On Sunday night both Quez Watkins and Jalen Hurts scored their first-ever touchdowns in the NFL. Both were scored spectacularly too. Watkins ran a bubble screen on a third and forever, and following a smart spin move he managed to find space before sprinting untouched into the end zone. For Hurts', he managed to drag Budda Baker into the end zone with him for a seven-yard touchdown. It was a great evening for this Eagles rookie class, and for two rookies to score their first touchdowns in the same game, it is quite unusual. Having realised this, it inspired me to look at other notable Eagles players and when they scored their first touchdown for the team.
This article will delve into some of the more notable names in recent Eagles history to look at when their first touchdown was , and seeing when they scored their last one for the team.
Randall Cunningham
Cunningham was drafted by the Eagles in the 1985 season but did not become the full-time starter till 1987. However, he did play relief to Ron Jaworski and scored his first-ever Eagles rushing touchdown during his second season in 1986. His first score would come in the Week 10, 17-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Cunningham would score five touchdowns in total during the remainder of that season where the Eagles went 5-10-1.
Cunningham would spend 11 years in Philly where he was branded 'The Ultimate Weapon'. He was very much a quarterback before his time, and helped pave the way for quarterbacks like Mike Vick, Russell Wilson and even Jalen Hurts. His last rushing touchdown would come in 1994 during the 28-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In total, Randall would score 33 touchdowns for the team.
Duce Staley
The current Eagles running backs coach, spent seven years with the franchise between 1997 and 2003. As has been a common theme, he would not score his first touchdown with the team until his second season. He scored the team's first touchdown of the season running in from one-yard out against the Atlanta Falcons. Philly would lose that game 17-12, and they would end the season 3-13. Duce would account to six of the Eagles 17 touchdowns that year.
He became a centrepiece of the team's offense after that as Andy Reid began to mould his legacy in Philly. The running back would score 37 touchdowns during his time in Philadelphia, and his last one would be a seven-yard reception during the Divisional Round win against Green Bay.
Donovan McNabb
McNabb was drafted in 1999 but became the full-time starter during the 2000 season. That would also be the season where he would make it into the end zone for the first time himself. McNabb would score against the Dallas Cowboys in Week One of that season, and it came during one of the best Eagles season openers in recent memory. Andy Reid's team would destroy Dallas 41-14, and McNabb's touchdown would make it 34-6. Philly ended the season 11-5 and lost to the New York Giants in the Divisional Round.
Throughout his entire Eagles career, Donovan would become the best quarterback the team has ever had. He scored 32 touchdowns with his last one coming at 33-years-old in 2009. It was an eight-yard rush during the 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Brian Westbrook
Westbrook was drafted in 2002 and spent eight years with the Eagles. He failed to score a touchdown during his rookie season but found the end zone 11 times in 2003. His first came in the Week Four win over the Buffalo Bills, and it ended up being a 62-yard rushing touchdown.
Westbrook scored 72 touchdowns during his time in Philly, and his last came during the 33-14 Week Five win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009.
Brent Celek
The fan favourite would wrap up his Eagles career with a Super Bowl win in 2017. He was drafted by the franchise in 2007. Celek would score his first touchdown during his rookie season, breaking the trend that the four men above had created. Celek's first-ever touchdown came in the final game of his rookie season. He caught a two-yard touchdown pass to help Philly to a 17-9 win over the Buffalo Bills.
The tight end would score 34 touchdowns throughout his career, with the last one coming in that famous 43-35 win over the LA Rams. He caught a five-yard pass from Carson Wentz in a victory which would help secure the number one seed in the NFC, and give the Birds home advantage throughout the playoffs.
DeSean Jackson
DJax was drafted in 2008, and his impact on the team was immediate. He almost broke 1000 yards in his rookie season and also scored five touchdowns. His first came in a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. It was a heartbreaking year for the Eagles who made the NFC Championship game having gone 9-6-1 in the regular season. Jackson would score a 62-yard touchdown reception to give the Eagles the lead in the fourth. However, they would go on to lose the game 32-25.
Jackson would controversially leave Philly but returned in 2019 to the most incredible of homecomings. He scored two 50+ yard touchdowns on his second debut for the Birds in the comeback victory over Washington. Having been ravaged with injury since. It is looking likely that they will be his final scores in midnight green. Across his two stints, he has scored 43 touchdowns in total for the Eagles.
LeSean McCoy
Shady is another man that left Philly in somewhat controversial fashion, but he was another player that made a huge impact in the City of Brotherly Love. He was drafted in 2009 and scored four touchdowns during his rookie season. His first touchdown was a five-yard run to open the scoring during the 34-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
McCoy was traded to Buffalo by Chip Kelly before the 2015 season, but he would also become the all-time Eagles leading rusher during his final year. The running back would score 55 touchdowns with his final coming in the 27-24 loss to Washington in 2014. He currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs last season.
Zach Ertz
Ertz is another man still on the team but has had struggles this year as his performances and numbers have taken a significant hit. He scored five touchdowns during his rookie season in 2013, with his first-ever coming during Nick Foles' record breaking performance against the Oakland Raiders. Ertz caught the fourth touchdown of the day as the Eagles won 49-20.
Since his rookie year, Ertz has become a focal point of this franchise and has become Carson Wentz's favourite target. He even broke the tight end reception record during the 2018 season. He has scored 38 touchdowns over his eight-year career with the most important one being the game-winner in Super Bowl 52. A touchdown that will be ingrained in Eagles history forever as it brought Philadelphia its first-ever Super Bowl. His last touchdown for the team came in the Week One loss to Washington this season.
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