PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Nick Foles will always be a part of Philadelphia Eagles history for winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2018 against the New England Patriots.
The “Philly Special” — the play that saw Foles haul in a touchdown on a pass from reserve tight end Trey Burton — is forever etched in Eagles history.
However, Foles believes there will be no competition unless it involves Doug Pederson ahead of the 2012 NFL Draft.
During his retirement press conference on Monday night prior to the Eagles’ game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field, Foles told a story about how Pederson trained him at his old school, Westlake High School.
“I’ll never forget walking into the parking lot and seeing Doug sitting in his car, I knocked on his window and I was like, ‘Hey, I’m Nick Foles, you’re here to coach me,'” Foles said.
During the practice, Pederson was the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach under former head coach Andy Reid. Pederson had Foles throwing into the wind on a cold, rainy day in Austin, Texas, with a bit of icy rain, the recently retired player said.
At one point, Foles said Pederson had him throw a “divide” route, about 65 yards into the wind. Foles said he didn’t know what the route was at the time, but it eventually became his preferred route when he threw the ball to former Birds speedster DeSean Jackson.
The first time, Foles said, the throw was caught in the wind and fell 30 feet wide of Pederson.
“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I’m done. It’s over,’” Foles said.
But Pederson offered him another shot, and Foles made sure he didn’t miss. The throw landed in Pederson’s hands from about 65 yards out. A few days later, Foles said, the team brought him in for a workout in Philly, which led to the Eagles drafting him in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.
“I have to believe that moment with Doug, playing for Doug with him as my quarterbacks coach, coming back as quarterback in 2017 and 18, culminated in me going up to him in the Super Bowl on fourth-and-1 on a timeout and saying, ‘Do you want Philly Philly?'” Foles said. “For me, that culmination of life, that culmination of events all the way back to Westlake High School led to Doug pausing for a moment and saying, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ And when I look back on my career, at that moment, it just shows you that the relationships you build and how you do it and how you continue on the journey is so special. And that’s why that play is so special to me. I know it’s special for the city, I know it’s special for the Eagles. But that moment with Doug, it’s amazing.”
During his retirement press conference, Foles joined Pederson in thanking his family, teammates and other members of the Eagles organization, including owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman.
Foles also thanked Reid and even former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who sent him to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford in 2015.
“Without those moments in St. Louis when Chip sent me away, I wouldn’t have been able to do what we did in ’17,” Foles said. “I wouldn’t have been able to step in with my heart and play the game that I did with my teammates.”
Foles had two separate stints with the Eagles from 2012-14 and 2017-18 in his 11-year NFL career. He also spent time with the Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.
But Foles was never able to replicate the magic he had while playing in Philadelphia in other stops around the league. In Philly, it was just different.
“There was just something about wearing midnight green,” Foles said. “I always felt something different in this city, in this stadium… I was just meant to play here, and I’m so grateful to be a part of these teams and to be a part of the history here. It’s made me a better person playing here. But then again, I wouldn’t be who I am today without those other stops, so each stop had its own purpose and its own unique story. For the rest of my life, I’ll have the opportunity to think about all of them and I’m grateful for all of them.”
