It is the most scrutinized job in Philadelphia. Honestly, being the guy under center for the Eagles is probably harder than being the Mayor. One day you’re the savior of Broad Street, and the next, you’re getting booed while trying to order a hoagie at Wawa. That’s just the reality of the history of eagles quarterbacks. It’s a lineage defined by spectacular athleticism, heartbreaking "what-ifs," and a backup who became a deity.
Philly fans don't just watch the game; they live it with a level of intensity that would make most people crumble. You’ve got a fan base that expects perfection but has developed a thick skin from decades of near-misses. From the leather-helmet days of Davey O’Brien to the modern, dual-threat dominance of Jalen Hurts, the position has evolved, but the pressure remains exactly the same.
The Pioneer and the Dutchman
Most people think the Eagles' winning tradition started in the 80s, but that’s just not true. You have to go back to 1948 and 1949. Tommy Thompson was the guy back then. He led the team to back-to-back NFL Championships. He did it while being legally blind in one eye from a childhood accident. Think about that next time you see a modern QB complain about a slight breeze.
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Then came Norm Van Brocklin. "The Dutchman." He only played three seasons in Philly, but man, did he make them count. In 1960, he did the unthinkable: he handed Vince Lombardi his only career postseason loss. Van Brocklin wasn't just a passer; he was basically the offensive coordinator on the field. He threw for 2,471 yards that year, which was massive for that era. He retired right after the championship, leaving the keys to a young Sonny Jurgensen.
Jurgensen was a pure passer. Maybe the best to ever do it. He threw for 3,723 yards in 1961, setting a record that stood for years. But the team was struggling, and in 1964, the Eagles made what many consider the worst trade in franchise history. They sent Sonny to Washington for Norm Snead. Jurgensen went on to become a Hall of Famer for a rival, while the Eagles wandered into a decades-long desert of mediocrity.
The Jaworski Transformation
The 70s were rough. Basically a revolving door of quarterbacks like Roman Gabriel and Pete Liske. Then Dick Vermeil arrived and brought in Ron Jaworski from the Rams in 1977. "Jaws" was different. He had this cannon for an arm and a work ethic that matched the city's blue-collar vibe.
He started 116 consecutive games. That’s toughness. In 1980, he finally broke the curse and led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XV). They lost to the Raiders, which still stings for older fans, but Jaworski proved that winning was possible in Philadelphia again. He finished his Philly career with 175 touchdowns and nearly 27,000 yards.
The Ultimate Weapon Era
If you grew up in the late 80s, Randall Cunningham was your hero. There wasn't anyone like him. He was doing things Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson do now, but in an era where coaches still wanted QBs to stay in the pocket. Buddy Ryan famously told him, "Randall, just go out there and make a play."
- 1988: First black quarterback to start a Pro Bowl.
- 1990: Rushed for 942 yards. That’s nearly a thousand yards as a quarterback!
- The 91-Yard Punt: Yeah, he was also the emergency punter and launched a ball 91 yards against the Giants.
Cunningham was "The Ultimate Weapon." He threw for 22,877 yards and ran for 4,482 more during his time in midnight green. The tragedy of the Randall era was the lack of a surrounding offensive cast. He was often running for his life behind a porous line, yet he still made the Eagles must-see TV every single Sunday.
The McNabb Decade
Donovan McNabb is arguably the most polarizing figure in the history of eagles quarterbacks. It started with him getting booed on draft day in 1999 because fans wanted Ricky Williams. He spent the next 11 years proving those fans wrong, yet some never fully came around.
Under Andy Reid, McNabb turned the Eagles into a perennial powerhouse. Five NFC Championship games. Five! He was the ultimate dual-threat before the term was trendy. He holds almost every major franchise passing record:
- 32,873 passing yards
- 216 passing touchdowns
- 92 wins (most by any Eagles QB)
But there’s always that "but." The loss in Super Bowl XXXIX to the Patriots and the rumors of him being sick in the huddle. It’s a shame, really. If he wins that one game, there’s a statue of him outside the stadium today. Instead, he remains a figure of "what could have been" for a lot of folks.
The Miracle of Saint Nick
The transition from McNabb to Michael Vick was a rollercoaster. Vick’s 2010 season was electric—the "Monday Night Massacre" against Washington remains one of the greatest individual performances ever. But injuries and inconsistency eventually led to the Chip Kelly era and the drafting of Carson Wentz in 2016.
Wentz was on fire in 2017. He was the MVP frontrunner. Then, his ACL gave out in Los Angeles. Enter Nick Foles.
Foles was a backup who had considered retiring a year earlier. What he did in the 2017 playoffs is literal folklore. He dismantled the Vikings in the NFC Championship and then went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. 373 yards. 3 touchdowns. And, of course, the "Philly Special."
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"You want Philly Philly?"
"Yeah, let's do it."
When Trey Burton threw that ball to Foles in the end zone, decades of Philadelphia sports frustration evaporated. Foles became the first—and so far only—quarterback to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philly. He might not have the career stats of McNabb or Jaworski, but he’s the one with the statue.
The Jalen Hurts Revolution
After the Wentz era soured, the Eagles took a gamble on Jalen Hurts in the second round. People hated the pick. They said he couldn't throw. They said he was just a runner.
Basically, they were wrong.
Hurts has become the face of the modern NFL quarterback. In 2022, he led the team back to the Super Bowl and put up one of the greatest losing performances in history, accounting for four touchdowns. As of early 2026, he’s already climbing the ranks of the greats. His winning percentage is staggering—sitting at over .700. He’s already 3rd all-time in QB rushing touchdowns in NFL history, trailing only Cam Newton and Josh Allen.
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What makes Hurts different is the "rent is due" mentality. He doesn't get rattled. Whether he's throwing a 50-yard bomb to A.J. Brown or pushing a pile for a "Brotherly Shove" first down, he’s the definition of a Philly leader.
Why the History Still Matters
You can't understand the Eagles without understanding the guys who wore the jersey. The fan base's skepticism comes from the Sonny Jurgensen trade. Their toughness comes from Ron Jaworski. Their flair comes from Randall. Their expectations come from McNabb. And their hope? That comes from Foles and Hurts.
If you're looking to dive deeper into this obsession, here is how you can actually apply this knowledge the next time you're at a sports bar or arguing on Reddit:
- Stop the McNabb Slander: When people say he wasn't "clutch," remind them he won 9 playoff games. That’s more than most franchises have in their entire history.
- Acknowledge the 1960 Title: Don't let people tell you the Eagles were nothing before 2017. Norm Van Brocklin's win over Lombardi is arguably the most significant win in pro football history.
- Watch Randall Highlights: If you want to see where the modern NFL started, go find 1990 Randall Cunningham film. It’ll change how you see the game.
- Track the "Brotherly Shove": Keep an eye on how Jalen Hurts uses his legs. We are watching a historical shift in how the position is played in real-time.
The history of eagles quarterbacks is a long, weird, beautiful mess. It’s a story of backups becoming kings and MVPs becoming afterthoughts. But through it all, the city of Philadelphia has stayed loud, loyal, and always ready to boo—out of love, of course.
The next step is to look at the current roster. With the 2026 season approaching, the question isn't just about who starts, but who can handle the weight of the city. Because in Philly, the jersey isn't just fabric. It’s a contract with the fans. And the rent is always due.