Editing Philadelphia Eagles (section)

===Thompson, Wolman and the Happy Hundred era (1941–1969)===
{{Further|Happy Hundred}}
In December 1940, Bell intervened to stop the sale of [[Art Rooney]]'s [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]] to [[Alexis Thompson (American football owner)|Alexis Thompson]],<ref name="Algeo: 16">Algeo: 16</ref> and Rooney then acquired half of Bell's interest in the Eagles.<ref>Ruck; Patterson and Weber: 183–184; cf. Herskowitz: 149, Lyons: 81–82</ref> In a series of events known as the [[Pennsylvania Polka (American football)|Pennsylvania Polka]],<ref name="Algeo: 16"/> Rooney and Bell exchanged their entire Eagles roster and their territorial rights in Philadelphia to Thompson for his entire Steelers roster and his rights in [[Pittsburgh]].<ref>Lyons: 87; Ruck; Patterson and Weber: 187</ref> Rooney provided assistance to Bell by rewarding him with a 20% commission on the sale of the Steelers.<ref>Ruck; Patterson and Weber: 303; cf. MacCambridge 2005: 45</ref> Bell became the Steelers' head coach and Rooney became the Steelers' general manager.<ref>Ruck; with Patterson and Weber: 187; cf. Lyons: 88, MacCambridge 2005: 45</ref>

==== Greasy Neale years (1941–1950) ====
{{Further|1947 NFL Championship Game|1948 NFL Championship Game|1949 NFL Championship Game|Greasy Neale}}
After assuming ownership, Thompson promptly hired [[Greasy Neale]] as the team's head coach. During the first years under Neale, the Eagles' struggles continued, and they finished the [[1941 Philadelphia Eagles season|1941 season]] with a 2–8–1 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1941 Philadelphia Eagles Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1941.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref> In the [[1942 Philadelphia Eagles season|1942 season]], there was no improvement as the team finished the season 2–9.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1942 Philadelphia Eagles Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1942.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref>

=====Steagles (1943)=====
{{Main|Steagles}}
{{Further|1943 Philadelphia Eagles season|1944 Philadelphia Eagles season}}
In [[1943 Philadelphia Eagles season|1943]], with player shortages stemming from the U.S. entry engagement in [[World War II]], it became difficult to fill the roster, and the team merged with the Steelers to form the "Phil-Pitt Combine", known as the [[Steagles]].<ref name="c806">{{cite web | last=Didinger | first=Ray | title=The Steagles: An Unforgettable 1943 Season | website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com| date=November 8, 2018 | url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/the-steagles-an-unforgettable-1943-season | access-date=August 21, 2024}}</ref> Greasy Neale continued to coach the team along with Steelers head coach [[Walt Kiesling]]. The team finished the 1943 season with a 5–4–1 record, and the merger, which was never intended to be a permanent arrangement, was dissolved at the season's end.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1943 Phi/Pit Eagles/Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1943.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref>

In [[1944 Philadelphia Eagles season|1944]], the Eagles, led by head coach Greasy Neale and running back [[Steve Van Buren]], had their first winning season in team history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1944 Philadelphia Eagles Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1944.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref> After two second-place finishes in [[1945 Philadelphia Eagles season|1945]] and [[1946 Philadelphia Eagles season|1946]], the team reached the [[1947 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]] for the first time in [[1947 Philadelphia Eagles season|1947]]. Van Buren, [[Pete Pihos]], and [[Bosh Pritchard]] fought valiantly, but the young team lost to the [[1947 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]], 28–21 at [[Comiskey Park]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Cardinals - December 28th, 1947 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194712280crd.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref>

===== NFL champions (1948) =====
{{Further|1948 NFL Championship Game|1948 Philadelphia Eagles season}}
[[File:Van Buren 1952 Bowman.jpg|thumb|[[Steve Van Buren]], Eagles halfback from 1944 to 1951, was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1965.]]
[[File:ChuckBednarik1952Bowman.jpg|thumb|[[Chuck Bednarik]], Eagles linebacker and center from 1949 to 1962, was inducted into [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1967. His tackle of [[Frank Gifford]], then a running back for the [[New York Giants]], in November 1960, is widely considered one of the hardest [[The Hit (Chuck Bednarik)|hits]] and greatest plays in NFL history]]
[[File:PetePihos1955Bowman.jpg|thumb|[[Pete Pihos]], Eagles tight end from 1947 to 1955, was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1970.]]
Undeterred, the young team rebounded in [[1948 Philadelphia Eagles season|1948]] to return to the [[1948 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]]. With home-field advantage and a blinding snowstorm on their side, the Eagles won their first NFL Championship against the [[1948 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] by a score of 7–0.<ref name="i638">{{cite web | last=Robinson | first=Sam | title=The NFL's Bizarre 'Blizzard Bowl' and the Star Who Nearly Missed It | website=HISTORY | date=December 8, 2021 | url=https://www.history.com/news/nfl-championship-blizzard-bowl-game-1948 | access-date=August 21, 2024}}</ref> The only score came in the fourth quarter when Steve Van Buren ran for a five-yard touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Chicago Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles - December 19th, 1948 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194812190phi.htm |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref> Because of the severe weather, few fans witnessed the joyous occasion.

Prior to the start of the [[1949 NFL season|1949 season]], the Eagles were sold by Thompson to a syndicate of 100 buyers, known as the "[[Happy Hundred]]", each of whom paid $3,000 for a share of the team. While the leader of the "Happy Hundred" was noted Philadelphia businessman [[James P. Clark]], one unsung investor was [[Leonard Tose]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Didinger |first1=Ray |first2=Robert S. |last2=Lyons |title=The Eagles Encyclopedia |publisher=Temple University Press |year=2005 |isbn=1-59213-449-1 |pages=127–128}}</ref>

===== NFL champions (1949) =====
{{Further|1949 NFL Championship Game}}
In 1949, the Eagles returned to the [[1949 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]] for a third consecutive year. The Eagles were favored by a touchdown,<ref name="eshpfv">{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/16/page/49/article/eagles-7-1-2-point-choice-for-title |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Warren |first=Harry |title=Eagles 7½ point choice for title |date=December 16, 1949 |page=1, part 4 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207160021/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/16/page/49/article/eagles-7-1-2-point-choice-for-title/ |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rpfuoe">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OM9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C63367 |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |location=Pennsylvania |agency=United Press |title=Rams point for upset over Eagles |date=December 17, 1949 |page=7 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512065219/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OM9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K0INAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C63367 |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="erbfttd">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iFgaAAAAIBAJ&pg=7242%2C2142192 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles, Rams battle for NFL title today |date=December 18, 1949 |page=2B |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426012747/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iFgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CA0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7242,2142192 |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> and won 14–0 for their second consecutive title game shutout. Running back [[Steve Van Buren]] rushed for 196 yards on 31 carries for the Eagles, and their defense held the Rams to just 21 yards on the ground.<ref name="ertbrir">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4s0LAAAAIBAJ&pg=2698%2C211869 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Independent |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles retain title, beat Rams in rain |date=December 19, 1949 |page=21 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512061931/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4s0LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2698%2C211869 |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Chuck Bednarik]] was selected as the first overall pick in the [[1949 NFL draft]]. An All-American lineman/linebacker from the University of Pennsylvania, Bednarik would go on to become one of the greatest and most beloved players in Eagles history.

In [[1950 Philadelphia Eagles season|1950]], the Eagles opened the season against the [[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]] champion [[Cleveland Browns]], who, along with two other AAFC franchises, had just [[1950 NFL season#The AAFC–NFL merger|joined the NFL]]. The Eagles were expected to make short work of the Browns, who were widely considered the dominant team in a lesser league. However, the Browns lit up the Eagles' vaunted defense for 487 total yards, including 246 passing yards, in a 35–10 rout. The Eagles never recovered from the loss and finished the 1950 season 6–6.

Following the 1950 season, Greasy Neale retired and was replaced by [[Bo McMillin]]. Two games into the [[1951 Philadelphia Eagles season|1951 season]], McMillin was forced to retire following a diagnosis of terminal [[stomach cancer]]. [[Wayne Millner]] finished out the season before being replaced by [[Jim Trimble]].

While the remnants of the great 1940s teams managed to stay competitive for the first few years of the decade, and younger players like [[Bobby Walston]] and [[Sonny Jurgensen]] occasionally provided infusions of talent, the team lacked the total talent necessary for true greatness during most of the 1950s.

After the [[1957 Philadelphia Eagles season|1957 season]], the Eagles moved from Connie Mack Stadium to [[Franklin Field]] at the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. Franklin Field had a vastly expanded seating capacity for the Eagles. While Connie Mack Stadium had a capacity of 39,000, Franklin Field's capacity was 60,000.<ref name="The Eagles Encyclopedia">{{cite book |title=The Eagles Encyclopedia |last1=Didinger |first1=Ray |first2=Robert S. |last2=Lyons |year=2005 |publisher=[[Temple University Press]] |isbn=1-59213-449-1 }}</ref> In 1969, the grass field at Franklin Field was replaced by [[AstroTurf]], making Franklin Field the first NFL stadium to use artificial turf.

==== Buck Shaw years (1958–1960) ====
{{Further|1960 NFL Championship Game|Buck Shaw}}
In [[1958 Philadelphia Eagles season|1958]], the Eagles took several steps to improve, hiring [[Buck Shaw]] as head coach and acquiring quarterback [[Norm Van Brocklin]] in a trade with the [[Los Angeles Rams]]. During the [[1959 Philadelphia Eagles season|1959 season]], the team showed flashes of talent, and finished in second place in the Eastern Division. Former Eagles owner and co-founder Bert Bell had become [[National Football League Commissioner|NFL commissioner]], and attended the Eagles game on October 11 at Franklin Field against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], a team Bell used to own. Bell refused the box seats that the Eagles reserved for him and purchased his own tickets to sit with the fans. During the fourth quarter, while sitting behind the end zone, Bell suffered a heart attack and died later that day.

===== NFL champions (1960) =====
{{Further|1960 NFL Championship Game|Philadelphia Eagles Santa Claus incident|The Hit (Chuck Bednarik)}}
[[File:Penn - Franklin Field - 1922.jpg|thumb|[[Franklin Field]], the Eagles' home field from 1958 to 1970]]
The Eagles' [[1960 Philadelphia Eagles season|1960 season]] remains one of the most celebrated years in team history. Shaw, Van Brocklin, and [[Chuck Bednarik|Bednarik]], each in their last season before retirement, led an Eagles team more notable for its grit than its talent. One observer later quipped that the team had "nothing but a championship" to its first division title since 1949. The team was aided by their two Pro Bowl receivers, wide receiver [[Tommy McDonald (American football)|Tommy McDonald]], who later wrote an autobiography titled ''They Pay Me to Catch Footballs'', and tight end [[Pete Retzlaff]].

On November 20, 1960, at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in [[The Bronx]], Bednarik launched a tackle against [[New York Giants]]' running back [[Frank Gifford]], which has come to be known as [[The Hit (Chuck Bednarik)|The Hit]], a tackle that is routinely ranked as one of the hardest and most vicious hits in [[National Football League|NFL]] history. With the game tied 10 to 10 in the fourth quarter, Gifford caught a short pass over the middle and was immediately hit by Bednarik with a clothesline tackle so hard that it dropped Gifford to the ground unconscious. Gifford was removed from the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where he remained for ten days. Gifford was diagnosed with a deep [[concussion]] that resulted in his retirement from the game for 18 months.<ref>[https://www.sportscasting.com/the-facts-and-fiction-behind-chuck-bednariks-hit-on-wide-receiver-frank-gifford/ "Facts and fiction behind Chuck Bednarik's hit on wide receiver Frank Gifford,"] Sportscasting</ref> On the 100th anniversary of the NFL's founding, the NFL ranked Bednarik's tackle the 44th greatest play in league history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/plays-44 |title=NFL's 100 Greatest Plays – 44: Chuck Bednarik hit on Frank Gifford |work=NFL.com |access-date=July 22, 2022}}</ref>

On December 26, 1960, one of the coldest days in recorded Philadelphia history, the Eagles faced [[Vince Lombardi]]'s [[Green Bay Packers]] in the [[1960 NFL Championship Game]] and dealt the formidable Lombardi the sole championship game loss of his storied career. Bednarik lined up at center on offense and at linebacker on defense. Fittingly, the game ended as Bednarik tackled a struggling [[Jim Taylor (fullback)|Jim Taylor]] and refused to allow him to stand until the last seconds had ticked away.<ref>[http://greenparrotbar.blogspot.com/2006/02/flashback-you-can-get-up-now-taylor.html NFL Flashback, "You can get up now, Taylor. This fucking game's over.": Chuck Bednarik] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329224128/http://greenparrotbar.blogspot.com/2006/02/flashback-you-can-get-up-now-taylor.html |date=March 29, 2019 }} Retrieved July 11, 2012.</ref>

Van Brocklin came to Philadelphia and agreed to play through 1960 with an understanding that, upon his retirement as a player, he would succeed Shaw as head coach. Ownership, however, opted to promote assistant coach [[Nick Skorich]] instead, and Van Brocklin quit the organization in a fit of pique, instead becoming head coach of the [[1961 NFL expansion draft|expansion]] [[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]. Back-up quarterback [[Sonny Jurgensen]] became the Eagles' starter for the [[1961 Philadelphia Eagles season|1961 season]]; they finished a half-game behind the [[1961 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] for first place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 10–4 record. Despite the on-the-field success, however, the franchise was in turmoil.

The [[1962 Philadelphia Eagles season|1962 team]], decimated by injury, managed only three wins and were embarrassed at home in a 49–0 loss to the [[1962 Green Bay Packers season|Packers]]. The off-field chaos continued through [[1963 Philadelphia Eagles season|1963]], as the 65 shareholders remaining from the original Happy Hundred sold the team to [[Jerry Wolman]], a 36-year-old millionaire Washington developer who outbid local bidders for the team, paying an unprecedented $5.505&nbsp;million for control of the club.<ref name="ppegpff">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=asZaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6780%2C1063969 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |agency=Associated Press |title=Wolman purchases Eagles for $5.5 million |date=December 6, 1963 |page=33 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503021743/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=asZaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6780%2C1063969 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tbapegbt">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LgJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5275%2C5584324 |work=Toledo Blade |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles bought for $5 miilion |date=December 6, 1963 |page=30 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503021743/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LgJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5275%2C5584324 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[1964 Philadelphia Eagles season|1964]], Wolman hired former Cardinals and [[Washington Redskins]] coach [[Joe Kuharich]] to a 15-year contract. Over the next five seasons, the team failed to make the playoffs and the failures of the team over this period were highlighted by the [[Philadelphia Eagles Santa Claus incident|Santa Claus incident]], when fans pelted a Santa Claus with snowballs during a halftime Christmas pageant. The team had only one winning season, in [[1966 Philadelphia Eagles season|1966]], finishing second in the [[Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–1969|NFL Eastern Conference]]. The Eagles lost to the [[Baltimore Colts]] 20–14, in the post-season's third place consolation game, the [[Playoff Bowl]], which was held at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]] in [[Miami]]. The Eagles finished 6–7–1 in [[1967 Philadelphia Eagles season|1967]]. In the following season, the Eagles fell even further in the standings, recording a 2–12 record in [[1968 Philadelphia Eagles season|1968]].