In the aftermath of winning Super Bowl LIX, many Philadelphia Eagles fans seemed ready to have some difficult conversations regarding franchise greats.
The Eagles have only become a perennial winning franchise since the 2000s, and until the 2020s, wide receiver was among their most inconsistent positions.
Is AJ Brown the Best?
AJ Brown’s addition to the receiving corps in 2022, alongside Heisman-winner DeVonta Smith in 2021, instantly made the Eagles one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the NFL.
Brown has earned second-team All-Pro honors in each of his first three years with the Eagles, in addition to landing in the top 10 of MVP voting in 2022.
He has consistently put up over 80 yards per game in the midnight green and has been a core piece of an offense that has seen two Super Bowl appearances in his three-year tenure. While these winning ways can’t be ignored, Brown is part of a significantly better roster than any other Eagles receiver, arguably the best one the team has ever seen.
A Quick Word on T.O.
A similar short-term case to Brown could be made for Terrell Owens, who played in Philadelphia for only two years.
His 2004 campaign led him to a mention here, earning first-team All-Pro honors by clocking over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. Additionally, he was instrumental in getting the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance in over 20 years. Unfortunately, though, Owens’ nasty departure, laced with off-field drama after only two years in Philadelphia, means he can’t be a legitimate addition to the list.
The Tallest Show on Turf
Perhaps the exact opposite of Owens is a player who’s still considered the Eagles’ greatest receiver, Harold Carmichael. As the tallest receiver in NFL history at 6-foot-8, Carmichael was one of the few bright spots during a brutal 1970s stretch for the Birds, where the team didn’t see a season above .500 until 1977.
That’s when Carmichael really started coming alive, collecting over 3,800 yards in a four-year span (1977-1981) that included the Eagles’ first Super Bowl appearance in 1980. He nearly single-handedly revived a team that had not seen a playoff win in over 20 years to that point.
The Hall of Famer spent 14 years in Philadelphia and was an active participant in the community as well. He earned an NFL Man of the Year award in 1980, cementing his place as one of the most beloved Eagles ever.
In Carmichael’s last season with the Eagles in 1983, he registered only 589 yards on his farewell tour. However, a second-year receiver put up 1,409 yards and 13 touchdowns, a more impressive season stats-wise than Carmichael ever had.
Bright Stars Burn *Quick*
Mike Quick saw the benefits of a game that was evolving toward a pass-first offense, and his quarterback, Ron Jaworski, took full advantage.
Quick played only nine years compared to Carmichael’s 14, but was a rare career Eagle. His accolades were impressive, earning two first-team All-Pros and five Pro Bowl appearances. Quick, like Carmichael, was a receiver with great hands who wasn’t afraid to tussle, but in 1983, he was the one with fresh legs. Coaches commended his blocking ability, and while he wasn’t a fast pass-catcher like his name might suggest, his jump-ball ability and physicality gave him a leg up.
It’s hard to put Quick above Carmichael because the team went into a big slump with Quick as the main target. Through no fault of his own, the roster just didn’t stack up. In Quick’s three playoff seasons with the Eagles, they only won the division once and never made it to a conference championship game. Regardless of the winning, with stellar numbers and a catchy name, Mike Quick more than earned his spot in the Eagles’ hall of fame.
Michael Vick‘s Miracle Worker
Lastly, you can’t talk about great Eagles receivers without mentioning their 2010s staple.
DeSean Jackson played in Philadelphia in two stints, from 2008 to 2013, and played eight games in 2019 and 2020. His return trip was appreciated in the moment, but injuries derailed what could’ve been a career renaissance. His only notable highlight in this span was catching Jalen Hurts’ first NFL touchdown pass, which ended up being a cool passing-the-torch moment.
Jackson’s first six years in green were nothing short of electric. He ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and put that speed to use as one of the most dynamic deep threats in Eagles’ history. He was also a perfect pairing with the quarterback of his day, Michael Vick. The team utilized his speed on special teams, too, as the team’s primary punt returner.
Jackson’s greatest moment in an Eagles uniform came as a special teamer, with his iconic punt-return touchdown to come back against the Giants in 2010. Dubbed the “Miracle of the Meadowlands II,” Jackson delivered the exclamation point on a 28-point fourth quarter, an important win to keep their playoff hopes alive. While Jackson didn’t see much playoff success either, his quick mouth and even quicker feet made him an integral part of Eagles teams that made me fall in love with football.
14 years ago today, the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" took place 🦅DeSean Jackson walked it off with a punt return TD! pic.twitter.com/Lpll7t8Ic6
— Housebets.com (@Housebetscom) December 19, 2024
AJ Brown Isn’t the Best, Yet.
All in all, AJ Brown is a fantastic receiver and will eventually cement his place as one of — if not the best — Eagles pass catchers ever. With only three to four more seasons of a consistent level of production and maybe even some more playoff success, he can reach this mountaintop with ease.
And while wide receiver has been a historically weak position for the Eagles, players like Carmichael, Quick, and Jackson have all helped reshape the narrative over the decades.
