The Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 77th season in the National Football League (NFL), and the eleventh under head coach Andy Reid. After advancing to their fifth NFC Championship game in eight years, the Eagles improved upon their 9–6–1 record and a second-place finish in the NFC East in their 2008 campaign.
The season also marked the end of the Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia as he was traded to the rival Washington Redskins in the 2010 off-season.
Players
Movement
Notable roster additions OT Stacy Andrews – Signed as a free agent from the Bengals. FB Leonard Weaver – Signed as a free agent from the Seahawks (ended up in 2010 Pro Bowl). OT Jason Peters – Traded from the Bills for 2009 1st round draft pick, 2009 4th round draft pick, and a conditional 2010 draft pick. CB Ellis Hobbs- Traded from the Patriots for two 2009 5th round draft picks (ended up in 2010 Pro Bowl). S Sean Jones – Signed as a free agent from the Browns. QB Michael Vick – Signed as a free agent after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Notable roster losses FS Brian Dawkins – Signed with Denver Broncos as a Free Agent. RB Correll Buckhalter – Signed with Denver Broncos as a Free Agent. OT Tra Thomas – Signed with Jacksonville Jaguars as a Free Agent. TE L.J. Smith – Signed with Baltimore Ravens as a Free Agent. SS Sean Considine – Signed with Jacksonville Jaguars as a Free Agent.
Free agents in 2009 RFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2009 team WR Hank Baskett RFA 2/26/09 Indianapolis Colts RB Correll Buckhalter UFA 2/27/09 Denver Broncos C Nick Cole RFA 2/26/09 Philadelphia Eagles SS Sean Considine UFA 2/27/09 Jacksonville Jaguars FS Brian Dawkins UFA 2/28/09 Denver Broncos CB Joselio Hanson UFA 2/20/09 Philadelphia Eagles OT Jon Runyan UFA TE L. J. Smith UFA 3/27/09 Baltimore Ravens OT Tra Thomas UFA 3/9/09 Jacksonville Jaguars
2009 NFL Draft selections
+ 2009 Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Round Choice 1 19 Jeremy Maclin WR 6 ft 0 in 199 lb Missouri 2 53 LeSean McCoy HB 5 ft 11 in 210 lb Pittsburgh 5 153 Cornelius Ingram TE 6 ft 4 in 245 lb Florida5 157 Victor Harris CB 5 ft 11 in 197 lb Virginia Tech 5 159 Fenuki Tupou OT 6 ft 6 in 322 lb Oregon 6 194 Brandon Gibson WR 6 ft 1 in 200 lb Washington State 7 213 Paul Fanaika G 6 ft 5 in 327 lb Arizona State 7 230 Moise Fokou LB 6 ft 2 in 225 lb Maryland
Carolina to Philadelphia. Carolina traded its first-round selection in 2009, as well as its second-round (No. 43: traded to Minnesota and used to select safety Tyrell Johnson) and fourth-round (No. 109: used to select offensive guard Mike McGlynn) selections in 2008 to Philadelphia for the first-round selection of Philadelphia in 2008 (No. 19: used to select offensive tackle Jeff Otah). Philadelphia to Buffalo. Philadelphia traded the 28th overall selection in 2009 (which originally was Carolina's 2009 first-round selection), its fourth-round selection in 2009, and a conditional sixth-round selection in 2010 in return for offensive tackle Jason Peters. Cleveland to Philadelphia. Cleveland traded its fifth-round selection in 2009 to Philadelphia for Philadelphia's sixth-round selection in 2008 (No. 191: used to select wide receiver Paul Hubbard). New York Jets to Philadelphia The New York Jets traded their fifth-round selection and a conditional selection in 2010 to Philadelphia in return for cornerback Lito Sheppard. Patriots to Philadelphia. Patriots traded its fifth-round selection in 2009 to Philadelphia for wide receiver Greg Lewis. Minnesota to Philadelphia. Minnesota traded its sixth-round selection to Philadelphia for quarterback Kelly Holcomb.
Staff Philadelphia Eagles 2009 staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Jeffrey Lurie President/coo – Joe Banner General manager – Tom Heckert Jr. Vice president of player personnel – Howie Roseman Director of college scouting – Ryan Grigson Director of pro personnel – Jon Sandusky Assistant director of pro personnel – Louis Riddick
Head coaches Head coach – Andy Reid Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator – Marty Mornhinweg
Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – James Urban Running backs – Ted Williams Wide receivers – David Culley Tight ends – Tom Melvin Offensive line – Juan Castillo Offensive quality control – Doug Pederson Statistical analysis coordinator – Mike Frazier Coaching assistant – Corey Matthaei Coaching intern – Matt Nagy Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Sean McDermott Defensive line – Rory Segrest Linebackers – Bill Shuey Defensive assistant/special assistant – Brian Stewart Defensive quality control – Mike Caldwell Training camp volunteer – Carnell Lake
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Ted Daisher Assistant special teams/offensive assistant – Jeff Nixon
Strength and conditioning Head athletic trainer – Rick Burkholder Head strength and conditioning – Mike Wolf Assistant strength and conditioning – Barry Rubin
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New England Patriots L 25–27 0–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 2 at Indianapolis Colts L 15–23 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 33–32 1–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 at New York Jets L 27–38 1–3 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at Carolina Panthers W 38–10 1–0 Bank of America Stadium Recap 2 September 20 New Orleans Saints L 22–48 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 27 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–14 2–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4Bye 5 October 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 33–14 3–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 6 October 18 at Oakland Raiders L 9–13 3–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 7 at Washington Redskins W 27–17 4–2 FedExField Recap 8 November 1 New York Giants W 40–17 5–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 9 November 8 Dallas Cowboys L 16–20 5–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 10 November 15 at San Diego Chargers L 23–31 5–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 11 November 22 at Chicago Bears W 24–20 6–4 Soldier Field Recap 12 November 29 Washington Redskins W 27–24 7–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 13 December 6 at Atlanta Falcons W 34–7 8–4 Georgia Dome Recap 14 December 13 at New York Giants W 45–38 9–4 Giants Stadium Recap 15 December 20 San Francisco 49ers W 27–13 10–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 December 27 Denver Broncos W 30–27 11–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 January 3 at Dallas Cowboys L 0–24 11–5 Cowboys Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
The Eagles began their season at Bank of America Stadium for a Week 1 duel with the Carolina Panthers. Philadelphia trailed early in the first quarter as Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams ran 11 yards for a Carolina touchdown on their first drive. The Eagles answered with a 49-yard field goal from kicker David Akers. In the second quarter, Philadelphia exploded with points as defensive end Victor Abiamiri returned a fumble 2 yards for a touchdown, wide receiver DeSean Jackson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, and quarterback Donovan McNabb completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek and a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Brian Westbrook. Carolina ended the period with kicker John Kasay booting a 22-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Eagles closed out their scoring with McNabb scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run. However, he was hit late by several Carolina tacklers who cracked his ribs on the right side, knocking him out of the game. Kevin Kolb came in for McNabb and closed out the game for the victorious Eagles.
With the win, Philadelphia began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
Coming off their road win over the Panthers, the Eagles played their Week 2 home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Due to the rib injury to quarterback Donovan McNabb, backup quarterback Kevin Kolb was named the starter.
In the first quarter, Philadelphia trailed as Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston. The Eagles would answer with Kolb completing a 71-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson, but New Orleans replied with kicker John Carney making a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Philadelphia would tie the game again as kicker David Akers got a 23-yard field goal. However, the Saints struck back as Brees hooked up with Colston again on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles would close out the half as Akers made a 32-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans began to pull away as Brees completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to fullback Heath Evans, along with running back Mike Bell getting a 7-yard touchdown. Philadelphia would answer with Kolb completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Avant. In the fourth quarter, the Saints continued to pull away as running back Reggie Bush got a 19-yard touchdown run. The Eagles would get a score as Brees fumbled the ball out of his own end zone, giving Philadelphia a safety. However, the Saints closed out their victory march as safety Darren Sharper returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown.
With the loss, Philadelphia fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Eagles entered their second home game of the season at 1–1 and facing an 0–2 Kansas City Chiefs team. Kevin Kolb once again started in place of the injured Donovan McNabb and starting running back Brian Westbrook, starting left guard Todd Herremans (who had been out the first two weeks as well), and number two wide receiver Kevin Curtis all missed the game as well. Nevertheless, the Eagles struck first as rookie RB LeSean McCoy, starting in place of Westbrook, scored on a five-yard touchdown scamper. Later in the first quarter, Kevin Kolb scored his first ever NFL rushing TD on a quarterback sneak to put Philadelphia up 14–0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Matt Cassel scored the Chiefs' first touchdown of the game on a nice pass to a leaping Mark Bradley over the head of CB Ellis Hobbs to cut the Eagles' lead to seven. However, Philadelphia bounced back as Kevin Kolb hooked up with DeSean Jackson for a 64-yard score. The Eagles tacked on an Akers field goal to go up 24–7 at the half.
The Philadelphia defense which had been great all day continued to do their jobs in the third quarter and the Kansas City began to step up their game as the only score of the third period was a 38-yard field goal kick by David Akers, putting the Eagles up 27–7.
In the fourth quarter, Kevin Kolb tossed another touchdown pass, this time to starting third-year TE Brent Celek. It was Philly's last score of the game and put them up 34–7. Matt Cassel began to rally the Chiefs and drove them down the field, scoring a touchdown on a nine-yard pass to Bobby Wade, making the score 34–14. However, the Chiefs were unable to get on the board again and 34–14 was the final score. Kolb is the first quarterback to throw at least 300 yards in his first 2 career starts.
With the win, the Eagles went into their bye week at 2–1.
Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Eagles returned from their Week 4 bye against an 0–4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, Philadelphia's second straight game against a winless team. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook returned from injury but Kevin Curtis once again was inactive and Jeremy Maclin made his third consecutive start.
On Donovan McNabb's first play back, he scrambled 13 yards, and on the very next play, he found wide receiver Jeremy Maclin deep in the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown.