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NFL Teams need a solid backup quarterback to ensure continuity during a grueling seventeen-game NFL season. It’s an insurance policy that in case of a devastating injury to a franchise signal caller or in the event of meaning contests at the end of an incredibly successful year — that they have options.
One team that does not need to be reminded of this is the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now the Eagles have made at least one of the toughest depth-chart decisions by keeping four quarterbacks. But who will be that sideline insurance policy for the Eagles? Will it be veteran Andy Dalton — who played nine seasons as a starter in Cincinnati and showcased his talents against in the 4th quarter of a 30–13 loss to the Bengals. Tanner McKee — a favorite at the Novacare Complex — who was rumored to be traded this offseason and is still in Philadelphia? Or rookie from North Dakota State Cole Payton?
Last week on a podcast with Jason Kelce — Nick Foles recounted how the Philly Special — perhaps the most iconic play in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LII win — almost didn’t happen. It almost didn’t happen not because of a more preferred play on the call-sheet to run. And it almost didn’t happen not because the Eagles didn’t have confidence in it’s execution.
Rather — it almost didn’t happen because Nick Foles almost didn’t return to the Eagles.
Foles was drafted by the Eagles out of Arizona in 2012. In his rookie season in Philadelphia — he came into a late-game situation in Tampa Bay and threw a game-winning touchdown to Jeremy Maclin. When Andy Reid was fired — Chip Kelly took the helm for the Eagles. After two years competing with Michael Vick — both Foles and Vick were gone — even after an incredible seven-touchdown performance for Foles against the Raiders.
After two seasons of with the Rams and the Chiefs — Foles returned to Philadelphia instead of retiring. It was a decision that he wrestled with for some time.
Now the Eagles need to make a decision about the 2026 backup signal caller. That depth-chart decision — a contingency behind Jalen Hurts — could be the difference to keeping the Eagles Super Bowl chances up in the event that Hurts is down.
The team made the first step on Sunday when they kept all four quarterbacks on the active 53-man roster. With any luck — Dalton, Payton, or McKee won’t put a helmet on all season — rather staying comfortable on the sideline.
In the event that they do — we’ll always have the memory of an incredible post-season run in 2018 that you could wait a lifetime and never see again from a quarterback who nearly didn’t return to Philadelphia.
And that 2017 Eagles backup quarterback position? Thank goodness Foles did return for it.
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