The Eagles quarterback who won the Super Bowl MVP award against Tom Brady almost gave up three years ago, leading one of the most unconventional careers in recent memory.
Nick Foles, the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, had a rollercoaster ride from benchwarmer to Super Bowl starter.
The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles squared off in Super Bowl LII on Sunday, with Brady, maybe the greatest quarterback of all time, taking on Nick Foles, the team’s less well-known quarterback.
Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to victory, 41-33. In addition, he scored a touchdown and was declared the game’s MVP.
Brady’s pursuit of a record-breaking sixth Super Bowl ring was the main topic of conversation in the run-up to the game, but Foles has an equally captivating story. Five years ago, the journeyman quarterback, 29, appeared to be the Eagles’ franchise quarterback. However, after an injury, a trade, and a poor season, he began to consider retiring from the NFL.
With the dreams of an entire team riding on his shoulders, Foles was thrown back into the spotlight with the Eagles after star quarterback Carson Wentz was forced to miss time due to a ruptured ACL. After their triumph, it appears that he has succeeded.
Continue reading to follow Foles’ amazing journey from benchwarmer to Super Bowl victor.
Nick Foles had a great collegiate career at Arizona before being selected in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. At first, Foles supported Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.
Following Vick’s injury, Foles started six games for the Eagles. Philadelphia finished 1-5 under Foles’ leadership, and he was again limited to backup duties the following year.
However, Foles enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2013 when Vick suffered another setback. In addition to leading the Eagles to the playoffs and throwing 27 touchdown passes, he was chosen to the Pro Bowl.
The following season, Foles’ stats weren’t as spectacular, and in the offseason, he was moved to the St. Louis Rams due to a broken collarbone.
With Foles at the center, the Rams had a 4-7 record. He was benched in favor of backup quarterback Case Keenum toward the end of the season.
The Rams selected quarterback Jared Goff as the first overall pick in the next NFL draft. At age 26, Foles contemplated leaving the NFL and asked to be released.
However, Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and a former Eagles coach who selected Foles in the 2012 draft, gave him a lifeline.
Despite playing in just three games for the Chiefs, Foles’ time there was sufficient to further his career.
In order to support the Eagles’ newly acquired, bright quarterback Carson Wentz, Foles consented to return in March 2017.
With the Eagles off to a scorching 10-2 start under Wentz’s leadership in his second season, Philadelphia appeared to be a Super Bowl favorite. But he was injured in Week 14, so Foles had to play the remainder of the season.
Despite Foles’ 3-1 record, the Eagles had reservations going into the postseason. The Eagles were viewed as underdogs without Wentz even though they had home-field advantage and the best record in the NFC.
Foles, however, responded to the challenge, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game after winning a hard-fought match against the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round. Foles performed almost faultlessly in the second game, going 26 for 33 and throwing three touchdown passes.
It’s interesting to note that Foles’ former Rams teammate Case Keenum, who started for the Vikings in 2015, was the quarterback Foles outplayed.
Foles is now standing on the brink of history. He will play in Super Bowl LII on Sunday against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
With his win, he’s completed the most incredible quarterback journey to the Super Bowl in recent memory.
