Winning a division in the NFL is supposed to be hard. Winning the NFC East? Historically, that has been basically impossible to do twice in a row. For twenty years, this division was a revolving door. Nobody could keep the crown. Then the Philadelphia Eagles showed up and broke the curse.
They did it. Twice.
Being the Eagles NFC East champions in 2024 was one thing—that was a Super Bowl-winning year. But repeating in 2025? That’s the stuff of legends. Honestly, most fans outside of Philly didn't think they had it in them after the 2023 collapse. Yet, here we are. The Birds are officially back to being the gold standard in the East.
The Myth of the NFC East "Curse"
For the longest time, the NFC East was the only division in football without a repeat winner. Since the 2001-2004 Eagles run under Andy Reid, the title just bounced around like a hot potato. Giants, Cowboys, Commanders, repeat. It felt like some weird cosmic rule.
✨ Don't miss: What Channel are the 49ers on Today: Watching the Divisional Clash in Seattle
But this current roster doesn't care about history.
In 2024, they finished 14-3. Dominant. They went on to crush the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. You'd think a "Super Bowl hangover" would be inevitable, right? Usually, teams that win it all come out flat the next year. Not these guys. By Week 16 of the 2025 season, after beating the Washington Commanders, they clinched the division again.
They became the first team in over two decades to go back-to-back in this division.
How Saquon Barkley Changed Everything
Look, we have to talk about the Giants' mistake. Letting Saquon Barkley walk across the division to Philly was probably the biggest front-office blunder of the decade.
In 2024, Saquon didn't just play well; he was a god. 2,005 rushing yards. Let that sink in. He joined the 2,000-yard club and broke the NFL record for total scrimmage yards in a single season (regular season and playoffs combined) with 2,504. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year for a reason.
The guy literally had a game against the Rams where he put up 255 rushing yards. One game!
Even in 2025, when teams started stacking the box even harder, he still cracked 1,100 yards. Having a back that forces a defense to keep eight men in the box makes Jalen Hurts’ life so much easier. You can’t double-team AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith when you’re terrified of Saquon taking a handoff 60 yards to the house.
The Vic Fangio Effect on Defense
While the offense gets the highlights, the defense is why they keep winning these division titles. Vic Fangio joined as defensive coordinator in 2024 and turned the unit into a brick wall.
They went from being ranked near the bottom of the league in 2023 to the #1 total defense in 2024.
Fangio's scheme is complicated, but the results are simple:
- They allowed only 16.9 points per game in their championship year.
- They led the league in pass defense (174.2 yards per game).
- They developed young stars like Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean.
Zack Baun is a name that nobody talked about before he got to Philly. Fangio moved him to inside linebacker, and suddenly the guy is an All-Pro with 150 tackles. It’s that kind of coaching that turns a good roster into a perennial division champion.
Jalen Hurts: The Quiet Leader
People still love to debate Jalen Hurts. It’s weird. The guy just wins.
Since 2022, he has the second-highest winning percentage for a QB in the league, trailing only Patrick Mahomes. In 2024, he posted a 103.7 passer rating. He also broke his own record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
What most people get wrong about Hurts is the "Tush Push" or "Brotherly Shove" narrative. Sure, it’s a weapon. But you don't win back-to-back division titles just by falling forward for one yard. You win by throwing for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns while only throwing 6 interceptions, which is exactly what he did in 2025.
He’s efficient. He’s cold-blooded. And he’s the reason the Eagles have a "clutch" factor that the Cowboys and Giants just seem to lack right now.
Breaking Down the 2025 Repeat
The 2025 season wasn't as "perfect" as 2024, but it was grittier. They finished 11-6.
They had to deal with a lot of noise. People were waiting for them to fall off. They lost some weird games—like that 24-15 heartbreaker to the Bears in Week 13. But they always bounced back.
Key Moments in the 2025 Title Run:
- The Week 15 Shutout: Beating the Raiders 31-0 to secure their fifth straight winning season.
- The Commanders Clincher: A Week 16 victory over a tough Washington team that finally put the NFC East race to bed.
- The Rookie Secondary: Seeing Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean both make the Pro Bowl as sophomores proved that the defense wasn't a one-year wonder.
Why This Matters for the Future
The Eagles aren't just winning; they're building. Howie Roseman has managed to keep the core together while rotating in rookie talent.
Think about the receiving duo. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith have both had 1,000-yard seasons in three consecutive years. That is insane consistency. Smith, the "Slim Reaper," is now the franchise leader in postseason receiving yards.
However, it's not all sunshine. The 2025 season ended with a disappointing Wild Card loss to the 49ers. It was a 23-19 game that felt winnable. It showed that while the Eagles are the kings of the NFC East, the rest of the NFC is catching up.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to figure out if this run continues into 2026, here is what you need to watch:
- The Salary Cap Dance: Howie Roseman is a wizard, but the big contracts for Hurts, Brown, and Saquon are starting to hit the books. Watch for more "void years" and restructures.
- The Fangio Succession: Vic Fangio is a legend, but he’s also 67. The Eagles need to ensure the defensive system stays intact if he ever decides to retire (again).
- The Youth Movement: The 2025 draft class needs to provide the same impact that Mitchell and DeJean did. Keep an eye on the defensive line depth.
The Philadelphia Eagles as NFC East champions is the new normal. The "curse" is dead. The division now runs through Lincoln Financial Field, and until someone proves they can stop Saquon Barkley or out-scheme Vic Fangio, it’s going to stay that way.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the Eagles' free agency moves this March. How they handle the aging offensive line—specifically the potential retirement of legends like Lane Johnson—will determine if the 2026 season ends with another division banner or a slide back into the "revolving door" era of the NFC East.