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With 2:47 left in the in the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl LIX — and the Eagles up 27–0 and needing one more score to all but end the competitive phase of the game— they did not run with Saquon Barkley. Instead Hurts threw at 46-yard play-action bomb for a Devonta Smith score. The play was labeled immediately by commentator Tom Brady — and will always be known as The Dagger.
Credit: Geoff Burke/Imagn Images
Not many quarterbacks and wide receivers have a history like Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith. For two seasons at Alabama — the two were a top college connection at one of the finest college football programs in all of America. Before that — Hurts even hosted Smith on his visit to Alabama.
Then in 2021 — Devonta Smith was drafted by the Eagles.
After one season with Smith and Hurts both as Eagles — Philadelphia made yet another splash by acquiring veteran AJ Brown. For four seasons — Brown and Smith were one of the top pair of receivers in the NFL. Now — Devonta Smith is once again Philly’s #1 receiver with Brown’s departure to New England.
But for Smith — it’s not just about being #1. It’s about leading a wide receiver room that will not only need to make up for the loss of AJ Brown — but will need to provide on-field options for an Eagles offense operating with a new scheme in 2026. And for Hurts — now surrounded by new weapons such as rookie Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore, Johnny Wilson, Quez Watkins, Hollywood Brown, Britain Covey. Danny Gray, and Darius Cooper.
And 2026 itself isn’t just about proving that Devonta Smith doesn’t need a future Hall of Famer like AJ opposite him to be dominant. That Smith’s ability — both as a leader and a top NFL pass catcher — is exactly the feature receiver that the Eagles need from the position to hoist yet another Lombardi Trophy.
Some five years ago — rookie Devonta Smith and the Eagles played a Thursday night game against the NFL Commentator and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and future NFL Hall of Famer Richard Sherman. Years later — after having to cope with the speed of Smith all night — Sherman would later share that it was one of the moments helped him make a decision to retire.
No matter what the future brings — Smith and Brown won’t just be two of the best receivers in Eagles’ history — but in NFL history.
In September — Devonta Smith will look to begin yet another journey to make some other NFL defensive backs contemplate retirement and all the while making sure that he adds more championship trophies to the Novacare Complex — before his career is over as well.
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