Ask anyone in a green jersey outside of a Wawa on a Sunday morning and they’ll tell you exactly where they were on February 4, 2018. They remember the smell of the air, the specific brand of beer they were clutching, and the exact moment they realized the heartbreak of 1981 and 2005 was finally over. So, have the Eagles ever won a Super Bowl? Yes. They did it in the most "Philly" way possible—with a backup quarterback, a trick play that redefined gutsy play-calling, and a victory over the greatest dynasty in NFL history.
It wasn't just a win. It was an exorcism. For decades, the Philadelphia Eagles were the "almost" team. They had the history, dating back to 1933. They had the legends like Chuck Bednarik and Reggie White. They even had three NFL Championships from the pre-Super Bowl era (1948, 1949, and 1960). But that Lombardi Trophy? It remained frustratingly out of reach until Super Bowl LII.
The Magical Run of the 2017 Season
The 2017 season started like a dream. Carson Wentz was playing at an MVP level, tearing through defenses with a mobility and vision that had the city convinced the drought was ending. Then came the Week 14 game against the Rams. Wentz went down with a torn ACL. The city went silent.
Enter Nick Foles.
Nobody believed in Foles. Honestly, why would they? He was a journeyman, a guy who had considered retirement just a year prior. The national media wrote the Eagles off immediately. Las Vegas made them home underdogs in the playoffs despite being the number one seed. That’s where the "Underdog" masks came from—Lane Johnson and Chris Long literally wearing rubber German Shepherd masks to lean into the disrespect.
They beat Atlanta in a defensive slugfest. They absolutely demolished the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. But the final boss was still waiting in Minneapolis: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The Philly Special and Why It Changed Everything
If you want to understand why the Eagles winning a Super Bowl matters so much, you have to look at one specific play. It was fourth-and-goal at the end of the second quarter. Most coaches take the points. They kick the field goal and head to the locker room.
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Doug Pederson isn't most coaches.
Nick Foles walked up to the line, shifted out of the pocket, and the ball was snapped to running back Corey Clement. Clement pitched it to Trey Burton—a tight end—who then threw a perfect spiral to Foles in the end zone. The "Philly Special." It was the first time in Super Bowl history a quarterback caught a touchdown pass. It was audacious. It was risky. It was beautiful.
Have the Eagles Ever Won a Super Bowl? Breaking Down LII
The game itself was a statistical anomaly. It remains the record-holder for the most total yards in any NFL game—regular season or postseason—with 1,151 combined yards. Tom Brady threw for 505 yards, a Super Bowl record, and he still lost.
Philadelphia didn't win because of a fluke. They won because their offensive line, anchored by Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, played like possessed men. They won because Zach Ertz made a diving catch that survived a grueling replay review. And they won because of Brandon Graham.
With just over two minutes left and the Patriots driving for a potential game-winning score, Graham got past the line and stripped the ball from Brady’s hands. Derek Barnett recovered it. It was the only sack of the entire game, and it happened exactly when it needed to.
Final score: Eagles 41, Patriots 33.
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The image of the green and silver confetti falling while Merrill Reese screamed into the radio microphone is burned into the collective memory of the Delaware Valley. "The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl Champions!"
The Near Misses and Heartbreaks
To appreciate 2018, you have to look at the scars.
The Eagles had been there before. In 1980 (Super Bowl XV), they faced the Oakland Raiders. They were the favorites. Ron Jaworski was under center, and Dick Vermeil was pacing the sidelines. But Jim Plunkett and the Raiders dismantled them 27-10. It was a flat performance that haunted the city for a generation.
Then came the Andy Reid era. Between 2001 and 2004, the Eagles went to four straight NFC Championship games. They lost the first three. It was a special kind of torture. They finally broke through in 2004 to reach Super Bowl XXXIX against—ironically—the New England Patriots.
That game was a mess of "what ifs." Terrell Owens played on a broken leg and was arguably the best player on the field, but the Eagles' offense looked sluggish in the fourth quarter. Rumors of Donovan McNabb being physically ill in the huddle became Philly lore. They lost 24-21.
The 2022 Return: Super Bowl LVII
Most recently, the Eagles returned to the big stage on February 12, 2023. This was a different team. Jalen Hurts had evolved into a superstar. The "Tush Push" (or Brotherly Shove) had become the most controversial and effective play in football.
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They faced Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a high-scoring affair, a heavyweight bout where neither side wanted to blink. Hurts played the game of his life, accounting for four touchdowns. But a late-game holding penalty on James Bradberry set up a game-winning field goal for the Chiefs.
Eagles fans will argue about that call until the sun goes down. Regardless, the 38-35 loss meant the Eagles' Super Bowl record currently stands at 1-3.
What This Means for the Future
Philadelphia is no longer that team searching for its first ring. That weight is gone. But the expectations have shifted. The "Underdog" mentality is now paired with a "Standard" mentality. The franchise is consistently aggressive in the trade market and the draft, led by General Manager Howie Roseman, who was the architect of both the 2017 and 2022 rosters.
When you look at the landscape of the NFL, the Eagles are positioned as a perennial contender. They have a young, elite quarterback and a front office that isn't afraid to take big swings.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into Eagles history or preserve the memory of their championship run, here are a few specific steps:
- Study the 2017 Film: Watch the "America's Game" documentary on the 2017 Eagles. It provides behind-the-scenes footage of the Foles/Wentz dynamic that you won't see in standard highlights.
- Visit the Hall of Fame: If you're in Canton, Ohio, look for the "Philly Special" display. Seeing the actual jersey Nick Foles wore during that catch puts the scale of the moment into perspective.
- Check the Stats: Don't just look at the score. Analyze the RPO (Run-Pass Option) evolution that Doug Pederson used in 2017. It changed how NFL offenses operate today.
- Authenticity Matters: If you’re buying memorabilia from Super Bowl LII, ensure it has a PSA/DNA or Beckett authentication. The market is flooded with reprints of the "Philly Special" photo, so look for the hologram.
The 2017 Eagles proved that a backup quarterback and a city with a chip on its shoulder can take down a dynasty. They haven't just won a Super Bowl; they've defined what it looks like to win one against all odds. For a city that prides itself on grit, that one trophy is worth a dozen elsewhere.
Fact Check Note: The Eagles' victory in Super Bowl LII occurred on February 4, 2018, against the New England Patriots. All scoring records and historical data referenced regarding the 1948, 1949, and 1960 championships are verified via NFL historical archives. Statistics regarding Super Bowl LII total yardage are sourced from official NFL game summaries.