1959 Philadelphia Eagles

The 1959 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 27th in the league. They improved on their previous output of 2–9–1, winning seven games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season.

Off Season
The Eagles held training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The first year in Hershey was 1951 and would go to 1967 to be there last.

NFL DRAFT
The 1959 NFL Draft was held on December 2, 1958 (rounds 1–4) and January 21, 1959 (rounds 5–30). The draft was 30 rounds long, and had 12 teams making picks. A total of 360 players were selected in this year draft. There was no Lottery bonus pick this year as it had run the course as all 12 teams had been given the bonus pick.

As the Green Bay Packers had the worst record, a 1-10- 1,  in the 1958 NFL season they had the first draft pick and selected Randy Duncan who played Quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes was the first pick. The Packers lone win was on Sunday, October 26, 1958 38–35 over the Eagles in Green Bay.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Cardinals both had a 2–9–1 record in the 1958 season, and that was the 2nd worst record in the league, rotated in picking 2nd or 3rd in each round. Both of these teams defeated during the season the eventful Eastern Division champion New York Giants during the regular season. The Eagle 1st round pick, 2nd in the draft, was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Norm Van Brocklin. The Eagles' first pick in the draft was in round 2 with the 15th pick.

In this year's NFL Season the Eagles and Packer would both improve to 7–5–0. Then in 1960 the Eagles and Packers would meet in the 1960 NFL Championship Game in Philadelphia.

Player Selections
The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

Playoffs
With a 7–5–0 record, and a 2nd place finish, in the 1959 season the Eagles failed to make it to the 1959 NFL Championship Game. The game was held December 27, 1959, in a rematch of the 1958 NFL Championship Game which is called "The Greatest Game Ever Played".

1959 Roster
(All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history)


 * + After name means 1st team selection

Post Season
Before the start of the 1960 Season, but after the 1960 NFL Draft, on March 19, the NFL had a expansion draft for the Dallas Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles lost, Dick Bielski a Tight End, Gerry Delucca a Offensive Tackle, and Bil Striegel a Linebacker.

Honors and Awards
Pro Bowl Selections – East Team
 * Norm Van Brocklin – QB
 * Billy Barnes – 	HB
 * Tommy McDonald – 	Flanker
 * Marion Campbell – 	DT
 * Tom Brookshier – 	CB

League Leaders
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Pass Attempts with 340
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Pass Completions with 191
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Passing Yards with 2617
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 3rd in Passing Yards per Attempt Avg with 7.70
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 3rd in Passing Touchdowns with 14
 * Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Pass Receptions with 47
 * Tommy McDonald finishes 3rd in Pass Receiving Yards with 846
 * Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Pass Receptions Touchdowns with 47
 * Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd (tied with 8) in Punt Return for a Touchdown with 1
 * Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Kickoff Returns with 24
 * Art Powell finishes 2nd in Kickoff Returns Avg. 27.1