Well, grab a beverage and pull up a chair….

First off, from the beginning of the 90’s we had the talent to pull off multiple Super Bowls. 12 is my favorite player - truly the ultimate weapon. The Reggie White led defenses rank among the greatest defenses of all time, the was a ton of excitement surrounding this team coming out of the late eighties. They got plenty of National acclaim and spotlight, and was widely regarded as one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. Painfully, though, it all ended in disappointment.

A time of transition, high hopes, and big let downs….

Buddy Ryan was more of a figure from the 80s, so let’s start with Randall. He wasn’t developed or managed well by coaches (due to change, circumstances and philosophy). He didn’t have the organizational fortitude or support that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from 2000 onward. Randall had been developed with a green light to just go out and make plays (which is attributable to Buddy Ryan our polarizing head coach, but beloved by most of Philadelphia. He was fired as HC in favor or Rich Kotite after the 1990 season). Both Buddy and Kotite would eventually hurt Randall’s development. Buddy hurt his ability to be consistent and methodical as Randall lacked a measure of discipline and accuracy and yet while Kotite attempted to fix it with the rigidity of forcing to Him play from the pocket (this would eventually lead to untimely injuries) but both coaches were intoxicated by his big play ability. We all were. By the way the 1990 SB winner was division rival NY Giants - ugh.

The team was primed to do really big things, but he got hurt on the opening day of the 1991 season - ACL, and just like that he was done for the year. While it seemed all had been lost in that one moment, what the defense did that year was simply one for the history books. Even still, we suffered as we watched another division rival (‘Skins) with the SB that year.

As reinvigorated as our hope were, more pain was on the horizon. If Reggie White was the top 1A defender on the team, Jerome Brown was 1B. His death prior to the 1992 season was a devastating blow to the organization and fans everywhere. The season started with dark cloud over it, but once again the spirit of Philadelphia kicked in and the team got off to a 4-0 start which included a beat down of Dallas. It was a great season as they surged to “Bring it home for Jerome,” but we fell short in a playoff loss to the Saints, which also amplified the growing criticism of Randall’s play at QB. To top it off, well - I won’t even acknowledge who won the Super Bowl that year (yep our biggest division rival). We had dominated them for several years up to that point. Smh.

The lowest of lows….

Just a few months after watching our biggest rival win it all. We watched our best player walk in a ground breaking free agency battle and Eagles owner Norman Brahman didn’t even fight to keep him. Disappointment and pain had now turned to anger and disillusionment. The organization was in a spiral and nothing seemed to be going our way and then we went on this crazy rollercoaster ride.

Still angry over the loss of #92 to FA, but the Birds started off the ‘93 season strong once again with a 4-0 start and once again infusing hope and once again with a season ending injury to Randall with a broken leg. Enter Bubby Brister…. SMH. Season done. And…. oh yeah Dallas won another SB.

1994 more HOPE!! Brahman sells the Eagles!!! Enter Jeff Lurie. More excitement!!!Cunningham BACK and off to a 7-2 start including a HUGE dominating blowout win in San Francisco vs Steve Young and Jerry Rice, 40-8! Eagles hitting on all cylinders! Then they lost their last 7 games to finish the season 7-9, while the same 49ers went on to win it all…. Frustrating.

1995-98…. A changing of the guard and the devastation of our biggest rivals cementing their dynasty (another SB to Dallas ending the ‘95 season) and the resurgence of Randall (with the Vikings)

Kotite out. Ray Rhodes in. Eagles off to a 1-3 start. Cunningham benched in favor of Rodney Peete’s bland style of play, but efficient game management. He came in a eventually led the team to a playoff berth and a HUGE playoff blowout vs his former Detroit Lions team. Ray Rhodes win HC of the year.

These seasons were highlighted by THUNDER AND LIGHTENING. Garner and Watters were a highlighted attraction. In Jon Gruden’s west coast offense. Peete would eventually give way to Ty Detmer who was a gamer, but a bit too small and then there was Hoying - not gonna go there. We had some fun players during this time, Irving Fryar and Kevin Turner comes to mind along with amazing secondary that included Bobby Taylor, Brian Dawkins and Troy Vincent. By this point William Thomas was the amazing and reliable veteran that kept us relevant alongside of William Fuller and then Hollis Thomas. We held our identity as a tough blue collar defensive team, but Rhodes’ coaching style eventually drove the team over the cliff and by 1998 we finished 3-13. BUT credit Rhodes for stacking the roster with other names like Tra Thomas, Jeremiah Trotter while the Eagles had also acquired Hugh Douglas from the Jets!

This was such an odd period, because while all this was happening. Tangentially, we saw Randall Cunningham’s full potential (the Death Star was fully operational). He had grown up and had the reins of a stacked offense. It sucked!! But I was happy for him. I’m a die hard birds fan, but I couldn’t help rooting for him. He was balling to the levels some but not all imagine. It was great to see and horrible at the same time.

In 1999, Out goes Rhodes and in comes Reid. Andy keenly seen the collection of REALLY good players he inherited and didn’t try to reinvent things. 99 was less of a rebuilding year and more of a regrouping year. Turns out the only player he really need was drafted to boos and disrespect in the 99 draft - QB Donovan McNabb. The finished with only five wins led by QB Doug Pedersen, who eventually turned the reins over to McNabb for valuable reps. That roster set the table and tone for one of the best organizations from 2000 to this very day.

The 1990’s were full of excitement, pain, frustration, and rollercoaster of other emotions. However, it has been really fun watching the maturation of an organization and watching how it has impacted a whole city along with fans and onlookers worldwide even though we had to watch our whole division win dominate the decade. The Eagles wouldn’t be where they are today without those years. The best thing that came out of the 1990’s for the Philadelphia Eagles was Jeffrey Lurie!!

Never quite being good enough to make it past the divisional round. And playing down to the level of weaker opponents a lot.

Just flat-out craziness. The storylines, drama, personalities, plays and heartbreak.

What a bat shit crazy time to be an Eagles fan.

Everything. I was there at the Vet for almost all of it.
I was there for the Body Bag Bowl.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body\_Bag\_Game

Maybe 1995, the game against Dallas when John Madden said “they deserve to lose.”

For those who don’t know the story: Dallas was running out the clock with a 1pt lead, maybe 1 minute left or less. 4th and 1 from their own 20 or 25. They decide to go for it! Emmett Smith up the middle, and the Eagles stuffed him for no gain! Eagles ball! Then the officials decided a time out had been called - no play. So the Cowboys think about it some more… and still decide to go for it!!! John Madden had a conniption. “What??? No! They’re going for it again?? Oh my God! They deserve to lose!” So the Cowboys go for it again. And they ran the EXACT SAME PLAY!! And the Eagles stuffed it AGAIN!!! Next play the Eagles kicked a FG to win the game. You really had to see it to believe it.

Bryce Paup making me cry.

Jerome Brown and Randall getting the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. So much promise…