Nick Foles will forever be recognized in Philadelphia Eagles history for leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory in 2018 against the New England Patriots. The iconic “Philly Special,” where Foles caught a touchdown pass from backup tight end Trey Burton, is a significant moment in Eagles lore.
During his retirement press conference on Monday night, before the Eagles faced the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field, Foles recounted a pivotal moment before the 2012 NFL Draft involving former Eagles coach Doug Pederson. Foles reminisced about when Pederson, then the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach, worked him out at Westlake High School in Texas.
“I’ll never forget walking into the parking lot and seeing Doug sitting in his car. I knocked on his window, saying, ‘Hey, I’m Nick Foles, you’re here to work me out,’” Foles shared.
At the time, Pederson had Foles throwing in unfavorable weather conditions—cold, rainy, and even sleety—while attempting long throws. Foles recalled one challenging moment when he attempted a 65-yard “divide” route into the wind, which fell short of Pederson. He thought his chances were over, but Pederson encouraged him to try again. This time, Foles connected perfectly, impressing Pederson and solidifying his place with the Eagles, who selected him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Foles tied the significance of that workout to his eventual Super Bowl success, recalling, “I have to believe that moment there with Doug, culminating in me going over to him in the Super Bowl on fourth-and-one and asking, ‘You want Philly Philly?’ was meant to be.” He emphasized the importance of relationships throughout his career, particularly with Pederson.
In his emotional farewell, Foles expressed his gratitude to Pederson, his family, teammates, and Eagles executives like owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman. He even thanked former head coaches Andy Reid and Chip Kelly, crediting his journeys, including being traded to the St. Louis Rams, as essential to his growth as a player.
Having two tenures with the Eagles from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2018 during his 11-year NFL career, Foles also played for several other teams, including the Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Indianapolis Colts. Yet, he noted that the experience of playing in Philadelphia was unparalleled, stating, “There was just something about wearing midnight green. I always felt something different in this city… I was just meant to play here.”
Foles expressed that while he appreciated every part of his journey, his time with the Eagles profoundly impacted him, making him a better person and player.