The Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles repeated as Eastern Division champions and returned to the NFL Championship game, this time defeating the Chicago Cardinals to win their first NFL title.
Off season The Eagles travel to New York State to hold training camp at Saranac Lake High School Field in Saranac Lake, New York, in northern New York State near Lake Placid and in the Adirondack Park. As of 2014 the building where the Eagles stayed is still a local landmark and is located on Lake Street in Saranac Lake and it is still called the Eagles Nest.
NFL draft The 1948 NFL draft was held on December 19, 1947, five days after the end of the regular season, and nine days before the championship game was played. The Eagles finished the 1947 season with an 8–4 record. Tied with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers they picked 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 University of Alabama. In the first round, the Eagles selected Clyde Scott, a running back from the University of Arkansas.
The Eagles' 26th round pick, Lou Creekmur, did not make the team but ended up becoming a Hall of Fame player for the Detroit Lions.
Many of the draft picks made by NFL teams ended up playing for teams in the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
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. = Pro Bowler Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.= Hall of Famer Rd Pick PlayerPosition School Rd Pick PlayerPosition School 1 8 Clyde Scott Back Arkansas 2 No PICK 3 22 Paul Campbell Quarterback Texas 4 No PICK 5 33Jack "Moose" MyersBackUCLA 642Howard DuncanCenterOhio State 7 54Buddy Tinsley Tackle Baylor 863Marty WendellGuard Notre Dame 9 72Scott Beasle End Nevada-Reno 10 84 Ray Richeson Guard Alabama1193Gil JohnsonQuarterback Southern Methodist 12102Bill WymanTackle Rice 13 114 Jim Walthall Back West Virginia 14123 Dick Kempthorn BackMichigan 15 132 Dick Rifenburg End Michigan 16 144 Don Stanton Tackle Oregon 17 153 Ralph Kohl Tackle Michigan 18162Aubrey FowlerBackArkansas 19174Rudy KrallBackNew Mexico 20183Ed ClaunchCenter LSU 21 192 Negley Norton Tackle Penn State 22 204 Lockwood Frizzell Center Virginia 23 213 Jack Swaner Back California 24 222 Art Littleton End Pennsylvania 25 234 Jim Parmer Back Oklahoma State 26 243 Lou Creekmur Tackle William & Mary 27 252 Bill Stanton End North Carolina State 28 264 Bennie Ellender Back Tulane 29 273 Rex Grossman Back Indiana 30 282 A. B. Kitchens Tackle Tulsa 31 292 Art Statuto Center Notre Dame 32 298 Tom Novak Center Nebraska
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 24 at Chicago Cardinals L 14–21 0–1 Comiskey Park 24,159 2 October 3 at Los Angeles Rams T 28–28 0–1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 24,597 3 October 10 New York Giants W 45–0 1–1–1 Shibe Park 22,804 4 October 17 at Washington Redskins W 45–0 2–1–1 Griffith Stadium 35,580 5 October 24 Chicago Bears W 12–7 3–1–1 Shibe Park 36,227 6 October 31 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 34–7 4–1–1 Forbes Field 32,859 7 November 7 at New York Giants W 35–14 5–1–1 Polo Grounds 24,983 8 November 14 Boston Yanks W 45–0 6–1–1 Shibe Park 22,958 9 November 21 Washington Redskins W 42–21 7–1–1 Shibe Park 36,254 10 November 28 Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–0 8–1–1 Shibe Park 22,001 11 December 5 at Boston Yanks L 14–37 8–2–1 Fenway Park 9,652 12 December 12 Detroit Lions W 45–21 9–2–1 Shibe Park 15,322 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game recaps Week 1 Sunday, September 14, 1948
Played at Comiskey Park in Chicago
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q FinalPhiladelphia Eagles (0–1) 0 7 7 0 14 Chicago Cardinals (1–0) 7 7 0 7 21 SCORING PLAYS PHIL CHI C TIME 1st Cardinals Charlie Trippi 8-yard rush (Pat Harder kick) 0 7 2nd Cardinals Mal Kutner 30-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick) 0 14 Eagles Bosh Pritchard 34-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 7 14 3rd Eagles Pete Pihos 42-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 14 4th Cardinals Mal Kutner 64-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Pat Harder kick) 14 21
Week 2 Sunday, October 3, 1948
Played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q FinalPhiladelphia Eagles (0–1–1) 7 14 7 0 28 Los Angeles Rams (1–0–1) 0 0 7 21 28 SCORING PLAYS PHIL LA TIME 1st Eagles Pete Pihos 40-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 7 0 2nd Eagles Pete Pihos 36-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 0 Eagles Neill Armstrong 13-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 21 0 3rd Eagles Bosh Pritchard 52-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 28 0 Rams Jack Zilly 27-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) 28 7 4th Rams Bill Smyth 3-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) 28 14 Rams Bob Hoffman 1-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) 28 21 Rams Jack Zilly 20-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) 28 28
Week 3 Sunday, October 10, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final New York Giants (1–2–0) 0 0 0 0 0 Philadelphia Eagles (1–1–1) 14 7 3 21 45 SCORING PLAYS NY G PHIL TIME 1st Eagles Steve Van Buren 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 7 Eagles Pete Pihos 28-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 14 2nd Eagles Eagles Ernie Steele 32-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 21 3rd Eagles Cliff Patton 27-yard field goal 0 24 4th Eagles Tommy Thompson 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 31 Eagles Ben Kish 66-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 38 Eagles Jim Parmer 7-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 45
Week 4 Sunday, October 17, 1948
Played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Philadelphia Eagles (1–1–1) 14 10 14 7 45 Washington Redskins (2–2–0) 0 0 0 0 0 SCORING PLAYS PHIL WASH TIME 1st Eagles Pete Pihos 19-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 7 0 Eagles Steve Van Buren 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 14 0 2nd Eagles Cliff Patton 23-yard field goal 17 0 Eagles Steve Van Buren 3-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 24 0 3rd Eagles Bosh Pritchard 32-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 31 0 Eagles Steve Van Buren 7-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 38 0 4th Eagles Ernie Steele 4-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 45 0
Week 5 Sunday, October 24, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Eagles recorded their first-ever win against the Bears, snapping a 10-game losing streak and an 11-game winless streak against them.
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Chicago Bears (4–1–0) 0 0 7 0 7 Philadelphia Eagles (3–1–1) 7 0 0 5 12 SCORING PLAYS CHI B PHIL TIME 1st Eagles Steve Van Buren 8-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 7 3rd Bears Ken Kavanaugh 42-yard pass from Johnny Lujack (Johnny Lujack kick) 7 7 4th Eagles Cliff Patton 38-yard field goal 7 10 Eagles Safety, Luckman tackled in end zone by Barnes 7 12
Week 6 Sunday, October 31, 1948
Played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Philadelphia Eagles (4–1–1) 3 14 0 17 34 Pittsburgh Steelers (2–4–0) 0 7 0 0 7 SCORING PLAYS PHIL PITT TIME 1st Eagles Cliff Patton 42-yard field goal 3 7 2nd Steelers Jerry Shipkey 1-yard rush (Joe Glamp kick) 3 7 Eagles Steve Van Buren 20-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 10 7 Eagles Jack Ferrante 7-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 17 7 4th Eagles Bosh Pritchard 55-yard punt return (Cliff Patton kick) 24 7 Eagles Cliff Patton 23-yard field goal 27 7 Eagles Bosh Pritchard 18-yard fumble return (Cliff Patton kick) 34 7
Week 7 Sunday, November 7, 1948
Played at Polo Grounds in New York, NY
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Philadelphia Eagles (5–1–1) 7 7 14 7 35 New York Giants (2–5–0) 0 0 7 7 14 SCORING PLAYS PHIL PITT TIME 1st Eagles Pete Pihos 26-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 7 0 2nd Eagles Pete Pihos 34-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 0 3rd Eagles Steve Van Buren 6-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 21 0 Giants Joe Scott 11-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Len Younce kick) 21 7 Eagles Bosh Pritchard 65-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 28 7 4th Eagles Steve Van Buren 3-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 35 7 Giants John Atwood 26-yard pass from Ray Coates (Len Younce kick) 35 14
Week 8 Sunday, November 14, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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. 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Boston Yanks (2–7–0) 0 0 0 0 0 Philadelphia Eagles (6–1–1) 3 14 7 21 45 SCORING PLAYS BOS PHIL TIME 2nd Eagles Russ Craft 70-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 7 Eagles Jack Ferrante 20-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 14 Eagles Pete Pihos 26-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 21 Eagles Cliff Patton 37-yard field goal 0 24 3rd Eagles Bosh Pritchard 2-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 31 4th Eagles Neill Armstrong 14-yard pass from Bill Mackrides (Cliff Patton kick) 0 38 Eagles Jim Parmer 5-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 45
Week 9 Sunday, November 21, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Washington Redskins (6–3–0) 0 14 0 7 21 Philadelphia Eagles (7–1–1) 14 7 14 7 42 SCORING PLAYS WASH PHIL TIME 1st Eagles Steve Van Buren 6-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 7 Eagles Neill Armstrong 25-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 14 2nd Eagles Jack Myers 29-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 21 Redskins Hal Crisler 30-yard pass from Sammy Baugh (Dick Poillon kick) 7 21 Redskins Hal Crisler 79-yard pass from Sammy Baugh (Dick Poillon kick) 14 21 3rd Eagles Russ Craft 24-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 28 Eagles Pete Pihos 19-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 35 4th Redskins Dick Poillon 93-yard fumble return (Dick Poillon kick) 21 35 Eagles Jack Ferrante 15-yard pass from Bill Mackrides (Cliff Patton kick) 21 42
Week 10 Sunday, November 28, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Pittsburgh Steelers (3–7–0) 0 0 0 0 0 Philadelphia Eagles (8–1–1) 7 10 0 0 17 SCORING PLAYS PITT PHIL TIME 1st Eagles Eagles Bosh Pritchard 5-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) 0 7 2nd Eagles Pete Pihos 13-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 0 14 Eagles Cliff Patton 31-yard field goal 0 17
Week 11 Sunday, December 5, 1948
Played at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Philadelphia Eagles (8–2–1) 7 7 0 0 14 Boston Yanks (3–9–0) 10 21 0 6 37 SCORING PLAYS PHIL BOS TIME 1st Eagles Jack Ferrante 14-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 7 0 Yanks Frank Muehlheuser 35-yard rush (Nick Scollard kick) 7 7 Yanks Nick Scollard 35-yard field goal 7 10 2nd Yanks Frank Seno 68-yard pass from Phil Slosburg (Nick Scollard kick) 7 17 Yanks Bill Chipley 38-yard interception return (Nick Scollard kick) 7 24 Eagles Joe Muha 20-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick) 14 24 Yanks Joe Golding 89-yard interception return (Nick Scollard kick) 14 31 4th Yanks Rudy Romboli 2-yard rush (kick failed) 14 37
Week 12 Sunday, December 12, 1948
Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Detroit Lions (2–10–0) 0 7 7 7 21 Philadelphia Eagles (9–2–1) 3 14 7 21 45