Another former Eagle has made his way to Canton, Ohio. It was announced on Saturday night that Claude Humphrey has been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Humphrey played defensive end for the Eagles from 1979-81. Originally the third overall pick by Atlanta in 1968, he was a member of the Falcons for 11 years before joining the Eagles. Though sacks didn't become an official stat until 1982, Humphrey recorded 11.5 quarterback takedowns during his rookie season of 1968, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
After being named to the Pro Bowl in six of his 11 seasons in Atlanta (while being named All-Pro in 1972 and '73), Humphrey was traded to the Eagles in exchange for two draft picks. At the time of the trade, Humphrey was 35 years old. He had missed the entire 1975 season with a knee injury and had played just four games in 1978 before retiring from football. The Eagles believed that he still had some good football left in him, and they were correct. In 1980, Humphrey led the Eagles with 14.5 sacks, despite the fact that he wasn't being used as an every-down player. At the end of the 1980 season, Humphrey played in his first and only Super Bowl.
Humphrey retired after the 1981 season, and though his time in Philadelphia was brief, he certainly left his mark. The Tennessee State product finished his 14-year career with 122 sacks in 171 career games. He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame three times (2003, '05 and '08), and this was his second time on the ballot as a senior nominee.