Alshon Jeffery almost signed with the Patriots before joining the Eagles

Alshon Jeffery returned to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday for the first time since his retirement from the NFL in 2021, serving as honorary captain for the Birds’ dominating win over the Cowboys.

Jeffery scored a touchdown in Super Bowl LII and was with the Eagles for four seasons (2017-20) before his release in 2021, which led to his retirement.

But on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, Jeffery revealed that he almost signed with New England — until the Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract, eating up the money Jeffery could have signed for and driving him to Philadelphia. He ultimately was drawn to his personal connections with the Birds, including relationships with Duce Staley and Mike Groh, then the Eagles receivers coach who had also coached Jeffery on the Bears.

“I wanted to stay in Chicago, but they were giving me the run-around,” Jeffery said on the podcast. “...Then the Eagles reached out, and they said we can do this, and they promised me XYZ, and that I could earn up to this. Just give us a chance and let’s see, and they promised they’d give me a contract extension if it went well.”

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It did. Midway through recording a 789-yard season with nine touchdowns, Jeffery was signed to a four-year, $52 million extension. Then Jeffery caught two touchdowns in the NFC Championship game against Minnesota and one in the Super Bowl against those same Patriots.

Jeffery had a good feeling about the Eagles from his first practice.

“When we were done with practice, I said, ‘We’re going to win the Super Bowl,’” Jeffery recalled. “I knew that instantly. It’s just the way our practices were going, I could just feel the energy. I was on the Bears, not saying that wasn’t a great team, but this was just a different environment. We had all the pieces to make this a special team.”