Brian Dawkins might be the Ultimate Philadelphia Eagle. But there have been others who embody something else. Marvin McNutt. Bibbles Bawel. Dick Riffle.
They’re some of the greatest sports names of all-time.
As others have done before, Billy Penn decided to create an Eagles All-Name Team. (Hey, it’s a bye week.) That means we read through the names of every Eagle there ever was, dating all the way back to the 1930s, and created a first and second team of the best names of Eagles over the last 80 years.
With apologies to current Eagles rookies Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Destiny Vaeao — future All-Name Team hall of famers, for sure — here’s what we came up with. Tweet us at @billy_penn and tell us who we missed:
WR Michael Gasperson
Why we picked him: Gas. Person.
Years played for the Eagles: He only played for the Birds for a year in 2007.
Notable statistics: Gasperson made literally one appearance in a game and, sadly, never made a catch.
Career info: Before he played for the Eagles in 2007, he played for a season in NFL Europe for the Cologne Centurions. His NFL career ended following his stint in Philadelphia.
WR Marvin McNutt
Why we picked him: Pretty much any name with alliteration is going to make this list, and the fact that this man’s last name is “McNutt” is just a fun consolation prize.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a year in 2012.
Notable statistics: McNutt appeared in four games with the Eagles but didn’t record any notable stats.
Career info: After his season in Philly, McNutt went on to Carolina where he only appeared in one game.
OT Rufus Mayes
Why we picked him: Like the Philadelphia district attorney, we love the name Rufus.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a season in 1979.
Notable statistics: Mayes appeared in 16 games in 1979, but didn’t start in any of them.
Career info: Prior to playing for a season with the Eagles, Mayes spent nine years in Cincinnati, playing for the Bengals from 1970-78.
OT Proverb Jacobs
Why we picked him: This person was named to be famous. It’s epic.
Years played for the Eagles: Jacobs played for one season for the Eagles in 1958.
Notable statistics: During his season in Philly, Jacobs played in 12 games, though he didn’t start in any. He logged one fumble recovery during that time.
Career info: Jacobs was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1958 draft. After his season in Philly, Jacobs went on to play for the Giants, the New York Titans (changed to the Jets in the early ’60s) and the Oakland Raiders.
OG Maury Nipp
Why we picked him: Definitely because of his first name. Definitely.
Years played for the Eagles: Nipp played three seasons in Philly: 1952, 1953 and 1956.
Notable statistics: Nipp played in 25 games total over the course of his three seasons with the Eagles. Though he didn’t start in any, he did log one fumble recovery in 1953.
Career info: His career ended after his last season with the Eagles.
OG Milt Leathers
Why we picked him: If you heard a football player’s name was “Milt Leathers,” wouldn’t you just guess he was an o-lineman?
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a season in 1933.
Notable statistics: Leathers appeared in four games during his one season in Philly. He didn’t start in any of them.
Career info: That pretty much encapsulates Leathers’ career, as his time in the NFL wrapped up after that 1933 season.
C Bubba Miller
Why we picked him: OK, his real name is Stephen. BUT BUBBA.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for four seasons from 1997 to 2000.
Notable statistics: Over the course of those four seasons, Miller played in 58 games and started 23 of those. Oddly enough, he recorded a reception in 1998 for an 11-yard gain and another in 2000 for a nine-yard gain.
Career info: He ended his NFL career after the 2000 season.
TE Vyto Kab
Why we picked him: His whole name is three syllables!
Years played for the Eagles: The tight end played for the Eagles for four and a half seasons from 1982 to 1985.
Notable statistics: Over the course of those four and a half seasons, Kab played in 40 games and started 22 of those. He logged 31 receptions for 332 yards and five touchdowns.
Career info: Kab was drafted by the Eagles in 1982 and, after his time in Philly, went on to play for the Giants and then the Lions. Funny thing about Kab is that even though he wasn’t a standout relative to the rest of the NFL, he ended up on the cover of Sports Illustrated during his rookie year… for the wrong reasons. Here’s how it happened.
QB Norm Snead
Why we picked him: “Norm Snead” sounds like a sound that would come out of a trombone.
Years played for the Eagles: Snead played for the Birds for seven seasons between 1964 and 1970.
Notable statistics: Snead played in 85 games and made 81 starts over his his seven seasons in Philly, logging his most productive season in 1965 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Career info: Drafted second overall in the 1961 draft, Snead started his career in Washington and, after playing for the Birds from 1964 through 1970, continued his career at several other teams through 1976. While Snead was in Philly, he wasn’t exactly well-liked by the fan base, as he was the product of an objectively bad trade deal that fans didn’t love. After his somewhat mediocre career in Philly, he went on to play for the Giants in 1972 where he led the NFL in completion percentage. Snead retired at the end of the 1976 season after passing for some 31,000 yards.
RB Dick Riffle
Why we picked him: My sense of humor is that of a 13-year-old boy.
Years played for the Eagles: Riffle played for the Eagles for three seasons between 1938 and 1940.
Notable statistics: Riffle played in 32 games for the Eagles and started 13 of those. Over those three seasons, he rushed for 526 yards on 164 carries and logged five touchdowns.
Career info: He went on to play for Pittsburgh for two years after his time in Philly. He ended his NFL career in Pittsburgh.
RB Rabbit Keen
Why we picked him: Old-timey nicknames. Aren’t they the greatest? (Rabbit’s real name was Delbert.)
Years played for the Eagles: Keen played for two seasons in 1937 and 1938.
Notable statistics: Keen played in nine games for the Birds and didn’t start in any of them. He rushed for 164 yards on 37 carries.
Career info: Unfortunately for Rabbit/ Delbert, his NFL career ended after that 1938 season in Philly.
DE Leon Seals
Why we picked him: This just sounds like someone we want to be friends with.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for one season in 1992.
Notable statistics: Of the five games seals played in, he started in three. Seals didn’t log any other notable statistics.
Career info: Before playing for the Eagles, Seals spent four seasons at Buffalo. His NFL career ended after one season with Eagles.
DE Burt Grossman
Why we picked him: Because we like to pronounce everything exactly how it’s spelled.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a year in 1994.
Notable statistics: Grossman appeared in 14 games for the Birds and started in two of those. He recorded 19 tackles and five sacks.
Career info: Prior to playing for the Eagles, Grossman spent four seasons between 1989 and 1993 with the Chargers.
DT Kimo von Oelhoffen
Why we picked him: I feel like I have to say his name in a “Hulk” voice. KIMO VON OELHOFFEN.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a season in 2007.
Notable statistics: He played in eight games for the Eagles and started in just one of those. He recorded one sack.
Career info: von Oelhoffen started in the NFL in 1994, playing for Cincinnati until 2000 when he moved on to the Steelers. He was traded to the Jets in ’06 where he stayed for a year, and then moved onto Philly. His most significant stint was likely when he was in Pittsburgh, where he started in 94 games and recorded 123 tackles over six seasons. His NFL career ended after his season in Philly.
DT Steve Martin
Why we picked him: Think hard.
Years played for the Eagles: Martin played for the Birds for two seasons in 1998 and 1999.
Notable statistics: He played in 25 games and made 18 starts. Over that time, Martin recorded 47 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Career info: After the Eagles, Martin moved on to play for the Chiefs, Jets, Patriots, Texans and Vikings, each for a year. He ended his NFL career after the 2004 season in Minnesota.
LB Nate Dingle
Why we picked him: Ooh, Dingle, that’s fun to say.
Years played for the Eagles: Dingle played one season for the Eagles in 1995.
Notable statistics: He appeared in six games, but didn’t record any notable stats during that time.
Career info: After his time in Philly, Dingle went to Jacksonville in 1996 for a season then onto St. Louis for a season.
LB Emmanuel Acho
Why we picked him: *sneezes*
Years played for the Eagles: Acho played for the Birds for two seasons in 2013 and 2014.
Notable statistics: He appeared in 20 games and made two starts in 2014. Over those two years, he recorded 22 tackles.
Career info: Acho began his NFL when he was drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round in 2012. He was traded to the Eagles in 2013 for Dion Lewis, and his NFL career ended following the 2014 season. He now does TV in Texas.
LB Reds Weiner
Why we picked him: Giggle. Chuckle. I know, I know. I’m sorry. (His real first name is Albert.)
Years played for the Eagles: He played for a season for the Eagles in 1934.
Notable statistics: Weiner was actually a quarterback and a running back. He played in five games in that season and rushed for 37 yards on nine carries.
Career info: That’s the only season he played in the NFL ?
DB John Booty
Why we picked him: These are getting more and more childish as we go on, aren’t they?
Years played for the Eagles: Booty played for the Eagles for two seasons in 1991 and 1992.
Notable statistics: Over the course of those two seasons, Booty played in 29 games and made 12 starts. He recorded four interceptions and 121 tackles.
Career info: Booty was originally drafted by the Jets in the 10th round of the 1988 draft. He was then picked up by the Cardinals in 1993 after he left Philadelphia, then went on to play for the Giants and Tampa Bay for a season each.
DB Bibbles Bawel
Why we picked him: Get this: Bawel is pronounced “Bobble.” His name was Bibbles Bobble.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for three seasons in 1952, 1955 and 1956.
Notable statistics: Bawel played in 36 games over the course of three seasons and made 18 starts. Though he’s a defensive back, he spent most of his time on special teams as a kick and punt returner.
Career info: He ended his NFL career following the 1956 season.
DB Rocky Ryan
Why we picked him: That alliteration is so nice. And anytime someone in Philly is nicknamed “Rocky,” we gotta go with it. Even though it was well before Sly’s time on the big screen…
Years played for the Eagles: He played in Philly for three seasons between 1956 and 1958.
Notable statistics: Ryan played in 24 games with the Eagles and didn’t start in any. He recorded two interceptions during that time, and also had five catches for 122 yards as a receiver.
Career info: He played for a season in Chicago after being traded by the Eagles mid-season.
DB John Outlaw
Why we picked him: Badass.
Years played for the Eagles: Outlaw was an Eagle for six seasons between 1973 and 1978.
Notable statistics: He played in 76 games and started in 70 of them. During that time, he recorded 13 interceptions.
Career info: Outlaw was originally drafted by the “Boston Patriots” in the 10th rounded of the 1968 draft. He played there until the end of the 1972 season when he was picked up by the Eagles.
Special teams
K Happy Feller
Why we picked him: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 1971.
Notable statistics: Feller played in nine games for the Eagles.
Career info: He was drafted by Eagles in the fourth round of the 1971 draft. Over the course of that season, Feller attempted 20 field goals and made six of them. (For those of you non-sports fans, that is not great!) After his time in Philly, he went to the Saints for the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
P Tom Skladany
Why we picked him: Because we have no idea how his last name is pronounced but we think it’s probably cool.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for a single season in 1983.
Notable statistics: Skladany appeared in four games for the Birds and punted 27 times in those four games. His longest punt was 51 yards and he averaged 39 yards per punt.
Career info: He was drafted by Cleveland in the second round of the 1977 draft and then played for Detroit from 1978 to 1982 before he was picked up by the Eagles.
WR Mike Quick
Why we picked him: Now you see him… now you don’t. That’s quick.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for nine seasons for the Eagles between 1982 and 1990.
Notable statistics: Quick appeared in 101 games and started in 90 over the course of his Eagles career. During that time, he recorded 363 receptions for 6,400 yards and 61 touchdowns. His best season was in 1983 when he had a league-best 1,409 yards on 69 catches. Nice.
Career info: He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 1982 draft. Quick was named first-team all-pro in 1983 and 1985. He was selected to the Pro Bowl every year from 1983 to 1987.
WR Gary Ballman
Why we picked him: It’s the perfect last name for someone who plays a game with a ball.
Years played for the Eagles: Ballman spent six seasons between 1967 and 1972 with the Eagles.
Notable statistics: Over those six seasons, Ballman played in 66 games and made 48 starts. In that time he caught for 2,300 yards on 166 catches, averaging 14 yards per reception.
Career info: Ballman was drafted by the Steelers in the eighth round of the 1962 draft. He played five seasons there before coming to Philadelphia.
OT Len Szafaryn
Why we picked him: Len Szlastnamewecan’tpronounce.
Years played for the Eagles: He played in Philadelphia for two seasons in 1957 and 1958.
Notable statistics: Szafaryn played in eight games and started one of those.
Career info: He started his NFL career in 1949 at Washington, then moved onto Green Bay for several years until he came to Philly in 1957. He ended his career after the 1958 season in Philly.
OT Jim Gilmore
Why we picked him: He shares a name with everyone’s favorite presidential candidate.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a season in 1986.
Notable statistics: Gilmore played in two games and didn’t start in either of them.
Career info: After his year with the Eagles, Gilmore played for one season in 1987 at Miami.
OG Ernie Janet
Why we picked him: Two first names for a name, but one’s a man and one’s a woman. Unless it was pronounced “Jan-ay” in which case it’s even better.
Years played for the Eagles: He actually played for the Eagles for less than a full season in 1975.
Notable statistics: He appeared in one game.
Career info: Janet was drafted by the Niners in the second round of the 1971 draft. He then played for Chicago from 1972 to 1975 where he started 16 games.
OG Galen Laack
Why we picked him: Mostly because we have no idea why his last name has two A’s.
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 1958.
Notable statistics: Laack appeared in eight games for the Eagles.
Career info: He was drafted by Washington in the ninth round of the 1957 draft. After his season in Philly, his NFL career came to an end.
C Homer Hanson
Why we picked him: Again, alliteration.
Years played for the Eagles: He spent half of the 1935 season with the Eagles.
Notable statistics: Homer only appeared in a single game for the Eagles.
Career info: He started his NFL career at Cincinnati where he played for a season in 1934.
TE Chris Fontenot
Why we picked him: Kinda like fasnacht.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for a season in 1998.
Notable statistics: Fontenot played in five games for the Eagles and started in three of them. He caught for 90 yards on eight receptions.
Career info: That was his only season in the NFL.
QB King Hill
Why we picked him: We’re hoping his middle name is “of the.”
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles from 1961 to the middle of the 1968 season when he was traded midway through the year.
Notable statistics: Hill played in 71 games with the Eagles and started in 18 of those. Oddly enough, he was also a punter.
Career info: Hill started his NFL career in 1958 at what was then the Chicago Cardinals. He ended his career after spending a season in 1969 in St. Louis.
RB Winnie Baze
Why we picked him: More like Winnie Bae-ze, amirite
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Birds for a season in 1937.
Notable statistics: Baze appeared in ten games and made four starts. He rushed for 14 yards on three carries in total.
Career info: That magical 1937 season was the only time he played in the NFL.
RB Stumpy Thomason
Why we picked him: BRING BACK OLD TIMEY NICKNAMES
Years played for the Eagles: He started playing for the Eagles midway through the 1925 season and stayed in Philly until the end of the 1936 season.
Notable statistics: Stumpy appeared in 19 games and started in 16 of those over two years in Philly. He rushed for 347 yards on 112 carries.
Career info: He spent most of his career at the Brooklyn Dodgers (yeah, that existed), where he played for six seasons before ending his professional career in Philadelphia.
DE George Mulligan
Why we picked him: Can we do this one over? (Ed note: Zing.)
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 1936.
Notable statistics: Mulligan appeared in nine games and didn’t make any starts or record any notable stats.
Career info: That was his only season in the NFL.
DE Bud Grant
Why we picked him: <3 two-syllable names
Years played for the Eagles: Grant played for the Eagles in 1951 and 1952.
Notable statistics: He appeared in 24 games over two seasons and made no starts. Also a receiver, Grant made 56 receptions for 997 yards.
Career info: Grant was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 1950 draft. He played for just two seasons and then began his coaching career. He went on to coach the Vikings for 18 seasons between 1967 and 1985 where, as the head coach, he led team to an NFL championship and three additional conference championships.
DT Jim Cagle
Why we picked him: Hopefully you guys understand by now that this is just straight-up immature.
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 1974.
Notable statistics: Cagle appeared in 14 games and didn’t start in any of them. He didn’t record any stats during that time.
Career info: That’s the only season he played in the NFL.
DT Henry Slay
Why we picked him: SLAAAAAAAAY
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Birds for a season in 1998.
Notable statistics: Slay only appeared in three games and didn’t record any tackles.
Career info: Slay was drafted by Atlanta in the seventh round of the 1998 draft but went on to play for the Eagles that year. It was his only season in the NFL.
LB James Darling
Why we picked him: Oh my darling.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles from 1997 to 2000.
Notable statistics: Over four seasons with the Eagles, Darling played in 59 games and made 24 starts. During that time, he recorded one interception and 82 tackles.
Career info: After he left Philly, Darling went to the Jets where he stayed for two seasons, then Arizona in 2003 for four additional seasons.
LB Takeo Spikes
Why we picked him: His name kinda sounds like a brand of cleats that I’d want to own.
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 2007.
Notable statistics: Spikes started 14 games with the Eagles and recorded 64 tackles and a sack.
Career info: He was drafted in 1998 by the Bengals in the first round. He went on to play for Buffalo from 2003 to 2006 where he went First Team All-Pro in 2004. After his time in Philly, he ended his career in 2012 at San Diego.
LB Kiko Alonso
Why we picked him: That’s fun to say.
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 2015.
Notable statistics: Alonso appeared in 11 games and made a single start. He recorded 30 tackles over that time period.
Career info: He was originally drafted by the Bills in the second round in 2013. But in a controversial move for the Eagles, he was traded as part of the deal that sent LeSean McCoy to Buffalo. He was subsequently traded again this March to the Dolphins in a deal that paved the way for the Eagles to move up to get Carson Wentz.
DB Lou Rash
Why we picked him: Ewww.
Years played for the Eagles: Just one season in 1984.
Notable statistics: That Rash appeared in four games for the Eagles and didn’t record any notable stats.
Career info: He ended up getting picked up by Green Bay in 1987. That and his ’84 season with the Birds were his only two in the NFL.
DB Ed Storm
Why we picked him: Just imagine a jersey with “Storm” on the back. (Even though names didn’t appear on jerseys until the 1960s in baseball and 1970 in the NFL.)
Years played for the Eagles: He played in Philadelphia for two seasons in 1934 and 1935.
Notable statistics: Storm appeared in 21 games and started in eight of those. He was also a running back and rushed for 445 yards on 165 carries over two seasons.
Career info: Those were his only two seasons in the NFL.
DB Flip McDonald
Why we picked him: He was named specifically to play professional sports.
Years played for the Eagles: He played three seasons with the Eagles between 1944 and 1946.
Notable statistics: Over two-and-a-half seasons, McDonald, born Donald Gene McDonald, played in 15 games and made two starts. He recorded one interception.
Career info: McDonald started in 1944 with the Brooklyn Tigers and was traded to the Eagles midway through the season. Then, in 1948, McDonald played a season with the New York Yankees in the AAFC.
DB Colt Anderson
Why we picked him: His name is Colt. And after he played for the Eagles, he went to INDIANAPOLIS. It’s perfect.
Years played for the Eagles: He spent four seasons with the Birds between 2010 and 2013.
Notable statistics: While in Philly for four seasons, Anderson appeared in 28 games and made six starts. He recorded one interception and 65 tackles.
Career info: Anderson started his professional career with the Eagles and then went to the Colts for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He now plays with the Bills.
Special teams
K Horst Muhlmann
Why we picked him: His full name is Horst Herbert Erich Muhlmann.
Years played for the Eagles: He played three seasons with the Eagles between 1975 and 1977.
Notable statistics: Muhlmann appeared in 37 games for the Eagles. He went 34 for 53 on field goal attempts and his longest FG was 51 yards.
Career info: Muhlmann played at Cincinnati from 1969 to 1974 where he was a kicker and a punter.
KR Reno Mahe
Why we picked him: Because he was kinda named after the biggest little city in the world.
Years played for the Eagles: He played for the Eagles for five seasons between 2003 and 2007.
Notable statistics: Mahe appeared in almost every game between 2004 and 2007, logging nearly 100 returns over the years. His most productive season was in ’05 when he averaged 12.8 yards per return.
Career info: Mahe’s only NFL experience was in Philadelphia, where he wasn’t exactly loved by fans. In fact, Bleeding Green Nation, a blog that covers the Eagles, has a yearly “Reno Mahe” award that goes to the player “that the fanbase has an overwhelming urge to see cut/shot into outer space.” Later, in 2012, he pleaded no contest to stealing thousands of dollars worth of gasoline. Happy to know someone called 911 on Reno.
P Jeff Feagles
Why we picked him: It’s like Eagles but with an “F.”
Years played for the Eagles: Feagles was around for four seasons between 1990 and 1993.
Notable statistics: Feagles appeared in 64 games and punted 324 times over four seasons. His longest punt was 77 yards and his average yards per punt was a whopping 41.5.
Career info: He started his NFL career in 1988 at New England. He played on various teams until retiring in 2009 at age 43 from the New York Giants.
