The Greatest Eagles of All Time
Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia NFL Football
Through online voting, ESPN has asked viewers to select their home state’s Mt. Rushmore of Sports. In this third story of a six part series, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Mt. Rushmore is unveiled. Each professional team in Philadelphia along with the Big Five will have their own Mt. Rushmore before the final Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia Sports in unveiled. All current and former players, executives, owners and broadcasters are eligible.
Steve Van Buren (15)
A member of back-to-back championship teams, Steve Van Buren is the greatest running back in Eagles’ history. Van Buren won four rushing titles and was named to the All-Pro team seven times. In 1945, Van Buren won the ‘triple crown’ by leading the league in rushing yards, scoring and kickoff returns. He was enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1965.
Brian Dawkins (20)
As the only current NFL player to make the Eagles’ Mt. Rushmore, Brian Dawkins, a future Hall of Fame safety, played more games in an Eagles’ uniform than any other player in the franchise’s history. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has 34 career interceptions, 33 career forced fumbles and is one of the hardest hitters in the NFL. Dawkins, a fan favorite in Philadelphia, recently signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos much to the dismay of the Eagles' Nation.
Chuck Bednarik (60)
One of the greatest two-way players in football history, Bednarik, a native of Bethlehem, Pa., remains one of the most decorated players in Eagles’ history. Bednarik, a center and linebacker, was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Bednarik made the game saving tackle in the 1960 NFL Championship to bring the title back to Philadelphia. Despite his rocky relationship with the Eagles’ organization in the decades after his retirement, Bednarik remains one of the greatest to ever wear Eagles’ green.
Reggie White (92)
The Minister of Defense, who has his jersey retired by two NFL organizations, the Eagles and Green Bay Packers, was the greatest defensive player to ever play professional football in Philadelphia. White was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, 10 first-team All-Pro teams and he was named the Defensive Player of the Year twice. In addition, White was selected to the All-Decade team twice (1980s and 1990s). White was posthumously inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2006.
To read the other Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia sports articles, follow the following choices.
Philadelphia Phillies: http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Philadelphia Flyers: http://national-hockey-league-nhl.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Philadelphia 76ers: http://nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Big Five Basketball: http://college-basketball.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
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