When he played, defensive end Hugh Douglas was a presence on and off the field and a leader for the Eagles defense. He returns on Sunday as a presence, too, even though he won't suit up.
The Eagles have announced that Douglas will serve as the team's Honorary Alumni Captain against the Patriots and will participate in the pre-game coin flip. Douglas will then be honored at halftime from the Miller Litle Phlite Deck.
Douglas spent six seasons with the Eagles (1998-02, 2004), and ranks fourth in team history with 54.5 sacks, while earning three straight trips to the Pro Bowl (2000-02) and two All-Pro selection (2000, 2002). His 15 sacks in 2000 stand as the seventh-highest total ever by an Eagle, and his 4 1/2-ack effort on 10/18/1998 at San Diego is tied for the franchise single-game record.
Originally a first-round pick of the New York Jets in 1995, Douglas spent his first three seasons with the Jets before joining the Eagles in a trade.
In his career, Douglas played in 138 games (108 starts), and registered 80 sacks and one interception. A native of Mansfield Ohio, Douglas attended Central State University, where he helped his team to an NAIA championship as a sophomore.
Douglas is now working for ESPN as an in-studio NFL analyst.
Douglas is the latest former Eagle to be honored this season as part of the team's ramped-up alumni program. Also honored as Honorary Alumni Captains were linebacker Seth Joyner (vs. New York Giants), offensive tackle Tra Thomas (vs. San Francisco) and quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Former cornerback Eric Allen and late defensive coordinator Jim Johnson were inducted into the team's Honor Roll at halftime of the win over Dallas, while more than a dozen former Eagles, including former head coach Buddy Ryan, were part of the alumni tribute at halftime against Chicago.
