP level. When he went down in Los Angeles against the Rams, the national media basically wrote the Eagles' obituary.
Enter Nick Foles.
He wasn't some hot-shot prospect. He was a journeyman who had seriously contemplated retirement. But something clicked. By the time they reached Minneapolis to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the Eagles were playing with house money.
The game itself was a shootout for the ages. Brady threw for 505 yards, which is still a Super Bowl record. Usually, if you let Brady throw for 500 yards, you lose. You lose by twenty. But Doug Pederson, a coach who was frequently mocked for his "emotional intelligence" and aggressive fourth-down gambles, didn't blink.
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The turning point was the "Philly Special." Fourth and goal. Corey Clement takes the snap, tosses to Trey Burton, who throws to a wide-open Nick Foles in the end zone. It was the first time in Super Bowl history a quarterback caught a touchdown pass. It was gutsy. It was insane. It was Philly.
When Brandon Graham stripped the ball from Brady late in the fourth quarter, the world stopped. The Eagles won 41-33. The answer to have eagles won super bowl questions was finally a resounding "Yes."
The Close Calls and the "Almost" Dynasty
It’s easy to forget how close the Eagles came before 2017. They weren't a bad team; they were a "just not good enough" team.
The 1980 season ended in a thud against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV. Ron Jaworski struggled, and the Eagles just looked outmatched. Then came the early 2000s. This was the Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb era. They went to four straight NFC Championship games. They only won one of them.
Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 was the big one. They faced the Patriots (again). It was a grind. McNabb was famously accused of vomiting in the huddle—something he still denies to this day—and the clock management at the end of the game was a disaster. They lost 24-21. For over a decade, that loss was the ceiling. It felt like the Eagles were destined to be the team that was always invited to the party but never got to take home the prize.
Why 2023 Felt Different (Even If They Lost)
If we're talking about have eagles won super bowl history, we have to talk about Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was the "Kelce Bowl." Jason vs. Travis.
Jalen Hurts played a nearly perfect game. He ran for three touchdowns. He threw for over 300 yards. He proved that the 2017 win wasn't a fluke occurrence for the franchise, but rather a shift in how the front office, led by Howie Roseman, builds teams.
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They lost 38-35 on a late field goal and a controversial holding call. It stung. It really did. But it also cemented the Eagles as a modern powerhouse. Unlike the 1980s or even the early 2000s, this team doesn't feel like a one-hit wonder. They are consistently aggressive in the trade market and the draft. They find talent like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They build through the trenches with guys like Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson.
Breaking Down the Super Bowl Stats
To keep it simple, here is how the Eagles' Super Bowl appearances look when you strip away the emotion:
The Eagles have appeared in the Super Bowl four times. Their record is 1-3.
- Super Bowl XV (1981): Loss to the Raiders, 27-10.
- Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): Loss to the Patriots, 24-21.
- Super Bowl LII (2018): Win against the Patriots, 41-33.
- Super Bowl LVII (2023): Loss to the Chiefs, 38-35.
When people ask if the Eagles are a "successful" franchise, the answer depends on your definition. If success is only measured in rings, they are behind the Cowboys and Giants. But if success is measured by winning percentage and playoff appearances over the last 25 years, the Eagles are arguably the top team in the NFC East.
The Howie Roseman Factor
You can't talk about the Eagles winning without talking about the guy in the suit. Howie Roseman is a polarizing figure in Philadelphia. Fans wanted him fired back in 2015. They wanted him gone again after the Carson Wentz era soured.
But Howie is a survivor. He’s a cap space wizard.
The 2017 roster was a masterpiece of "one-year deals" and veteran leadership. Guys like LeGarrette Blount and Alshon Jeffery were brought in exactly when they were needed. Then, after that team aged out, Roseman did the unthinkable: he tore it down and rebuilt it in three years.
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Most teams take a decade to recover from a Super Bowl hangover. The Eagles were back in the big game five years later with a completely different quarterback and a completely different head coach. That kind of turnaround is unheard of in the NFL.
What’s Next for the Birds?
So, have eagles won super bowl trophies lately? Just the one in 2018. But the window is wide open.
The roster is young in the right places and veteran-heavy in others. Jalen Hurts is a franchise cornerstone. The offensive line remains one of the best in football. However, the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league. The collapse at the end of the 2023-2024 season showed that talent isn't enough; coaching and chemistry matter just as much.
If you're looking to track the Eagles' progress toward a second ring, keep an eye on these specific factors:
- The secondary's age: They’ve struggled with veteran corners getting burned. How they integrate young talent like Quinyon Mitchell is key.
- Hurts' evolution: Teams have started to "spy" his run lanes more effectively. His ability to win strictly from the pocket will determine his longevity.
- The post-Jason Kelce era: Kelce wasn't just a center; he was the heartbeat of the city. Replacing that leadership in the locker room is harder than replacing the blocking.
The quest for a second Lombardi Trophy isn't just about the stats. It's about a city that identifies its own worth through the grit of its football team. For now, the 2017 trophy sits in the lobby at NovaCare Complex, a lonely but beautiful reminder that it can be done.
To stay ahead of the curve on the Eagles' chances, don't just look at the scoreboard. Watch the "trenches"—the offensive and defensive lines. Philadelphia wins when they dominate the line of scrimmage. If they keep winning there, that second ring is a matter of "when," not "if." Check the latest injury reports and practice squad elevations weekly, as Roseman’s mid-season depth moves are often the secret sauce for their deep playoff runs.