The Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl. They will have a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025.
While Philadelphia has experienced plenty of regular-season and playoff success, their record in the Super Bowl has been mixed. Let’s look back at how the Eagles have fared in the big game.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Eagles Played In?
- Super Bowl 15 — January 1981
- Super Bowl 39 — February 2005
- Super Bowl 52 — February 2018
- Super Bowl 57 — February 2023
Although the Eagles have appeared in four Super Bowls, they also made several championship appearances in the pre-Super Bowl era.
Philadelphia played in the NFL Championship Game each season from 1947-49. With head coach Greasy Neale and running back Steve Van Buren leading the way, the Eagles won the title in the latter two seasons. After losing to the Chicago Cardinals in 1947, Philadelphia defeated the Cardinals in 1948 and the Los Angeles Rams in 1949.
In 1960, the Eagles went 10-2 in what would become the final season of head coach Buck Shaw, quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, and linebacker Chuck Bednarik’s careers. Philadelphia beat the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship, giving Vince Lombardi the only championship loss of his career.
Super Bowl Wins by the Eagles
While the Eagles are a storied NFL franchise, they had never won a Super Bowl entering the 2017 campaign. Philadelphia finished with a 13-3 record and secured the top seed in the NFC, but they had to navigate the postseason without second-year quarterback and MVP candidate Carson Wentz, who had torn his ACL in Week 14.
Backup signal-caller Nick Foles, in his second stint with the Eagles, managed to squeak by the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round before dominating the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game. That victory set up a Super Bowl 52 matchup with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who had won the Lombardi Trophy the year prior by defeating the Falcons.
This contest ended up as the second-highest-scoring Super Bowl of all time, and it was a back-and-forth affair from the get-go. Philadelphia held a three-point lead near the end of the second quarter when Doug Pederson and Foles dialed up the “Philly Special,” a trick play that saw running back Corey Clement accept a direct snap and pitch the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who then tossed a touchdown pass to a wide-open Foles.
Philadelphia maintained their lead until midway through the third quarter when Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for a four-yard TD pass to give the Patriots a 33-32 advantage. Foles then connected with Zach Ertz to retake the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Brady might’ve orchestrated one of his classic game-winning drives, but edge rusher Brandon Graham strip-sacked the future Hall of Famer on his second dropback of the series. The Eagles recovered the fumble, hit a field goal to make the score 41-33, then stopped Brady and the Patriots on their ensuing possession to close out their first Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl Losses by the Eagles
In Dick Vermeil’s fifth season as the Eagles’ head coach, he led his team to a 12-4 record and first place in the NFC East. Philadelphia beat the Vikings in the Divisional Round and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC title game, earning the right to face the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl 15.
Unfortunately, the game could have hardly gotten off to a worse start for the Eagles. Raiders linebacker Rod Martin intercepted Ron Jaworski’s first pass attempt of the game, and Jim Plunkett found receiver Cliff Branch for a touchdown on Oakland’s ensuing drive.
Things didn’t get any better for Philadelphia. By the early third quarter, the Eagles were already down 21-3. With a chance to get back in the game, they drove to the Raiders’ 34-yard line, but Martin picked off Jaworksi for the second time. Oakland kicked a field goal before the Eagles finally scored a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter to make the score 24-10.
Philadelphia’s last two drives represented a comedy of errors. First, Jaworski fumbled in Raiders’ territory with six minutes remaining. Then, after a Raiders’ three-and-out, Martin intercepted Jaworski again, collecting his Super Bowl record third pick of the game. Oakland ran out the clock to earn a 27-10 victory.
The Eagles Came Close in Super Bowl 39
The Eagles had lost three consecutive NFC Championship Games heading into the 2004 season, leaving a poor taste in the mouth of everyone in Philadelphia. After trading for wide receiver Terrell Owens over the offseason, the Eagles managed the NFC’s best regular-season record for the fourth year in a row. Philadelphia began the season with seven straight wins, and two of their three losses for the year came in meaningless games when the club opted to rest its starters.
Andy Reid’s team beat the Vikings in the Divisional Round and the Falcons in the NFC title game, earning the right to face the Patriots in the Super Bowl. New England, having won two of the previous three Super Bowls and on their way to becoming a dynasty, defeated the Colts and Steelers en route to their Super Bowl appearance.
The game was 7-7 at halftime. Donovan McNabb found tight end L.J. Smith for a touchdown near the beginning of the second quarter, while Brady hit David Givens for a score just before halftime.
On the Patriots’ first drive of the third quarter, Brady threw a TD pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel, who had lined up as a tight end before hauling in a two-yard score. Three series later, Philadelphia tied the game again when McNabb hit Brian Westbrook for a 10-yard TD.
Super Bowl 57 Loss
The Eagles faced off against one of the hottest offenses in the league when they faced Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. Jalen Hurts put up a record-breaking effort, but ultimately, the team fell short 38-35.
The Eagles managed to get up 10 points in the first half but came out of the halftime show with little energy. The Chiefs capitalized, scoring on every drive. They took the lead and never looked back.
Can the Eagles Win Their Second Super Bowl Ring?
After defeating the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles have advanced to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in franchise history.
Can Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and Co. hoist the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans?
It’s worth noting that this team shares some similarities with the 2017 Eagles squad that won it all.
- A 28-point win in November in Dallas
- Falling behind on the first drive of a blowout Championship win
- Going undefeated in October and November
- Had a 28-point win in November in Dallas
- Fell behind on the first drive of a blowout Championship win
- Undefeated in October and November
The Eagles are hot right now, playing their best football at the perfect time. Their 55 points are not only a season-high but the most in a Conference Championship Game. They surpassed the 1990 Buffalo Bills, who scored 51 vs. the Los Angeles Raiders Raiders.
Philadelphia peaked early last season and scored 155 points over a five-game win streak (Weeks 7-12). This season, over their past five games, the Eagles scored 166 points.
