Eagles Legends That Should Be In The Hall Of Fame
The Philadelphia Eagles have a rich history of excellence. Some of the team’s best players and coaches have excelled in their sport and are remembered forever. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recognizes these exceptional players for their contribution to the National Football League. Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame is a complex process because it is the highest honor a professional athlete could achieve.
In total, the Eagles have 22 former players, four former coaches, and their original owner in the Hall of Fame. The team is well recognized, but there are several former Eagles players that deserve to be honored. Here are five former Eagles legends that should be in the Hall of Fame but are not.
Pete Retzlaff
The Detroit Lions selected Pete Retzlaff in 1953, but he ended up serving in the US Army for two years. He came back to football and his contract was sold to the Eagles. Retzlaff played running back, wide receiver, and tight end. He was a part of the Eagles’ 1960 championship team.
Pete Retzlaff played 11 seasons for the Eagles and had 452 catches, 7,412 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns during his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl five times. Retzlaff has the second most receiving yards in franchise history behind only Harold Carmichael. His number 44 jersey is retired by the Eagles, and he was named to the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1989.
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Seth Joyner
The Eagles selected Seth Joyner in the eighth round of the 1986 draft. He played in Philadelphia for eight years as a linebacker. Joyner moved on to the Cardinals and then the Packers where he won a Super Bowl. He had three Pro Bowl honors in his 13-year career.
Seth Joyner is the only player in NFL history with 50 sacks and 25 interceptions. He has the 12th most interceptions ever by a linebacker. He joined the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2018. Joyner currently works in local sports media covering the Eagles.
Clyde Simmons
The Eagles drafted Clyde Simmons in the ninth round of the 1986 draft. Clyde Simmons played alongside Eagles great Reggie White. Together, they helped the Buddy Ryan-led defense to be one of the scariest in the NFL. Clyde Simmons might have been overlooked because of the talent around him. However, he still put-up big numbers.
Simmons had 121.5 sacks and 25 forced fumbles over his 15-year career. He is 11th all-time in the NFL in sacks. Simmons made the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992. He was the NFL’s sack leader in 1992. Simmons was named to the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2018 and is a member of the Eagles’ 75th anniversary team.
Troy Vincent
The Miami Dolphins originally drafted Troy Vincent with the seventh overall pick in 1992. He spent his first four seasons with the Dolphins before signing with the Eagles. Vincent played for the Eagles for eight seasons as a cornerback. He made the Pro Bowl in five of them.
Troy Vincent played in the NFL for a total of 15 years. He had 794 tackles, 47 interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles in his career. Vincent was a part of the Eagles longest interception return in 1996 against the Cowboys. He received a lateral and ran it 90 yards to complete the 104-yard touchdown for the Eagles. He became part of the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2012.
Asante Samuel
The Patriots drafted Asante Samuel in 2003. He played in New England for five seasons before coming to the Eagles as a free agent. In 2008, Samuel signed a six-year contract for the Eagles but played four of them in Philadelphia.
Samuel was one of the NFL’s best corners for a decade. He had 51 total interceptions plus seven in the postseason. Samuel returned 10 interceptions for a touchdown which is the fifth most in NFL history. He won two Super Bowls with the Patriots, made four Pro Bowls, and was the NFL’s interception leader in 2006 and 2009. Asante Samuel was the last elite corner to play for the Eagles.
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