Perhaps the most striking example of how building a legacy in the playoffs can launch one’s career into another stratosphere, Nick Foles’ magical run to win Super Bowl LII in a thrilling shootout against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots secured his status as a legend. Or at least he was for the Philadelphia Eagles franchise.
The City of Brotherly Love is a cold, unforgiving place to the vast majority of even its most beloved athletes because of their beyond-obnoxious fans. But win a championship for Philly? Outduel TB12 on the biggest stage in sports? Nothing else matters. Although “Big Dick Nick” Foles didn’t have anywhere near the success of his epic highs with the Eagles, his retirement announcement on Thursday was still met with predominantly positive fanfare.
After much thought and prayer, I've decided to retire from the NFL. It's been an incredible 11-year journey filled with unforgettable moments and amazing people. From being drafted by the Eagles to winning the Super Bowl, every step has been a blessing.
I'm excited to spend more… pic.twitter.com/2uI5az5Eoc
— Nick Foles (@NickFoles) August 8, 2024
It was the Eagles who first drafted Foles in 2012, as the 88th overall pick in the third round. That actually predated Chip Kelly’s tenure, so Andy Reid had a big hand in getting Foles his big break in the NFL. You could say Reid has a good feel for the quarterback position. He’s made just about everyone he’s ever coached into a star. Now he has the unfair advantage of an all-time talent on his hands in Patrick Mahomes.
To keep it on Foles, though, you can tell that the Eagles organization still has plenty of reverence for him thanks to the heroics that brought the city a Lombardi Trophy.
Ending it where it all started.
Nick Foles will officially retire from the NFL as an Eagle when he returns to Philly on Monday, September 16 for our home opener vs. the Falcons. pic.twitter.com/dgVvfnv3ua
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 8, 2024
The most iconic play Foles ever made was actually a reception. Dialed up by Doug Pederson, the play was known as the “Philly Special” and it outfoxed the likes of Bill Belichick in a huge spot. No surprise that the Eagles chose to highlight that moment on this day.
As No. 9 officially retires, a look back at a play that will forever live in football lore 🦅 pic.twitter.com/wPVV9nTJhn
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 8, 2024
What’s odd and funny is that between and after Foles’ beginnings in Philadelphia and that Super Bowl triumph, he had a strange, circuitous, and frankly kind of a mediocre career. The Rams made a bold trade for him in a deal involving ex-No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford. Safe to say it didn’t work out for either side, as Foles completed just 56.4% of his passes in 11 starts for the franchise that was based in St. Louis at the time. A reunion with Reid in Kansas City to back up Alex Smith in 2016 preceded Foles’ grand return to the Eagles, as the 2017 season and Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury set the stage for Foles to spark that Super Bowl run.
Foles even got the Eagles a playoff win the next year, only to sign a big contract with the Jaguars, go down with a season-ending injury four games in, and proceed to the Bears for a forgettable two-season stint and one last shot at starting in Indy in 2022, which he didn’t capitalize on. His regular-season record as a starter was 29-29. But my goodness, that 2017-18 playoff run: 72.6 CMP%, six TDs, one INT, 323.7 passing yards per game, and a 115.7 passer rating. MERCY.
Nick Foles in Super Bowl LII:
• 28-for-43
• 373 passing yards
• 3 TD
• The Philly Special
• SUPER BOWL MVPAn absolute LEGEND 🫡pic.twitter.com/CZosRL0JWQ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) August 8, 2024
👑 Super Bowl champ
👑 Super Bowl LII MVP
👑 Pro Bowler
👑 Tied for the most passing TDs in one game (7)
👑 Best career playoff completion percentage (68.1%)Nick Foles is a legend. pic.twitter.com/DrRLKMICmy
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) August 8, 2024
The high highs and low lows of Foles’ career will never cease to baffle me. Again, is Foles a better QB than so many superior players who never lifted a Lombardi Trophy? Absolutely not, but you’d never know it based on how fans hold him in such high esteem.
EAGLES LEGEND, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! pic.twitter.com/0UsH8Lxj2P
— Justin Maloney (@JMaloneyLiberty) August 8, 2024
BIG DICK NICK YOU SAVED EVERY PHILLY FAN
— Mike Majlak (@mikemajlak) August 8, 2024
i love you so much man
— © 💫 tortured poets! (@MindofRollins) August 8, 2024
A Super Bowl and that ridiculous Chip Kelly season, the hall of fame of non hall of famers for sure
— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) August 8, 2024
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING YOU NICK FOLES 😭 pic.twitter.com/gYAcRtKAiD
— Conor Myles (@SnipeMyles) August 8, 2024
You'll never have to buy a beer in Philly, mate.
— Gritty Get Litty 🚩 (@GrittyGetLitty) August 8, 2024
Nick Foles has called it a career.
He will be at Lincoln Financial Field to officially retire as an Eagle on September 16.
Nick… there’s only two words we can appropriately say:
THANK YOU. 🦅
— Eagles Fan Central (@EagleFanCentral) August 8, 2024
In 4 seasons Wentz has 0 playoff wins 48 regular season Fumbles. He is 7-20 vs teams over 500. He has no heart no desire to win he has the IQ of a potato. His teammates hate him. he has started 5-6 in 3 of his first 4 seasons. Nick Foles is 24-6 in his last 30 games as an Eagle. https://t.co/Ceyqx2hRtu
— Subscribe to the You Know Ball Patreon (@TrillBroDude) August 8, 2024
Nick Foles is retiring.
Thank you for the greatest night of my life, #9. pic.twitter.com/6f4Ciz7q12
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) August 8, 2024
Nick Foles, without hyperbole, changed my personal, romantic and professional life. A well-deserved retirement.
My GOAT.
— shamus (@shamus_clancy) August 8, 2024
THANK YOU NICK FOLES
YOU'RE FOREVER OUR BABY @Larry00222260 pic.twitter.com/HUr5gPx3po
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) August 8, 2024
When I say Nick Foles saved my life I am at most only exaggerating by like 10%.
— one dozen rats at a keyboard (@PanasonicDX4500) August 8, 2024
Congrats to Foles on retirement. Nobody can really talk smack about a former third-round pick lasting more than a decade in the league, and rising up to lead one of the most improbable championship teams ever.
