The Philadelphia Eagles’ journey to the Super Bowl 57 in Phoenix was almost not necessary, as the team almost became the Phoenix Eagles in 1984. Back in the day, the idea of teams relocating wasn’t a concern until the Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles and the Colts left Baltimore for Indianapolis. But when news broke of the Eagles potentially moving to Arizona, panic set in among the city’s fans. Philly is a football city and the thought of losing their beloved Eagles turned the city upside down.
Legendary sports columnist Ray Didinger recalls the night he learned of the potential move. He was woken up in the middle of the night by a phone call from the night sports editor, informing him of the Eagles’ potential move to Phoenix. Didinger was skeptical of the news, but once he found out that veteran Arizona Republic sports columnist Bob Hurt broke the story, he knew it was legitimate. Hurt was known in Phoenix as the go-to guy for sports and politics, and everyone talked to him.
Hurt’s report caused an uproar not only in Philadelphia but in Arizona as well, and the deal eventually fell through. Eagles fans credit the journalist with saving their team, although it’s also believed that Eagles’ owner Leonard Tose was bluffing to get a better deal from the NFL and Philadelphia. Didinger said, “Bob Hurt saved the Philadelphia Eagles.”
The Philadelphia #Eagles nearly became the Phoenix #Eagles in 1984, via @LATimesfarmer
https://t.co/ejZBiTILRk— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 7, 2023
In 2022/23, Jalen Hurts is starting for the Eagles in the Super Bowl, and it’s a beautiful coincidence that the same year marks the anniversary of Bob Hurt’s efforts to save the team. This has to be a sign of great things to come for the Eagles.
Soakin' it all in#SuperBowlLVII | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/tWi7KrxDJa
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 7, 2023
The Eagles’ journey to the Super Bowl 57 has been full of twists and turns, but thanks to Bob Hurt, it almost didn’t happen. The potential move to Phoenix was a dark time for the Eagles and their fans, but it turned out to be a turning point. The Eagles are now in a position to make history, and their fans are proud and excited to cheer them on. With Hurts at the helm, the future looks bright for the Philadelphia Eagles.
