The Eagles haven’t had skill players put up the gaudiest numbers in league history, nor have they had defenders dominate the Defensive Player of the Year voting (sans Reggie White). However, Philadelphia has remained consistently competitive on the strength of well-balanced rosters.

Thus, on this list of the greatest Eagles of all time, expect to see players from a diversity of positions. And as usual, all stats and references are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and are updated through the end of the 2023 NFL season.

Who were the best Philadelphia Eagles players from the 2022 NFL season?

Some of the best players on the Eagles’ 2022 roster came on the defensive side of the ball, like DT Javon Hargrave and OLB Hassan Reddick.

Who are the Philadelphia Eagles best players for the 2023-24 NFL season?

Some of the best players in the Eagles’ 2023 starting lineup featured on offense, such as QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown.

Philadelphia Eagles History of Players

The Eagles' history of players can be defined by some Hall-of-Fame linemen. On offense, there are names like OT Jeason Peters and Cs Jason Kelce and Chuck Bednarik. On defense, there are names like DE Reggie White and DT Fletcher Cox.

Famous Philadelphia Eagles Players

Other famous players on the Eagles include star QBs like Donovan McNabb, Jalen Hurts, and Sonny Jurgenson.

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Philadelphia Eagles Players of all time

10. Eric Allen, 1988-1994

Position: Cornerback

Former Eagles CB Eric Allen was one of the best cornerbacks of his era. He spent the first seven seasons of his career in Philadelphia and made five Pro Bowls in the Green and White. He made 3 All-Pro teams (1x First-team, 2x Second-team) and averaged around five interceptions a season.

Allen is tied for the most interceptions in franchise history with 34. He added a further three in five postseason games for the Eagles.

9. LeSean McCoy, 2009-2015

Position: Running Back

Former Philadelphia RB LeSean “Shady” McCoy has the most rushing yards in Eagles history with 6,792. The master of the stutter-step also holds the franchise record for the most rushing yards in a single season (1,607 in 2013) and rushing touchdowns (17 in 2011) in a single season.

McCoy was a 4x Pro Bowler and 2x First-team All-Pro in the city of Brotherly Love before he was unceremoniously traded to the Buffalo Bills in a glorified salary dump for LB Kiko Alonso. He did enough to earn a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team.

8. Harold Carmichael, 1971-1983

Position: Wide Receiver

Who has the most receiving yards in Philadelphia Eagles history? The answer is former WR Harold Carmichael, who spent 13 of his 14 NFL seasons in Philly.

Carmichael also holds the franchise record for receptions and receiving touchdowns. He played the sixth-most games in franchise history and appeared in a further seven playoff games for Philadelphia, including Super Bowl XV.

Carmichael posted three 1,000+ receiving-yard seasons and led the NFL in that category in 1973. That season was one of his four Pro Bowl campaigns.

7. Jason Peters, 2009-2020

Position: Offensive Tackle

The 42-year-old OT Jason Peters is still kicking in the NFL, appearing in eight games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. He joined the Eagles as a 27-year-old back in 2009 right in the prime of his career and immediately contributed to an already stout Philadelphia offensive line.

Peters was a Pro Bowler in each of his first seven seasons in Philadelphia: in fact, he was well on his way to an eighth straight before a season-ending injury in 2017. While he still earned a Super Bowl ring with the team that year, Peters missed the postseason run.

Peters appeared in 148 games for the Eagles and was a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team.

6. Steve Van Buren, 1944-1951

Position: Running Back

Many younger Eagles fans may not have heard of former RB Steve Van Buren, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t one of the greatest Eagles football players in franchise history:

• 2x NFL Champion
• 5x First-team All-Pro, 2x Second-team All-Pro
• 4x NFL rushing yards leader, 4x NFL rushing touchdowns leader
• Most rushing touchdowns in Eagles history
• NFL 1940s All-Decade team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame

What more could the man have done?

5. Jason Kelce, 2011-2023

Position: Center

Longtime Eagles C Jason Kelce recently announced his retirement in a teary press conference on Monday, March 4th. He had been a mainstay on the Eagles offensive line since the team made him a sixth-round pick back in 2011 -- Kelce hadn’t missed a start since 2014.

Kelce has been one of the best offensive linemen of his generation: he’s a 6x First-team All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl LII champion. He has morphed into arguably the most recognizable non-skill position player in the sport and will most certainly continue to be a familiar face in NFL media for years to come.

4. Donovan McNabb, 1999-2009

Position: Quarterback

No, past Eagles QB Donovan McNabb didn’t end up being the man to quarterback Philadelphia to their first Super Bowl; somehow, Nick Foles ended up with that honor. However, McNabb is still the most successful quarterback in Eagles' history.

McNabb has the most passing yards, the most passing touchdowns, and the most quarterback wins in franchise history. He was a 6x Pro Bowler who led the Eagles to four straight NFC Championship games and just the second Super Bowl appearance in Philadelphia history.

3. Reggie White, 1985-1992

Position: Defensive End

The “Minister of Defense” started his Hall of Fame career in the city of Brotherly Love. Reggie White was immediately one of the best defensive players in the NFL from the get-go. Here are his sack totals in each of his 8seasons in Philly: 13.0, 18.0, 21.0, 18.0, 11.0, 14.0, 15.0, 14.0.

Naturally, White has the most sacks in Eagles history. He was the 1987 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a 6x First-team All-Pro in Philadelphia, earning spots on both the NFL’s 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams. The latter came in part to his fine work with the Green Bay Packers, who White spent six seasons with.

2. Chuck Bednarik, 1949-1962

Position: Linebacker

Former Eagles LB Chuck Bednarik was one of the first NFL superstars on the defensive side of the ball. He was also a star center on the other side of the ball. He was a fixture in a dominant Philadelphia lineup that won a pair of NFL Championships, one in 1949 and the other in 1960.

Bednarik earned a stunning 10 First-team All-Pro nods, the most in franchise history. Naturally, he was a member of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade team along with the league’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary teams.

The “60-minute man” was one of the most famous two-way players in NFL history.

1. Brian Dawkins, 1996-2008

Position: Safety

Why is former S Brian Dawkins, the man known as “Weapon X”, the best Philadelphia Eagles player of all time? Let’s check his CV:

• Fifth-most games played in franchise history
• Most interceptions in franchise history, most forced fumbles in franchise history
• 4x First-team All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler
• NFL 2000s All-Decade team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dawkins was also the emotional leader of the defense and the face of the franchise for over a decade.

Parameters of Rankings 

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

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