Nick Foles, the quarterback who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a stunning Super Bowl LII victory, announced his retirement on Thursday. Foles will officially retire as an Eagle, returning to Philadelphia for the team’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons on September 16, according to the team’s announcement.
Foles’ NFL career spanned 11 seasons across six different teams, with two notable stints with the Eagles from 2012-2014 and 2017-2018. It was during his second tenure with Philadelphia that Foles cemented his legacy. Stepping in for an injured Carson Wentz during the 2017 season, Foles guided the Eagles on an improbable playoff run, culminating in a Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots. His performance earned him the Super Bowl MVP, highlighted by the unforgettable “Philly Special” trick play.
The success sparked a quarterback controversy in Philadelphia in 2018, eventually leading Foles to explore free agency. He signed a lucrative four-year, $88 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. However, his time in Jacksonville was marred by a broken collarbone early in the season, which allowed rookie Gardner Minshew to take the reins.
In 2020, Foles was traded to the Chicago Bears, where he served as a backup, occasionally stepping in for rookie Mitchell Trubisky. This pattern continued through the remainder of his career, with his final NFL appearance coming with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
Foles’ career was marked by moments of brilliance and significant potential, yet it was often tumultuous and inconsistent. Despite these challenges, he delivered when it mattered most, leaving a legacy defined by resilience and clutch performances.
Foles retires having played 71 games, with 58 starts, a 29-29 record, 14,227 passing yards, 82 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. Most notably, he leaves behind the memory of his legendary Super Bowl performance, forever etched in NFL history. Foles will officially hang up his cleats with the team that drafted him out of Arizona, closing the book on a career that was as unpredictable as it was remarkable.