Believe it or not, the beginning of the 2014 season is rapidly approaching. Players will report back to the NovaCare Complex on April 21 for the start of the Eagles offseason program. Join us as we count down until the Eagles are back in town ...
The league's leading rusher in 2013 was LeSean McCoy, who sported No. 29 in his rookie season of 2009.
The No. 29 is also synonymous with McCoy because it was the amount of carries he had in his record-setting performance against the Lions in the Snow Bowl. McCoy had 29 carries for 217 yards, which broke Steve Van Buren's franchise record for most rushing yards in a single game. Van Buren set the record in 1949 with a 205-yard performance against the Steelers.
McCoy averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns, including one on a 57-yard scamper, in the memorable outing.
Head coach Chip Kelly utilized McCoy's talents plenty in 2013 as the All-Pro running back led the league with 314 carries and 366 offensive touches, both career highs. McCoy had 273 carries and 321 total touches in his first All-Pro campaign of 2011.
In the season opener, McCoy had a career-high 31 carries against Washington. It was one of five games - also including the Snow Bowl - where McCoy had 25 or more carries. McCoy had 20-plus carries in eight games.
First Eagle To Wear No. 29: E Dick Fencl (1933)
Current Eagle Wearing No. 29: S Nate Allen (2010-present)
HAROLD JACKSON
Former Los Angeles Rams head coach George Allen showed very little patience when it came to rookies.
A 12th-round pick out of Jackson State, wide receiver Harold Jackson suited up in two games and caught zero passes for the Rams in 1968. The following offseason, Jackson was working for the National Guard when he was got a call. No, he wasn't being deployed, but he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles saw something the Rams didn't in the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Jackson. In his second season, with a fresh start, Jackson earned Pro Bowl honors as he led the league with 1,116 yards. Three years later, Jackson earned a second Pro Bowl trip after he led the league with 62 catches and 1,048 yards.
The dilemma for the Eagles was that the team wasn't very good. They won a total of 15 games in the four years Jackson was on the squad. The Rams, under a new coaching staff, atoned for the mistake they made and re-acquired Jackson from the Eagles in exchange for quarterback Roman Gabriel. The Eagles also had a young receiver also named Harold – Carmichael, that is - who was ready to shine.
Jackson was distraught when he learned that the Eagles had traded him because he loved Philadelphia so much.
Upon leaving Philadelphia, Jackson continued to flourish as he earned three more Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro honor. In all, Jackson played 16 years and caught 579 passes for 10,372 yards and 76 touchdowns. Only 40 receivers in NFL history have cracked the 10,000-yard plateau. He averaged 17.9 yards per reception in his career.
Even though he spent just four seasons with the Eagles, he set a franchise record with five straight games with at least 100 yards receiving, which has since been tied. He had 215 catches for 3,493 yards and 21 touchdowns during his Philadelphia tenure. Jackson still ranks 15th in team history in receiving yards.
