Nick Foles, MVP of the Eagles’ lone Super Bowl win, announces his retirement

Nick Foles, the MVP of the Eagles’ lone Super Bowl victory in franchise history, announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. He will retire as an Eagle.

Foles, 35, was selected out of Arizona by the Eagles in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft and played five of his 11 years in the league with the Eagles over two stints. In his second stretch with the team, he produced one of the most iconic performances in Eagles history, delivering a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII and becoming the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to catch a touchdown pass on the now-famous “Philly Special” trick play to end the first half.

The Eagles announced Foles will officially retire as a member of the team before the home opener at Lincoln Financial Field against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 16. No player has worn Foles’ No. 9 since his departure. Last week, Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat suggested he couldn’t switch to the number when assessing a number swap this offseason because it’s off-limits.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle,” Foles said in a statement. “The City of Brotherly Love has always felt like home to me as an NFL player. Philadelphia is a city I truly love, and it has been an honor to wear the Eagles jersey. Thank you, Philadelphia, for embracing me and making me a part of your family forever. Your love and support have meant the world.”

Foles was called into action during the 2017 season after former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL midway through the year, and he led the team to an improbable postseason run. The Austin, Texas, native finished the Super Bowl with a postseason career-high 373 passing yards with a 65% completion percentage, three touchdown passes, and one interception. A video released by NFL Films following the shootout win against Tom Brady’s Patriots revealed that Foles was the one who suggested calling the trick play he’d nicknamed “Philly Philly” to then-Eagles coach Doug Pederson.

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With the offense facing fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line and 38 seconds left in the first half, Foles feigned a pre-snap check, walking up to the line of scrimmage and stopping just in time for Jason Kelce to snap the ball to directly to Corey Clement, who broke left and pitched it to Trey Burton, the tight end who rolled out the opposite way to find Foles uncovered running into the end zone. The score put the Eagles up, 22-12, going into halftime.

Foles spent the 2018 season with the Eagles as well and ushered in another playoff win in relief of Wentz, beating the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round after starting three games to finish out the regular season.

After the team’s 2018 playoff run ended in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints, Foles signed a four-year contract worth $88 million to be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starter but suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in his first game with his new team, was replaced by Jaguars draftee Gardner Minshew, and released the following year.

Foles spent two seasons with the Bears and was on the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, but he spent last year as a free agent.

His playing style could best be described as “streaky,” with his highest moments putting him among the league’s most effective passers and his low moments resulting in him bouncing between teams over the course of his career.

“Nick Foles always carried himself with the utmost class and integrity, demonstrating through his actions, both on and off the field, what it meant to be a Philadelphia Eagle,” owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “He was the ultimate competitor, an inspiring teammate, a true representative of our city, and, of course, a Super Bowl champion. As important as he was under center, it was his positive demeanor, approachability, and kindness toward others that resonated with everyone and continues to speak to his great character. We congratulate the Foles family on Nick’s celebrated career and retirement.”

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Some of Foles’ highest moments came during his first few years with the Eagles. He started six games in his rookie season, at first coming in for an injured Michael Vick and eventually earning the job as the team struggled to a 4-12 record that cost former Eagles coach Andy Reid his job. With Chip Kelly replacing Reid, Foles started the season as the backup to Vick, whose dual-threat ability seemingly was a better fit for Kelly’s college-influenced offense.

Still, Foles came in for an injured Vick again a few games into the year and put up career numbers, throwing 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions while completing 64% of his passes. In a Week 9 road game against the Oakland Raiders that year, Foles tied an NFL record with seven touchdown passes in one game. He also had a perfect passer rating, completing nearly 79% of his passes and throwing for 406 yards, a performance that resulted in his jersey, cleats, and a game ball going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Eagles traded Foles in 2015 to the St. Louis Rams, who relocated to Los Angeles the following year. He started 11 games for them but finished the season as a backup to Case Keenum. He spent the next season as a backup with the Kansas City Chiefs before rejoining the Eagles as the No. 2 behind Wentz in 2017.

Foles retires with 58 career starts, 14,227 passing yards, and 82 touchdown passes with 47 interceptions.