1961: Eagles Edge Bears Thanks to Missed FGs But Lose Brookshier

The Philadelphia Eagles were sporting a 6-1 record as they hosted the tough Chicago Bears on November 5, 1961. The Eagles had been forced to make key offseason moves after winning the 1960 NFL Championship since both Head Coach Buck Shaw and star QB Norm Van Brocklin had chosen to retire. Taking their place were Nick Skorich, promoted from line coach to head coach, and QB Sonny Jurgensen (pictured at right), who had been waiting for his opportunity since coming to Philadelphia as a fourth round draft choice out of Duke in 1957. Now he was making the most of it, proving to be a highly productive passer, and with capable receivers available in flanker Tommy McDonald and ends Pete Retzlaff and Bobby Walston, who was also the team’s experienced placekicker.  

The Bears were 5-2 and had a four-game winning streak coming into Philadelphia. Under the guidance of owner and Head Coach George Halas, Chicago also had notable newcomers in QB Bill Wade, obtained from the Rams, and rookie TE Mike Ditka. The defense was solid and experienced, with the line anchored by DE Doug Atkins, Bill George at middle linebacker flanked by Joe Fortunato and Larry Morris, and the backfield featuring cornerbacks Dave Whitsell and J.C. Caroline and safeties Roosevelt Taylor and Richie Petitbon.

There were 60,671 fans in attendance at Franklin Field on an unseasonably warm day. The Eagles had the game’s first possession and advanced into Chicago territory. Sonny Jurgensen threw to Pete Retzlaff for an 18-yard gain on a third-and-eight play and a pass to Tommy McDonald picked up 12 yards. However, facing third-and-one at the Chicago 33, Jurgensen was sacked for a loss of eight yards by Doug Atkins and DE Bob Kilcullen, and Bobby Walston’s long field goal attempt was blocked.

The Bears had good field position to start at their 48 but an attempt to convert a fourth down at the Philadelphia 43 was stopped short. After being moved back by a holding penalty, the Eagles began to move as Jurgensen threw to Walston for eight yards and FB Clarence Peaks ran for 15 more. Jurgensen converted a third-and-eight situation with a pass to McDonald for 19 yards to the Chicago 20 and followed up with a throw to Retzlaff for another eight yards. The drive finally stalled at the five yard line and Walston kicked a 12-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Chicago wasted little time in responding as, on the second play following the ensuing kickoff, Bill Wade threw deep to Mike Ditka for a 76-yard touchdown. Roger LeClerc kicked the extra point and the visitors were up by 7-3.

The Eagles benefited from a pass interference penalty on Roosevelt Taylor that was good for 36 yards on a third down play, but after reaching the Chicago 28 they were stopped in a fourth-and-two situation. As the game entered the second quarter, the Bears had to punt and Philadelphia advanced 78 yards in five plays. Runs by HB Billy Barnes and Peaks got a first down and the Eagles got another when Jurgensen completed a pass to Walston for nine yards and HB Ted Dean ran for four. Jurgensen then fired long for McDonald, who got beyond Taylor for a 55-yard touchdown. Walston converted and the home team was back in front by 10-7.

The Bears had to punt following their next possession but got the ball back quickly when Dave Whitsell (pictured at left) intercepted a Jurgensen pass and returned it 52 yards to the Philadelphia five. Two plays later, FB Rick Casares ran for a two-yard TD and, with LeClerc’s extra point, Chicago was ahead by 14-10.

The Eagles drove into Chicago territory as Jurgensen threw to Walston for 13 yards and McDonald for 14, but facing third-and-10 at the visitors’ 30 it was Richie Petitbon coming up with an interception to blunt the threat. Casares ran three times to give the Bears a first down at the two-minute warning, but a delay of game penalty and sack of Wade moved the visitors back and they ultimately were forced to punt. Ed Brown’s kick sailed 69 yards, and two long Jurgensen completions were nullified by backfield in motion penalties. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter. A 21-yard return by DB Irv Cross gave the Eagles good field position at the Chicago 40, but they were unable to move on offense and Walston’s 44-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right. The Bears, now with strong-armed QB Ed Brown behind center, again had to punt and Cross had another good return, gaining 20 yards to the Philadelphia 47. Barnes had a 15-yard run and Jurgensen rolled out and threw to Peaks for 33 yards to the Chicago eight. Peaks ran for a three-yard TD, and while LB Joe Fortunato blocked Walston’s extra point attempt, the Eagles were in the lead by two points.

The Bears were on the move as the game headed into the fourth quarter. HB Willie Galimore had a 16-yard run, Casares dove for three yards on a third-and-one play, and Galimore ran three more times for another 16 yards. However, after reaching the Philadelphia 11, the drive stalled and LeClerc was wide on an 18-yard field goal try.

Once again Whitsell intercepted a Jurgensen pass, this time returning it 19 yards to the Philadelphia 19. Casares ran effectively to get the ball inside the ten, but the visitors were stopped there and, with Brown now attempting a field goal from 13 yards, Cross deflected the kick and it sailed wide to the right.

The Eagles went three-and-out and punted, but the Bears were unable to get beyond their own 40 on the ensuing possession. Most significantly, CB Tom Brookshier, the defensive captain, went down with a compound fracture of his leg on a second down play. Brown’s punt traveled 56 yards and came to rest at the Philadelphia four. With Peaks primarily running the ball, most notably on a three-yard carry for a first down on a third down play, and the Bears called for a personal foul, the Eagles maintained possession for the remaining time, holding on for a 16-14 win.

Philadelphia far outgained the Bears (342 to 215), especially in net passing yards (237 to 89), and also had a clear edge in first downs (19 to 9). However, the Eagles also accounted for the game’s only three turnovers. Chicago was penalized seven times, at a cost of 94 yards, to five flags thrown on Philadelphia. Ultimately, it came down to the failure of the Bears to connect on either of their short field goal attempts in the fourth quarter.

Sonny Jurgensen completed 18 of 33 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown, but gave up three interceptions. Tommy McDonald had 6 catches for 109 yards and a TD. Clarence Peaks (pictured above) rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries that included a score and also contributed four pass receptions for another 61 yards. Irv Cross averaged 14.3 yards on four punt returns.

For the Bears, Bill Wade and Ed Brown completed four passes between them out of 12 attempts, with Wade throwing for 85 yards and a TD. Brown also averaged 48.1 yards on seven punts. Mike Ditka gained a team-leading 76 yards on his lone long touchdown reception. Rick Casares gained 65 yards on 17 rushing attempts that included a TD and Willie Galimore added 42 yards on 13 carries. On defense, Dave Whitsell accounted for two of Chicago’s three interceptions and returned them for a combined 71 yards.  

The Eagles lost to the conference-rival Giants and Browns the next two weeks, and another loss to New York ultimately cost them a second Eastern title. They finished with a 10-4 record, just behind the 10-3-1 Giants. Chicago lost three of its next four games to drop out of contention in the Western Conference, ending up at 8-6 and tied with the Colts in third place.

The loss of Tom Brookshier (pictured at right) proved critical to the Eagles, for his leadership as well as outstanding defensive play. Tough, if not especially fast, and an excellent tackler, Brookshier had been selected to the previous two Pro Bowls and received consensus first-team All-NFL honors following the 1960 championship season. In his place, the Eagles used Irv Cross and Glen Amerson, both rookies, and it was a factor in the defeats that followed. While it wasn’t known at the time, the injury proved to be career-ending. Brookshier attempted to come back in ’62 but was forced to retire, entering into a long career as a broadcaster.

1965: Cowboys Deal Tommy McDonald to Rams for Danny Villanueva

On May 14, 1965 the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams swung a trade in which Dallas sent flanker Tommy McDonald to the Rams for kicker Danny Villanueva.

The 30-year-old McDonald (he turned 31 prior to the ’65 season) ranked fourth among active NFL receivers with 333 catches and first in touchdown receptions with 68. A halfback at Oklahoma on Head Coach Bud Wilkinson’s national championship teams in 1955 and ‘56, he was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1957 NFL draft and spent his first seven seasons with them. Converted to flanker, he was selected to five straight Pro Bowls and led the league with 1144 pass receiving yards in 1961. He reached double figures in receiving TDs four straight times, set a franchise record with 237 yards in a game against the Giants in ’61, and was a key performer on the 1960 NFL Championship club. Generally considered to be the smallest player in the league at 5’9” and 172 pounds, McDonald, who typically disdained wearing a facemask, played with great enthusiasm as well as skill and was a fan favorite with his acrobatic catches. It thus came as a shock when he was dealt to Dallas for the 1964 season as part of new Head Coach/GM Joe Kuharich’s housecleaning in Philadelphia.

McDonald was moved to split end and had a lesser year with the Cowboys, catching 46 passes for 612 yards, for an uncharacteristically low 13.3-yard average, and scored only two touchdowns. He had wanted a trade and there were concerns as to his commitment to playing.

The Cowboys had sorely missed Sam Baker, the combination placekicker/punter who was traded to Philadelphia in the McDonald deal. Dick Van Raaphorst was successful on just 14 of 29 field goal attempts and punter Billy Lothridge injured his knee in training camp and was inconsistent.

Danny Villanueva was 27 and had come to the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State. He kicked the longest field goal in team history up to that time (51 yards) and also held the club record with a 45.5 punting average in 1962. In five years in LA, Villanueva kicked 44 field goals in 83 attempts (53.0 percent) and was successful on 111 of 113 tries for extra point while averaging 44.3 yards on 296 punts. The development of Bruce Gossett as a placekicker caused him to be used exclusively as a punter in ‘64.

Los Angeles was in need of help at wide receiver, having traded split end Jim Phillips to the Vikings and flanker Carroll Dale to Green Bay, and McDonald resolved any concerns about decline or desire to play by moving into the lineup at flanker and catching a career-high 67 passes for 1036 yards (15.5 avg.) and nine touchdowns. In tandem with rookie split end Jack Snow, he worked well with young quarterbacks Roman Gabriel and Bill Munson and had four hundred-yard receiving games, including one of 200 yards on six catches that included three TDs in a late-season contest against Cleveland. McDonald received Pro Bowl honors, although the team finished in last place in the Western Conference with a 4-10 record.

McDonald played one more season for the Rams, adding 55 catches for 714 yards to his career totals, before being dealt to Atlanta just prior to the 1967 season, his next-to-last. He proved to be a productive addition to the Los Angeles offense in his two years with the team, pulling in 122 passes for 1750 yards (14.3 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, on the way to a career total of 495 receptions for 8410 yards (17.0 avg.) and 84 TDs, all totals that ranked high on the NFL’s career lists at the time. McDonald was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Villanueva (pictured at left) was effective for the 7-7 Cowboys in 1965, connecting on 16 of 27 field goal attempts, 37 of 38 tries for extra point, and averaging 41.8 yards on 60 punts. He lasted another two seasons in his dual kicking role, leading the NFL by hitting on all 56 of his extra point attempts in 1966, on his way to a club-record 100 straight. His field goal percentage dropped off, and he was good on only 8 of 19 attempts in ’67, but he remained an overall well-regarded kicker while Dallas reached the NFL Championship game in each of his last two years. Villanueva retired following the 1967 season and became a broadcaster, and later was part-owner of the Spanish language television network now known as Univision. For his NFL career, he kicked 85 field goals out of 160 attempts (41 of 77 with Dallas), was successful on 236 of 241 extra points, and had a 42.8-yard average on 488 punts.

1963: Steelers Rally But Missed Extra Points Cause Tie with Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off their 1963 NFL season against the cross-state rival Eagles in Philadelphia on September 15. Coming off a promising 9-5 record in ’62, Steelers Head Coach Buddy Parker had agreed to stay on for another year. While Hall of Fame-bound QB Bobby Layne, who was showing a great deal of wear, had retired, the Steelers had ex-Bears QB Ed Brown available to direct the offense. FB John Henry Johnson was coming off his finest pro season, having rushed for 1141 yards, and there was an excellent deep receiver available in split end Buddy Dial. Tragically, the defense lost DT Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb to an offseason drug overdose, but overall the unit was a good one. DE Lou Michaels (pictured above) doubled at the team’s placekicker and was coming off a season in which he had set a NFL record with 26 field goals – his ups and downs would play a significant role in the opening contest.

For Head Coach Nick Skorich’s Eagles, 1962 had been an injury-plagued disaster. Just two years removed from a NFL title, Philadelphia went 3-10-1 to drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Following a record-breaking season in 1961, QB Sonny Jurgensen still led the NFL in passing yards with 3261 but also in interceptions with 26. Nevertheless, the offense contained formidable weapons in flanker Tommy McDonald, TE Pete Retzlaff, and HB Timmy Brown, who had broken out in ’62 to set a league record for all-purpose yards with 2306.  

It was an overcast and raw day at Franklin Field with 58,205 fans in attendance. The Steelers gained a pair of first downs on their initial series of the game, both on runs by HB Dick Hoak, but eventually had to punt after reaching the Philadelphia 45.  

The Eagles responded with a 10-play, 87-yard drive that started with Sonny Jurgensen connecting with Tommy McDonald (pictured below) for a 43-yard gain and ended with another Jurgensen to McDonald throw for a 13-yard touchdown. In between, Jurgensen kept the drive going with a 27-yard completion to Pete Retzlaff in a third-and-10 situation and a quarterback sneak that converted a fourth down.

On their next possession, following a punt by the Steelers, the Eagles again moved into Pittsburgh territory but CB Dick Haley intercepted a Jurgensen pass at the 38. Still, the Steelers couldn’t move effectively on offense and punted. While Timmy Brown took off for a 21-yard gain to start the series, the Eagles punted early in the second quarter.

The Steelers came alive on offense as Ed Brown completed passes to TE Preston Carpenter, Buddy Dial, and HB Tom Tracy. The drive stalled and Lou Michaels kicked a 38-yard field goal to reduce Philadelphia’s margin to 7-3.

The teams traded turnovers. Pittsburgh CB Brady Keys mishandled a punt and rookie LB Lee Roy Caffey recovered for the Eagles at the Steelers’ 44. But on the next play, Timmy Brown fumbled a handoff and LB George Tarasovic got the ball back for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went eight yards in three plays and Michaels kicked a club-record 50-yard field goal to make it a one-point contest. Michaels had a chance to put the Steelers in front at the end of the half but his try, again from 50 yards, fell short. Philadelphia took the slender 7-6 lead into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, John Henry Johnson fumbled and LB Maxie Baughan recovered for the Eagles at the Pittsburgh 41. The home team made the most of the break, driving to a six-yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen to TE Ralph “Catfish” Smith.

Late in the period the Steelers tried another field goal but Michaels was wide to the left from 37 yards out. Pittsburgh got the ball back on a turnover and advanced to the Philadelphia 10 as the period ended and started off the fourth quarter with a 17-yard Michaels field goal. The margin for the Eagles was cut to 14-9.

Pinned deep in their own territory following the kickoff, the Eagles were forced to punt and King Hill booted the ball 62 yards, which Keys again muffed when he tried to pull it in over his shoulder. However, this time he picked up his own fumble and ran 71 yards down the right sideline before being dropped at the Philadelphia three yard line. Two plays later, Johnson dove for a one-yard TD but CB Irv Cross blocked the extra point attempt. Still, Pittsburgh was ahead by a score of 15-14.

Safety Clendon Thomas picked off a Jurgensen pass on the next series, but the Eagles came back to score again. On a third-and-five play at their own 25, Jurgensen tossed a bomb to McDonald for a 75-yard touchdown and, with rookie Mike Clark’s third successful extra point added, regained the lead at 21-15.

Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to give the Steelers good field position at the 50. Seven plays later, Ed Brown threw to Johnson for an 11-yard TD. However, once again the extra point attempt went awry as the kick by Michaels hit the right upright and bounced back.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the time remaining. The game ended with the Steelers at the Philadelphia 25 following a pass from Ed Brown to Dial. Time ran out with the score tied at 21-21.

The Eagles outgained the Steelers (353 yards to 315) although Pittsburgh accumulated more first downs (21 to 14). Philadelphia had difficulty running the ball, gaining just 58 yards on the ground to 109 for the Steelers, and the Eagles also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by Pittsburgh.

Ed Brown completed 18 of 34 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Buddy Dial (pictured at right) caught 7 of those throws for 116 yards. Dick Hoak led the Steelers in rushing with 55 yards on 15 carries while John Henry Johnson contributed 40 yards on 13 attempts and caught three passes for 16 yards and a TD via each. Lou Michaels was successful on three of five field goal attempts, but his two failures in three tries for extra points doomed the Steelers to a tie rather than a win.

For the Eagles, Sonny Jurgensen was successful on 16 of 26 passes for 322 yards and three TDs with two intercepted. Tommy McDonald had a huge performance with 7 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Timmy Brown paced the running attack with a modest 24 yards on 7 carries but, indicative of his all-around skills, gained 79 yards on four pass receptions.

“We got a bad game out of our system, and we got away with it,” said Buddy Parker.

There was additional drama – and nearly a tragedy – during the game that most were unaware of until it was reported afterward. Pittsburgh LB John Reger was knocked unconscious when making a tackle at the end of the first quarter and swallowed his tongue. Swift action by the team doctors saved him from choking.

The Steelers would go on to tie three games, and it would play a role in the race for the Eastern Conference title. Pittsburgh was 7-3-3 going into the last game of the season against the 10-3 Giants in New York and, with ties not affecting a team’s winning percentage at that time, the Steelers could have finished first in the Eastern Conference with a win. They lost to the Giants to end up fourth at 7-4-3.

Lou Michaels went on to kick 21 field goals on 41 attempts and missed only one more extra point in the remaining games. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Buddy Dial also had a Pro Bowl year, catching 60 passes for 1295 yards (21.6 avg.) and nine touchdowns.

The Eagles endured another disappointing and injury-marred season, with Sonny Jurgensen missing five games. They again ended up at the bottom of the conference with a 2-10-2 record.

Tommy McDonald caught 41 passes for 731 yards (17.8 avg.) and eight TDs. It was not one of his most productive years in Philadelphia, no doubt affected by Jurgensen missing significant time. Timmy Brown broke his record for all-purpose yards as he rolled up a total of 2428 (841 rushing, 487 pass receiving, 945 on kickoff returns, 152 returning punts).

1959: Eagles Overcome 24-Point Deficit to Defeat Cardinals

In the second season under Head Coach Buck Shaw, and after four straight losing records, the Philadelphia Eagles began to show improvement in 1959. Veteran QB Norm Van Brocklin (pictured at right) brought strong leadership qualities as well as skill to the offense, flanker Tommy McDonald had emerged as one of the NFL’s most potent deep receivers, and the combination of HB Billy Barnes and FB Clarence Peaks was a good, if not flashy, one. Chuck Bednarik, once a great linebacker was now a capable center and provided stability to the line. The Eagles were off to a 2-2 start, with one of the wins an upset of the Giants.

On October 25 the Eagles faced the Chicago Cardinals in a game played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, auditioning as a future expansion locale (the Vikings would arrive in 1961). The Cardinals, in what would be their final season as a Chicago-based team, moved two of their home games to the Twin Cities due to the lure of a substantial guaranteed gate. While second-year HB John David Crow was developing into a formidable player in Head Coach Frank “Pop” Ivy’s intricate offense, the Cards were 1-3 and John Roach was starting his first game at quarterback due to injuries to King Hill and M.C. Reynolds.

Attendance was 20,112 in near-freezing weather. They saw the Cardinals dominate the first half. In the first quarter, Crow scored on a 10-yard pass from Roach. In the second quarter, DB Jimmy Hill returned a blocked field goal attempt by Paige Cothren for a 77-yard touchdown for the Cards (Cothren, a newcomer to the Eagles, had a tough debut as he failed on all three of his three-point attempts). A 15-yard field goal by Bobby Joe Conrad made it 17-0 at the half.

Early in the third quarter, the lead for the Cardinals increased to 24-0 when DHB Dick “Night Train” Lane intercepted a pass and returned it 37-yards for a TD. However, that proved to be the high water mark for Chicago.

The Eagles came right back on their next possession as Van Brocklin went long to Tommy McDonald for a 71-yard gain to the Chicago 14. HB Billy Barnes plowed in from a yard out for a touchdown that finally put Philadelphia on the board.

On the next series, LB Bob Pellegrini intercepted a pass by Roach that set up a 29-yard touchdown pass play from Van Brocklin to McDonald. The next Chicago series also ended with an interception, this time by LB Chuck Weber. Barnes covered 17 yards in two carries, the second for a two-yard TD. The Eagles were down by just three points heading into the final period.

Late in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia completed its comeback. Van Brocklin again threw to McDonald, this time in the end zone for a 22-yard TD that put the Eagles in the lead with just over three minutes left to play. The Cards were unable to respond offensively and Philadelphia won by a final score of 28-24.

The Eagles led in total yards (399 to 313) and first downs (22 to 14). While the rushing totals were nearly identical (each team ran the ball 38 times, with Philadelphia gaining 168 yards to Chicago’s 163), Philadelphia was the more proficient passing club. The Cards turned the ball over six times, four on interceptions, to two turnovers by the Eagles.

Norm Van Brocklin passed for 207 yards and two TDs in the second half as he led Philadelphia back. Tommy McDonald (pictured below) caught three key passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Billy Barnes rushed for 111 yards on 23 carries and scored twice. As for the Cardinals, HB John David Crow gained 74 yards on 16 carries and caught four passes for 51 yards.

“We loosened up in the second half and once we started hitting we were on our way,” said Buck Shaw on behalf of his Eagles.

“That Van Brocklin, you can’t give that fellow any openings,” lamented Cardinals DT Frank Fuller. “We put a hard rush on him in the first half but they gave him a split second more time to throw in the second half. He doesn’t need any more than that.”

The Eagles continued their improved play, ending up with a 7-5 record to finish in a tie with Cleveland for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Cardinals won their next game but lost the remainder to close out the long run in Chicago at the bottom of the conference with a 2-10 tally.

Norm Van Brocklin ranked second in the NFL in pass attempts (340), completions (191), and yards (2617). His 16 touchdown passes were third and he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the eighth time.

Tommy McDonald tied for second in catches (47, along with Lenny Moore of the Colts and Del Shofner of the Rams) and third in receiving yards (846, tied with Moore). His 10 touchdowns via receiving placed second. He earned a second trip to the Pro Bowl as a result.

1961: Jurgensen and McDonald Lead Eagles Past College All-Stars

The 28^th annual installment of the College All-Star Game on August 4, 1961 presented a matchup involving a reigning NFL Champion undergoing a significant transition against a highly-regarded group of All-Stars.

The Philadelphia Eagles had won the 1960 NFL Championship, but lost both MVP quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and Head Coach Buck Shaw to retirement. Replacing Shaw was Nick Skorich, elevated from offensive line coach, while the new quarterback was the promising but untested Sonny Jurgensen (pictured at right).

Meanwhile, the All-Stars, coached for the fourth straight year by Otto Graham, contained a solid group of future pro standouts that included ends Aaron Thomas of Oregon State and Mike Ditka from Pittsburgh, quarterbacks Norm Snead of Wake Forest and UCLA’s Billy Kilmer, FB Bill Brown of Illinois, HB Bernie Casey from Bowling Green, Georgia Tech G Billy Shaw, and OT Jim Tyrer from Ohio State. On defense were DE Bob Lilly of  TCU, tackles Joe Rutgens of Illinois and Ernie Ladd from Grambling, and MLB E.J. Holub of Texas Tech.

It had been raining early in the evening of the Friday night contest, making the field soggy, and one highly-regarded All-Star was lost for the game when Navy HB Joe Bellino slipped on the wet turf while warming up and pulled a leg muscle.

There were 65,000 in attendance at Chicago’s Soldier Field and many of them booed the Eagles as they took the field, adding incentive for them to prove that they were a worthy defending champion. Still, the All-Stars came out fast as Bill Brown returned the opening kickoff 39 yards and Norm Snead fired a pass to Aaron Thomas that covered 42 yards to the Philadelphia 12 yard line. However, the drive moved backward from there and came to an end two plays later when Brown fumbled the ball away to the Eagles, with DT Jess Richardson recovering.

Taking over at his own 20, Jurgensen sparked the possession when, on a play when it appeared that he would be sacked, he improvised and instead tossed the ball behind his back to end Pete Retzlaff who went 13 yards for a first down. The Eagles capped the seven-play drive when Jurgensen threw to wide-open flanker Tommy McDonald, who leaped high to make the catch and fell on his back in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown. Two seconds before the opening period ended, Jurgensen tossed a second TD pass, this time covering 25 yards to Retzlaff.

The All-Stars began to move in the second quarter under the direction of QB Billy Kilmer (pictured below). After tossing completions to Southern Methodist HB Glynn Gregory, Thomas, and end Fred Arbanas of Michigan State, they were at the Philadelphia 31. But once again the attack stalled and the Eagles took over at midfield.

Philadelphia’s backup QB King Hill pitched out to HB Timmy Brown for a 23-yard gain, FB Ted Dean gained four, and then Hill threw to McDonald for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead that carried into halftime.

Tempers flared several times during the game, especially right before the end of the first half in a scuffle in front of the Eagles’ bench with Grambling’s big Ernie Ladd in the middle of it.

The Eagles kept the ball mostly on the ground in the second half and slowed down the tempo, with the two quarterbacks throwing short passes when necessary. E.J. Holub intercepted a Jurgensen pass at the All-Star 36 late in the period, and while the All-Stars were unable to move the ball, Kilmer punted to the Philadelphia three yard line just prior to the close of the quarter.

The All-Stars finally got on the board in the fourth quarter as Kilmer, working out of a spread formation, threw to Gregory for an 18-yard touchdown. That capped a quick six-play, 75-yard drive. In the final seconds, lineman Dick Grecni intercepted a Hill pass and ran 57 yards for a TD. The two touchdowns came two minutes apart, but only salvaged pride for the All-Stars, with Philadelphia winning convincingly by a score of 28-14.

The Eagles had 401 total yards to 271 for the All-Stars, who were held to zero net rushing yards. Philadelphia held a much narrower edge in first downs, 17 to 16. The All-Stars intercepted three passes, to just one by the NFL champs, but lost one fumble while the Eagles gave up none.

Sonny Jurgensen completed 10 of 19 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns and King Hill was 7 of 11 for 103 yards and a TD. Tommy McDonald (pictured below) accounted for three of the touchdowns.

Aaron Thomas was the receiving star for the All-Stars, catching 5 passes for 123 yards. Billy Kilmer was successful on 11 of his 20 throws for 173 yards while Norm Snead completed 8 of 13 for 97 yards.

“I’d like to turn around and play these guys again tomorrow night and on a dry field,” said a defiant Coach Otto Graham afterward. “I think we’d beat ‘em.”

“Our guys were concerned about being somewhat downgraded while the stars were being touted and we went out to justify our championship,” said Nick Skorich on behalf of the Eagles.

Sonny Jurgensen went on to have an outstanding breakout season, setting a record for passing yards with 3723 and tying the NFL record for TD passes with 32 (Houston’s George Blanda tossed 36 in the AFL). Tommy McDonald remained his favorite receiver, catching 64 passes while pacing the NFL in receiving yards (1144) and touchdown receptions (13). Philadelphia just missed winning the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row, finishing second to the New York Giants at 10-4.

Bill Kilmer, taken in the first round of the ’61 draft by the 49ers, went on to a long career that included stints in New Orleans and Washington as a quarterback better known for his leadership skills than passing finesse. Norm Snead, also a first round draft pick, was with Washington for three years before being dealt to the Eagles in a celebrated trade for Jurgensen. Aaron Thomas joined Kilmer with the 49ers, who took him with a fourth round pick, but spent most of his 10-season career with the New York Giants, where he caught 247 passes. 

1961: Jim Brown Ties Rushing Record as Browns Crush Eagles

By the 1961 NFL season, Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns was well-established as the top runner in pro football. He had led the league in ground-gaining in each of his first four years and set both a single-game record of 237 yards in 1957 and season record of 1527 yards in ’58. On November 19 against the Philadelphia Eagles the 25-year-old fullback added to his list of accomplishments.

The Browns were 6-3 and trying to keep pace with the Eagles and New York Giants in the Eastern Conference. While players were becoming increasingly restive under autocratic Head Coach Paul Brown, the team was still a regular contender. QB Milt Plum was the most accurate passer in the NFL and Brown was complemented in the backfield by HB Bobby Mitchell, an outstanding outside runner. Plum had been suffering from a hand injury but appeared to now be completely healthy. Mitchell had been called up to active military duty a few weeks before, but was on a weekend pass and available against the Eagles.

The Eagles were the defending NFL Champions and defeated Cleveland in the season-opening game in Philadelphia. They were a team in transition as both Head Coach Buck Shaw and star QB Norm Van Brocklin retired after the title-winning campaign. Nick Skorich was now the coach and 27-year-old Sonny Jurgensen the quarterback. The largely-untested Jurgensen had been nothing short of spectacular as he stepped out of Van Brocklin’s shadow. Philadelphia got off to a 7-1 start, but the loss of CB Tom Brookshier to a season-ending broken leg hindered the pass defense and the Eagles were coming off of a loss to the Giants the previous week.

There was a crowd of 68,399 in attendance at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium and they saw the Eagles start off the scoring in the first quarter with a 34-yard field goal by Bobby Walston. Jim Brown put Cleveland ahead on the fourth play of the second quarter with a three-yard touchdown run that made it 7-3. The Eagles rebounded with a 68-yard drive, 46 of them on passes by Jurgensen, and HB Ted Dean scored from two yards out.

The Browns came right back with another three-yard TD by Brown that put them back in front at 14-10, which remained the score at halftime. They never trailed again.

Cleveland took the second half kickoff and went 73 yards in eight plays, with Plum throwing to Mitchell for a 28-yard touchdown. Lou Groza added a 17-yard field goal late in the third quarter that made it a 14-point game at 24-10.

The fourth quarter was eventful. Brown started things off with a one-yard TD on the period’s second play. The Eagles were forced to punt on their next possession and the Browns went 68 yards in eight plays for another TD, Brown’s fourth of the contest on an eight-yard sweep around left end.

Philadelphia responded with a five-play, 74-yard drive to finally get on the board again. Flanker Tommy McDonald caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen, but at 38-17, the game was out of reach.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mitchell extinguished any remaining hopes for the Eagles by returning it 91 yards for a TD. The Eagles scored one last touchdown, on a Jurgensen pass to Timmy Brown that covered 39 yards, but it only made the score marginally closer. Cleveland came away with a convincing 45-24 win.

The only remaining drama pertained to Jim Brown’s pursuit of his own single-game rushing record. The Browns got the ball with less than two minutes remaining and Brown carried three times to tie the record (Brown was originally credited with a record-breaking 242 yards, but the official scorer admitted a mistake in addition the following day).

For the day, Brown’s total was 237 yards on 34 carries with four touchdowns. He also gained another 52 yards on three pass receptions and returned a kickoff 24 yards, giving him 313 total yards. He also threw a pass, but it fell incomplete.

“I've played some better all-around games this year,” Brown said afterward. “I missed a few blocks today, and a couple of times I went the wrong way when I got a good block. The blocking was tremendous. I don't think I ran any better than usual. You always go all out and sometimes you gain and sometimes you don’t.”

The Browns dominated statistically across the board, outgaining the Eagles by 505 yards to 327 and rolling up 30 first downs to Philadelphia’s 19. In addition, Cleveland didn’t turn the ball over at all, as opposed to two turnovers by the Eagles, and the Browns only punted once.

In addition to missing Tom Brookshier, Philadelphia’s defensive backfield suffered a further blow when FS Don Burroughs was lost with a slight concussion in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Browns CB Bernie Parrish had an exceptional game, holding star flanker Tommy McDonald to two catches for 25 yards (one of which was a short TD) and intercepting a pass in the third quarter.


Milt Plum completed 16 of 21 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Adding to Jim Brown’s output, Bobby Mitchell (pictured at left) ran for 43 yards on 8 carries, caught 4 passes for 54 more yards and a touchdown, and of course scored on a kickoff return. Flanker Ray Renfro gained 73 yards on his 4 pass receptions.

Sonny Jurgensen went to the air 32 times for the Eagles and completed 18 for 230 yards and two TDs with one intercepted. Timmy Brown led the club in rushing with 49 yards on just two attempts and also had the most pass receiving yards with 58 on his two catches that included a score. Ted Dean caught 6 passes for 51 yards to go along with his 31 yards on 9 rushing attempts with one TD. Only seven of Jurgensen’s completions went to an end or flanker.

“We had to win or else,” said Paul Brown afterward. “There was nothing left for us if we didn't win it.”

The Browns moved into a second place tie with Eagles at 7-3 as result of the win. But any hopes of finishing atop the Eastern Conference were dashed as they lost two of the next three games, including a showdown with the Giants the week after hosting Philadelphia. Cleveland’s final record was 8-5-1, which resulted in a third-place finish.

The Eagles ended up in second at 10-4, recovering from the loss to the Browns to win three of their last four. However, the loss was to the Giants, who came in a half-game ahead of Philadelphia at 10-3-1.

Jim Brown won his fifth consecutive rushing title with 1408 yards on 305 carries (a record at the time) for a 4.6-yard average and eight touchdowns. He also caught 46 passes for another 459 yards and two TDs, giving him a league-leading 1867 yards from scrimmage and, with a pair of kickoff returns added in, 1917 all-purpose yards.

The record-tying rushing performance was the second of an eventual four 200-yard games during his brilliant career (he came closest to topping his own mark again with 232 yards against Dallas in a 1963 contest). Buffalo’s Cookie Gilchrist ran for 243 yards in an AFL game in ’63 and Willie Ellison of the Rams topped Brown’s mark with 247 in a 1971 NFL contest.

1960: Van Brocklin & Bednarik Spur Eagles Past Packers for NFL Title

The NFL Championship game on December 26, 1960 featured two clubs that had not vied for titles since the 1940s and had not been expected to contend in ’60. The Philadelphia Eagles, leaders of the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record, had been perennial also-rans since winning back-to-back championships in 1948 and ’49. Representing the Western Conference, the Green Bay Packers had been through many years in the doldrums after last going the distance in 1944.

The Eagles had steadily improved since the arrival of Buck Shaw as head coach in 1958 who, at age 61, was hoping to retire with a championship. 34-year-old QB Norm Van Brocklin (pictured above), who also came to Philadelphia in ’58 in a deal with the Rams, was seeking to do likewise. The quarterback known as The Dutchman was the key to the offense and had an MVP year in 1960. While the running game was ordinary, the passing attack was not as Van Brocklin had a good corps of receivers in diminutive flanker Tommy McDonald and ends Pete Retzlaff and Bobby Walston. Chuck Bednarik, a former All-Pro linebacker who had moved exclusively to center in recent years, had been forced to play both ways due to injuries in the linebacking corps and provided leadership, as well as outstanding performance, to the defense. Two rookies, HB/FB Ted Dean and LB Maxie Baughan, also contributed to the team’s success.

Green Bay was benefiting from the guidance of second-year Head Coach Vince Lombardi. After posting a 7-5 record in 1959, the first winning tally for the club in 12 years, the Packers had started off at 4-1 in ’60, lost three of four, and then won their final three games to vault past the Lions, 49ers, and Colts with an 8-4 tally. HB/PK Paul Hornung scored a record 176 points and, in combination with FB Jim Taylor, was part of a running attack that ranked second in the league. QB Bart Starr was still a work in progress, the receiving corps good, and the offensive line outstanding. The defense was tough, particularly the line and linebackers.

With the addition of temporary seating, there were 67,352 fans filling Philadelphia’s Franklin Field for the title contest and the weather was sunny and in the mid-40s. Things did not start out well for the Eagles when Van Brocklin tossed a swing pass that HB Bill Barnes couldn’t hold on to and was intercepted by Green Bay DE Bill Quinlan at the Philadelphia 14 yard line. Three running plays gained eight yards, and Lombardi chose to go for the first down on fourth-and-two at the six. The Eagles defense stopped Taylor short and Philadelphia took over on downs.

However, the reprieve was a short one when Dean, at the end of a ten-yard run, fumbled the ball back to the Packers at his own 22. Handing off to Hornung and Taylor, Green Bay got down to the eight yard line, but an offsides penalty backed the Packers up and two passes by Starr into the end zone were incomplete. Hornung kicked a 20-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 3-0 lead.

The Eagles were only able to get one first down during the opening period, but the defense was showing an ability to stop Green Bay’s inside running game in key situations. Heading into the second quarter, the Packers drove into Eagles territory and reached the 14 yard line. Once more the possession stalled at that point and Hornung kicked a 23-yard field goal to make the score 6-0.

Philadelphia’s passing game came alive midway through the second quarter as Van Brocklin completed a 22-yard pass to McDonald down the middle and then threw to McDonald again, this time on an outside route that resulted in a 35-yard touchdown. With Walston’s successful extra point, the Eagles led by a point (McDonald pictured below).


After getting the ball back, Van Brocklin completed a 41-yard pass to Retzlaff to the Green Bay 33. A swing pass to Dean gained 22 more, but the next three passes were incompletions and Philadelphia settled for a 15-yard Walston field goal. With time running out in the first half, the Packers responded with a 73-yard drive to the Eagles’ seven yard line, but Hornung missed a 14-yard field goal attempt on the final play before halftime. Philadelphia held a 10-6 lead at the intermission.

In the third quarter, the Packers once again moved the ball well and faced a third-and-two situation at the Eagles’ 26. In a key play, Hornung was not only stopped short but knocked out of the game when he suffered a shoulder injury after being hit hard by Bednarik. With Green Bay bypassing another field goal attempt (Hornung was at least temporarily unavailable for kicking as well as playing halfback), the Eagles stopped Taylor and regained possession.

It seemed as though the Eagles might add to their lead as Van Brocklin completed passes of 33 yards to McDonald and 25 to Walston. But at the Green Bay four he threw a pass that was intercepted by CB John Symank.

The Packers didn’t move on their next possession, but end Max McGee, who was also the team’s punter, ran out of punt formation for a 35-yard gain to the Philadelphia 46. Starr followed up with a 17-yard pass to TE Gary Knafelc, and after runs by Taylor and HB Tom Moore (Hornung’s replacement) for first downs, McGee caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Starr. Hornung’s kick put the Packers back in the lead by a 13-10 score.

However, Dean returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the Green Bay 39. The Eagles kept the ball on the ground as they drove to a first down, but Van Brocklin was sacked by LB Ray Nitschke for a seven-yard loss. However, The Dutchman recovered with a 13-yard pass to Barnes and then Barnes carried for a five-yard gain and first down at the nine.

With the Packers expecting a pass, Van Brocklin handed off twice to Dean, the second resulting in a five-yard run for a touchdown (pictured below). The successful extra point gave the Eagles a four-point lead with 5:21 to play.


Green Bay battled back, but McGee fumbled after catching a 12-yard pass from Starr at the Philadelphia 48 and Bednarik recovered for the Eagles. Getting the ball back at their own 35 with less than three minutes remaining on the clock, Starr completed four passes on a drive that also included a nine-yard run by Taylor. But at the Philadelphia 22 and with time for only one play, Starr, seeing his deep receivers covered in the end zone, dumped a pass off to Taylor who charged down to the 10, was slowed by DB Bobby Jackson, and then finally wrestled down by Bednarik as time ran out. The Eagles had held on to win, 17-13.

The Packers significantly outgained the Eagles with 401 yards to 296 and had 22 first downs to Philadelphia’s 13. They also turned the ball over just once, to three suffered by Philadelphia. But the Eagles took better advantage of their opportunities.

Norm Van Brocklin completed 9 of 20 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and six of those completions covered 22 yards or more. Tommy McDonald caught three passes for 90 yards and a TD while Bobby Walston also caught three, for 38 yards. Ted Dean led the running game with 54 yards on 13 carries, including the game-winning touchdown, caught a pass for 22 yards, and had the key 58-yard kickoff return.


35-year-old Chuck Bednarik (pictured at right) had an outstanding performance in his two-way role. Of the game’s 142 plays, he was on the field for 139 of them and made several key defensive plays, including the game-clinching stop of Taylor on the last play.

For the Packers, Bart Starr was successful on 21 of 34 passes for 178 yards with a TD and no interceptions, but his longest completion of the day was for 20 yards. Jim Taylor gained 105 yards on 24 carries and accumulated another 46 yards on 6 catches. Paul Hornung ran the ball 11 times for 61 yards and caught four passes for 14 before having to leave the game (other than for placekicking). Gary Knafelc also caught 6 passes and gained 76 yards.

The Packers came back from the title game loss to win the next two NFL championships, and posted an extraordinary five in nine seasons under Lombardi. Things did not go as well for the Eagles. Buck Shaw retired following the title game, as did Van Brocklin. Assistant coach Nick Skorich was elevated to the head coaching job and, while the Eagles with Sonny Jurgensen at quarterback came close to winning the Eastern Conference in ’61, from 1962 on the club fell into a long dry spell. They did not return to the postseason (other than the meaningless Playoff Bowl) until 1978.

Norm Van Brocklin, having gone out on top to conclude his Hall of Fame playing career, had fully expected to succeed Shaw as head coach of the Eagles. When he didn’t, the embittered Dutchman became the first coach of the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961.

1960: Late Walston Field Goal Gives Eagles Key Win Over Browns

The Philadelphia Eagles were off to a good start in 1960, but faced their toughest test in traveling to Cleveland to face the Browns at Municipal Stadium on October 23. The Browns had beaten the Eagles decisively in the season-opening game at Franklin Field and were undefeated at 3-0. Philadelphia had recovered to win three straight games and arrived in Cleveland with a 3-1 tally (the Browns had already had a bye week).

The Eagles had a veteran head coach in 61-year-old Buck Shaw and were led on offense by the tough 34-year-old QB Norm Van Brocklin, in his 12th season overall and third in Philadelphia after being obtained from the Rams. The running game was average, at best, and it was the passing game that made the difference thanks to The Dutchman having outstanding receivers in flanker Tommy McDonald and ends Pete Retzlaff and Bobby Walston (pictured above; he was also the team’s placekicker).

The Eagles came into the game as 13-point underdogs and had not won in Cleveland since 1952. Head Coach Paul Brown’s club had the best one-two running back punch in pro football with FB Jim Brown and HB Bobby Mitchell, and also featured the precision passing of QB Milt Plum.

Eagles LB John Nocera was out with an injury, and his replacement Bob Pellegrini went down early in the contest. As a result, 35-year-old Chuck Bednarik, once one of the top linebackers in the game but now the starting center, had to return to linebacking duty in addition to his role on the offensive line.

Less than four minutes into the first quarter, after stopping the Browns on their opening series, Philadelphia scored on its first play from scrimmage as Van Brocklin threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Walston that gave the Eagles the early 7-0 advantage.

Cleveland drove down the field but came up short of a touchdown thanks to a goal line stand by the Eagles defense. They settled for a 12-yard field goal by Sam Baker. Baker, who had been obtained from Washington to replace the retired Lou Groza (who would return the following year), booted another field goal, of 23 yards, early in the second quarter to narrow Philadelphia’s lead to 7-6.

Plum put the Browns ahead later in the period with an 86-yard scoring pass to flanker Leon Clarke, who was substituting for the injured Ray Renfro. Baker’s extra point attempt failed, but he added a 44-yard field goal to extend Cleveland’s lead to 15-7 at halftime.

The Browns led by 22-7 early in the third quarter after Jim Brown took off on a 71-yard touchdown run. The Eagles came back, though, as FB Clarence Peaks ran up the middle on a draw play for 57 yards to put the Eagles in scoring position. Van Brocklin followed up with a six-yard pass to Walston and HB Billy Barnes plunged into the end zone for a touchdown from a yard out.

Shortly thereafter, Philadelphia struck again as Van Brocklin connected with McDonald for a 57-yard TD that cut Cleveland’s margin to 22-21 after three quarters.

Van Brocklin put the Eagles in the lead at 28-22 early in the fourth quarter with a swing pass to Barnes that covered eight yards for a touchdown. But the Browns responded with an 88-yard drive the ended on a three-yard TD pass from Plum to Mitchell. Cleveland was back in front at 29-28 with just over six minutes remaining to play.

The Eagles again drove into Browns territory, but safety Don Fleming intercepted a Van Brocklin pass. The Eagles defense held the Browns and forced them to punt, giving the Eagles one more shot.

With time running down, the Eagles took over at their 10 yard line. Van Brocklin passed to Retzlaff for 27 yards and then McDonald for 12 to just short of midfield. However, it appeared that Cleveland would win when safety Bobby Franklin came up with an interception, but LB Vince Costello was flagged for pass interference and the Eagles, instead of losing the ball, now had a first down at the Browns 30.

With 15 seconds remaining, Walston kicked a 38-yard field goal and the Eagles came away with a big 31-29 win.

Both teams put up plenty of yards, with the Browns outgaining Philadelphia by 451 yards to 428; they also had more first downs (21 to 18).


Norm Van Brocklin (pictured at left) completed 17 of 26 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns and the one interception. Thanks to the long run in the third quarter, Clarence Peaks had a season-high 102 yards on 13 carries. Billy Barnes, who ran for 25 yards on 9 attempts and a TD, caught 7 passes for 48 yards and another score. Bobby Walston, in addition to kicking the winning field goal, also led all receivers with 94 yards on four catches. Pete Retzlaff and Tommy McDonald contributed significantly, with the former gaining 80 yards on three receptions and the latter 66 yards and a TD on two catches.

Jim Brown, as usual, put up big numbers for the Browns with 167 rushing yards on 22 carries, including the long touchdown run, and added another 57 yards on four pass receptions. Bobby Mitchell, who had devastated the Eagles in the opening game with 156 yards on 14 carries, was held to 35 yards on 14 rushes this time, although he still caught 7 passes for 70 yards and a TD. Milt Plum had 16 completions in 22 pass attempts for 289 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Costello, who was flagged for the interference call, was angry afterward. “I didn’t think there was any interference.” Coach Paul Brown avoided controversy, saying “You couldn’t tell anything from the bench. Vince was pretty hot about it.”

But Van Brocklin insisted the call was correct, saying “(Halfback) Ted Dean had been knocked down and I had to throw to the other side. The call was made right away. Two of the Browns linebackers seemed to sandwich Dean and he went down.”

Regarding the performance by the Eagles’ quarterback, Coach Brown summed up after the game, “As for Van Brocklin, he is one of the finest football players of all time.”

The Eagles were able to rest up with a bye the following week and then kept on winning to end up atop the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. They defeated the Green Bay Packers for the NFL Championship. Cleveland went 2-2-1 over the next five games and finished second with an 8-3-1 tally.

Norm Van Brocklin received unanimous MVP recognition (AP, UPI, NEA, and the Bert Bell Award) in his greatest – and last – season. He ranked second in the league in pass attempts (284), completions (153), yards (2471), and touchdowns (24).

Bobby Walston finished second in the league in scoring with 105 points. He had the best field goal percentage (70 %) as a result of connecting on 14 of 20 attempts. Walston also caught 30 passes for 563 yards (18.8 avg.) and four TDs.


Chuck Bednarik (pictured at right) played 59 minutes against Cleveland and led the club with 15 tackles, 11 of them unassisted. With the injuries plaguing the linebacking corps, Concrete Charley showed the critics who said he was too old to play linebacker that they were wrong, and did so while playing both ways (the last NFL player to do so regularly) all the way to the title game (he averaged over 50 minutes per game).

Jim Brown led the NFL in rushing for the fourth consecutive season with 1257 yards on 215 attempts (5.8 avg.) and nine touchdowns. Milt Plum was the league’s top passer - by the current system, his 110.4 rating was the best until Joe Montana’s 112.4 in 1989.

1964: Eagles Trade Tommy McDonald to Cowboys

Following the 1963 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles were a team in transition. They had a new owner, 36-year-old Jerry Wolman, and a new head coach/general manager, Joe Kuharich. Having finished in last place in the Eastern Conference in both 1962 and ’63, Kuharich decided a makeover of the team was in order, and he made several significant trades. The first major deal, on March 20, 1964, sent star flanker Tommy McDonald to the Dallas Cowboys for all-purpose kicker Sam Baker, DT John Meyers, and offensive lineman Lynn Hoyem.

The trade certainly generated plenty of controversy among Eagles fans. Since joining the club in 1957 as a third round draft choice out of Oklahoma, McDonald had become one of the most potent deep threats in the NFL. His statistics were formidable – 287 receptions for 5499 yards (a 19.2-yard average) with 66 touchdowns, including two thousand-yard seasons and four consecutive in which he scored at least 10 TDs. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and had received first or second team All-Pro recognition on four occasions.

Moreover, he was charismatic with an effervescent personality and had become a fan favorite. At 5’9” and 178 pounds, he was generally considered to be the smallest player in the NFL during his career, yet he was an intimidating force as he raced past opposing defenders while often making spectacular catches. When hit, he had a habit of bouncing up quickly, showing toughness and a lack of fear. Few receivers were more effective at running crossing routes.

Trading McDonald was a bitter pill for the fans, and it wasn’t helped that many questioned whether the Eagles had received equal value for the 29-year-old receiver (he would be 30 by the start of the ’64 season). Sam Baker was the best-known of the three players Philadelphia received from the Cowboys. Both a placekicker and punter, he had played under Kuharich when he was head coach at Washington and had led the league in field goals kicked in 1956 (17) and scoring in ’57 (77 points). After two years in Cleveland, Baker had moved on to Dallas for two years, where it was reported that his off-field carousing had worn out his welcome with Head Coach Tom Landry. A proven performer at age 35, with nine years of NFL experience, he had been twice selected to the Pro Bowl (1956 and ’63).

John Meyers, a 6’6”, 275-pound defensive tackle, was 24 years old and had been with the Cowboys for two years. He was considered to be a quality reserve. 25-year-old Lynn Hoyem, at 6’4” and 253 pounds, had backed up at center and guard and was expected to do the same for the Eagles.

All three players filled clear needs that the team had, and contributed. Baker stayed for six seasons and made the Pro Bowl twice while also leading the NFL in field goal percentage in 1966 (72.0 %, on 18 of 25 attempts). Meyers moved into the starting lineup and played for four years. Hoyem also stayed for four seasons in his utility role on the offensive line.

As for McDonald, the Cowboys moved him from flanker to split end. While Dallas already had an outstanding flanker in Frank Clarke, veteran split end Billy Howton had retired following the ’63 season. In upgrading the receiving corps for young QB Don Meredith, they also traded with Pittsburgh for another veteran deep threat, Buddy Dial. McDonald went on to have what, for him, was a rather mediocre season as he caught 46 passes for 612 yards (just 13.3 yards-per-reception) with only two touchdowns (one of them coming against the Eagles in Philadelphia).

With speedy rookie Bob Hayes joining the Cowboys in 1965, McDonald was traded to the Rams where he caught a career-high 67 passes for 1036 yards and nine TDs. He was selected to the Pro Bowl one last time and, after another year in Los Angeles followed by brief stints in Atlanta and Cleveland, McDonald retired after the 1968 season.

The McDonald deal to Dallas was arguably not the most controversial of the trades swung by Joe Kuharich in the 1963-64 offseason; the one made a few days later that sent QB Sonny Jurgensen to Washington for QB Norm Snead raised even more eyebrows and generated fierce debate long afterward. McDonald was something of a disappointment in Dallas, although he proved with the Rams that he still could be an effective receiver. But none of the players received could replace the excitement and spirit that he had provided the Eagles and their fans.

1961: Giants Edge Eagles 28-24 in Eastern Conference Showdown

The history of the rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants has involved many significant games, often intensely played, and with some memorable performances. The matchup on December 10, 1961 was one such contest, with plenty of drama combined with big plays – and ultimately coming down to a controversial penalty in the final minutes.

Both teams were tied atop the Eastern Conference with 9-3 records as the Eagles hosted the Giants at Franklin Field. New York had won the first encounter at Yankee Stadium four weeks before, ending a five-game Philadelphia winning streak. The Eagles won back-to-back games against the Giants in 1960 on the way to the league championship, and had since made a remarkable transition at quarterback from the retired Norm Van Brocklin to Sonny Jurgensen (pictured below). The Giants had also made a quarterback change, picking up 35-year-old veteran Y.A. Tittle from the 49ers in a preseason trade, who supplanted Charley Conerly (pictured above), 40 years old and showing signs of wearing down in his 14th season. Both teams had also changed head coaches in the offseason, as Philadelphia’s Buck Shaw and New York’s Jim Lee Howell both retired; they were replaced by Nick Skorich and Allie Sherman, respectively.

New York drew first blood on the fourth play from scrimmage on a 46-yard bomb from Tittle to split end Del Shofner. The Eagles responded with a 26-yard Bobby Walston field goal after recovering a fumble by Giants FB Alex Webster. Just prior to the end of the first quarter, Philadelphia scored a touchdown out of the stacked deck formation - three receivers lined one behind the other on one side of the field, and flanker Tommy McDonald on the opposite side. Jurgensen hit McDonald cutting across the middle of the field, and the 5’9”, 170-pound darter completed the 52-yard play to put the Eagles ahead, 10-7.


The Giants fumbled the ball away twice more during the second quarter, but Philadelphia was unable to capitalize. LB Cliff Livingston intercepted a Jurgensen pass at midfield, and at this point Conerly entered the game in place of Tittle, who was having an uncharacteristically flat performance after the initial TD. It looked as though Conerly would do no better when Eagles FS Don Burroughs intercepted a third down pass, but an offside call on the defense nullified the play, and given a second chance Conerly hit TE Joe Walton for a 35-yard touchdown.

New York missed opportunities to extend their lead due to missed field goal attempts of 23 and 34 yards by placekicker Pat Summerall. The halftime score stood at 14-10 in favor of the Giants.

A fumble by Eagles HB Ted Dean set up the next Giants TD in the third quarter, a 26-yard pass from Conerly to Shofner. The Eagles struck back with a 66-yard bomb from Jurgensen to McDonald that quieted the booing home fans and put the ball at the New York 11 yard line. However, they came up empty and the quarter ended with the Giants ahead, 21-10.

Another penalty damaged the Eagles as a 34-yard pass play from Jurgensen to HB Timmy Brown down to the Giants one yard line was called back for offensive pass interference on McDonald. The teams traded punts, with the Eagles getting the field position advantage, and McDonald made up for the penalty on the previous series by scoring a 30-yard touchdown on a pass from Jurgensen to narrow the Giants margin to 21-17.

The Giants couldn’t move on their next possession, and were forced to punt from their 16 yard line. However, Eagles DE Leo Sugar was penalized for making contact with punter Don Chandler in a highly controversial call that changed the momentum of the game. New York made the most of the break, driving down the field to score on Del Shofner’s third TD reception of the game on an 11-yard throw from Conerly.

Philadelphia got the ball back with 2:44 to play and down 28-17. Jurgensen connected with split end Pete Retzlaff for a 61-yard TD, but the Eagles were unable to score on their final possession in the last 18 seconds, and the Giants won, 28-24.

For New York, Conerly completed 6 of 13 passes for 153 yards and, most significantly, three touchdowns. TE Walton led the receivers statistically with 5 catches for 100 yards and a score, but Shofner was the star with three TDs while catching 4 passes for 95 yards. FB Webster led in rushing with 86 yards on 22 carries.

In defeat, the Eagles had won the statistical battle, outgaining the Giants with 455 total yards to 371. Jurgensen completed 16 of 31 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. McDonald caught 7 passes for a team-record 237 yards and two scores. The Eagles, not a strong running team, ran the ball 23 times for 124 yards to New York’s 38 for 143, and no back had more than eight carries; the leading rusher was Timmy Brown with 64 yards on 7 attempts.

The win put the Giants a game ahead in the race for the conference title, and they tied Cleveland in the season finale the next week to finish in first place at 10-3-1. Philadelphia defeated Detroit to end up in second at 10-4. New York lost to Green Bay in the NFL Championship game while the Eagles faced the Lions again in the meaningless Playoff Bowl; they also lost, and it was costly as Jurgensen suffered a severe shoulder separation that required surgery and lingered into the ’62 season, and OT J.D. Smith broke his leg.

The game was the last hurrah for Conerly, who retired following the season; while he relieved Tittle in both the season finale and title game, it was far less consequentially. Del Shofner, in his first season with the Giants after being dealt by the Rams, caught 68 passes, a career high, for 1125 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Sonny Jurgensen set a new record for passing yards in a season (3723) while tying the record for touchdown passes (32). Tommy McDonald caught 64 passes for 1144 yards and 13 TDs. Both received All-Pro recognition and were selected to the Pro Bowl.