1948 Philadelphia Eagles

The 1948 Philadelphia Eagles season, their 16th in the National Football League. The Eagles won their very first NFL Championship.

They went to their second consecutive NFL Championship game, this time defeating the Chicago Cardinals to win the NFL title.

Off Season
The Eagles travel to New York state to hold Training Camp at Saranac High School Field in Saranac Lake, New York in upper New York state near Lake Placid and in Adirondack Park.

NFL Draft
In the first round of the 1948 NFL Draft, That was held December 19, 1947 that was 5 days after the end of the regular season and 9 days before the 1947 NFL Championship Game, Eagles (21) @ Chicago Cardinals (28), was played. , New York The Eagles finished the 1947 NFL season with a 8–4 record. Tied with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers they would pick 7th, 8th or 9th normally in the 32 rounds that they had picks. The Washington Redskins had a lottery bonus pick at number one and chose Harry Gilmer Back out of the Alabama.

The Eagles selected Clyde Scott, a running back from Arkansas. The Eagles 243rd pick in the 26th round would not make the team but end up becoming a Hall of Fame player for the Detroit Lions.

Some of the draft picks made by NFL teams ended up playing for teams in the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC) which was around from 1946 to 1949. The 1948 NFL Draft

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.

Week 1
Sunday, September 14, 1948

Played at Comiskey Park in Chicago

Week 2
Sunday, October 3, 1948

Played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA

Week 3
Sunday, October 10, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

Week 4
Sunday, October 17, 1948

Played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC

Week 5
Sunday, October 24, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

Week 6
Sunday, October 31, 1948

Played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA

Week 7
Sunday, November 7, 1948

Played at Polo Grounds in the Queens Boro of New York City, NY

Week 8
Sunday, November 14, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

For third time in the 1948 season, and the second time playing at Shibe Park, the Eagles win a game by the score of 45–0.

Week 9
Sunday, November 21, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

Week 10
Sunday, November 28, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

Week 11
Sunday, December 5, 1948

Played at Fenway Park in Boston, MA

Week 12
Sunday, December 12, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA

NFL Championship Game
The NFL Championship game was played at Philadelphia's Shibe Park on December 19, 1948 during a blizzard. Thinking the game would not be played in the blizzard, Van Buren remained home until Eagles coach Earle "Greasy" Neale called him and told him the game was still on. He had to catch 3 trolleys and walk 12 blocks in order to make the game on time.

The attendance for the game was 36,309 and both teams played a scoreless game until early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles recovered a fumble that set up Steve Van Buren's five yard touchdown at 1:05 into the fourth quarter. The Cardinals disputed that the ball or Van Buren had crossed the snow covered goal line.

This game turned out be the Cardinals' last appearance in any NFL Championship game in the 20th Century. There is said to be a curse on the football Cardinals that followed them from Chicago to St. Louis and onto Arizona.

1948 Roster
All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history
 * + After name means 1st team selection

NFL Championship Game Recap
1948 NFL Championship Game

Sunday, December 19, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PA Weather: Snow, Blizzard conditions Attendance:36,309

Awards and Honors

 * Tommy Thompson leads league in Passing TDs – 25
 * Tommy Thompson leads league in Passer Rating- PHI 98.4
 * Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing Attempts – 201
 * Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing Yards – 945
 * Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing TDs – 10
 * Cliff Patton Leads League in Field Goals Made – 8
 * QB Tommy Thompson, LH Steve Van Buren, RG Bucko Kilroy, RT Al Wistert, RE Pete Pihos, and P Joe Muha are named to numerous All-Pro teams at seasons end

Pro Football Hall of Fame members
 * Alex Wojciechowicz – 1968
 * Steve Van Buren – 1965
 * Pete Pihos – 1970
 * Greasy Neale – 1969 as coach