Even though he is now focused on his ministry in Las Vegas, "The Ultimate Weapon" still keeps an eye on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Randall Cunningham visited the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday to receive his Eagles Hall of Fame jacket from Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie. He is in town for the NFL Draft, and to coach his daughter, Olympic high jumper Vashti, at the Penn Relays.
A second-round pick of the team in 1985, Cunningham ignited a generation of fans with his brilliant highlight-reel plays. Not only did Cunningham's rocket arm devastate opposing defenses, but he embarrassed players with his ability to escape out of trouble using his legs. His 4,928 career rushing yards are the second most by any quarterback in NFL history only to another former Eagle in Michael Vick.
But in his rookie year, Cunningham played in just six games, completing 42 percent of his pass attempts for 548 yards with one touchdown against eight interceptions. He went to the first of three straight Pro Bowl appearances in his fourth season.
In 2016, the Eagles used the second-overall pick on quarterback Carson Wentz. Named the starter eight days before the regular season opener, Wentz won his first three games and broke numerous team rookie records as well as the league mark for most completions by a first-year player.
Wentz certainly caught the eye of the former Eagles great.
"I'm sitting there wondering if he's going to set all of the records in his first year. I'm like, 'Carson, calm down,'" Cunningham said.
"The kid's very talented. I think that we've got a very successful quarterback in here. I just think we have to continue to support him and be on his side and watch him have success, go to the Pro Bowl, and eventually he'll take our team to the Super Bowl."
Cunningham won one playoff game as the Eagles' starting quarterback, a Wild Card matchup with New Orleans in 1992. Fans will always wonder what might have been if he didn't suffer a torn ACL in the 1991 season opener. That Eagles team had the all-time Gang Green defense paired with Cunningham in his prime. The Eagles managed to finish 10-6 without Cunningham, but only placed third in the division.
With the NFL Draft upon us, can the Eagles provide Wentz with enough help to open a window for the team to have multiple runs at a possible title?
