In a dramatic finish to the season, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive year with a victory over the Washington Commanders. The win not only cemented their place in the postseason but also highlighted a period of unprecedented success for a franchise that has endured long stretches of mediocrity.
A Rough Beginning: 1960s and 1970s
The Eagles’ history is punctuated by moments of triumph followed by prolonged periods of struggle. In 1960, the team captured the NFL Championship, but from 1962 through 1977 they recorded only one winning season. Over those 16 years the franchise averaged a mere four and a half victories per campaign, making them the worst team in the league for a decade and a half.
The 1980s, 1990s, and a Long Playoff Drought
In 1980 the Eagles reached the Super Bowl, yet they would not win another playoff game for the next twelve years. During the following twenty seasons they managed only two wild-card victories, both coming in blowout losses to the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Across a 39-year span, the franchise secured just five playoff wins, underscoring how rare postseason success had been.
The Late 2000s to Mid-2010s: Eight Years Without a Playoff Win
From 2009 to 2016 the Eagles went eight seasons without a single playoff victory. The team cycled through coaches Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, and Doug Pederson, and endured three losing seasons in a five-year stretch. During this era, the definition of success shifted, with a winning record becoming the benchmark for a major accomplishment.
A Changing Standard for Success
Historically, a winning record was a significant achievement. It occurred only 14 times in the franchise’s first 45 years and only five times between 1962 and 1987. Postseason victories remained scarce: after the 1960 Championship, the Eagles won a playoff game in just four of the next 39 seasons.
A bright spot came in the early 2000s, with a five-year run from 2000 to 2004 under coach Big Red, followed by a 2008 NFC Championship run and a 2017 Championship appearance. Yet after 2008 the team did not win a playoff game for nine years, and the decline continued until coach Doug Pederson was dismissed following the 2020 season.
The Nick Sirianni Era: The Best Five Years Since the 1940s
The past five seasons have been the most successful stretch in Eagles history since the late 1940s, when the team reached three consecutive championship games and won two by shutout. Nick Sirianni, who has been head coach for that same five-year period, has brought a new style to the franchise.
Sirianni’s off-the-bench antics-goofy faces and comments-have earned him a mixed reception across the NFL, yet they have not hindered the team’s performance. With the win over the Commanders, the Eagles clinched a playoff berth for a fifth straight year. Only the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have matched this streak, and neither has reached a Super Bowl during that time. The Eagles, in contrast, have appeared in two and won one.
A Historical Coaching Milestone
Sirianni is the fifth coach in NFL history to guide his first five teams to the postseason. The previous four-Hall of Famers Paul Brown, Bill Cowher, Chuck Knox, and John Harbaugh-each had different postseason trajectories. Brown won titles in each of his first five years, though the first four were in the AAFC. Knox never reached a Super Bowl, Cowher reached one in his fourth season but did not win until his 14th, and Harbaugh won one in his second year but never reached a second.
Sirianni stands alone: he has taken his team to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons and reached two Super Bowls along the way, winning at least one. This unique combination places him among the most successful coaches in NFL history.
Keeping Perspective
It is natural to feel frustrated when the Eagles squander a 21-point lead in Dallas, or when they allow 281 rushing yards at home against the Bears. It is also understandable to be disappointed when they lose in overtime to the Chargers. Yet as the team prepares for another playoff game, it is important to view these moments in context.
The Eagles operate in a place where the standards are astronomical. In many other franchises, a single playoff appearance would be celebrated, but for Philadelphia, a Super Bowl is the benchmark. That rarity makes the current success all the more special.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles clinched a playoff berth for the fifth straight year after defeating the Commanders.
- Nick Sirianni is the only coach to reach the playoffs in each of his first five seasons and to win a Super Bowl during that span.
- The franchise’s best five-year stretch since the 1940s reflects a significant turnaround from decades of mediocrity.
The Eagles’ recent achievements underscore a historic period of success that has revitalized a franchise long accustomed to long stretches of struggle. As the team heads into the postseason, fans can take pride in a record that places Philadelphia among the elite in NFL history.
