The 2015 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 83rd in the National Football League (NFL), and their third and final year under head coach Chip Kelly. Acting as the de facto general manager, Kelly cut or traded several prominent starters, such as Nick Foles, Evan Mathis, Trent Cole, and 2013 rushing champion LeSean McCoy, while their leading receiver Jeremy Maclin left in free agency. Kelly brought in new players like Sam Bradford, Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso, and 2014 rushing champion DeMarco Murray, who he believed to better fit his system. The team also signed free agent quarterback Tim Tebow in what would be Tebow's last time playing in the NFL (excluding a brief preseason stint as a tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021).
In a mirror image of 2014, the Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention in a Week 16 Saturday Night Football loss to the Washington Redskins. On December 29, 2015, Kelly was abruptly fired by the Eagles. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur would take over as interim head coach for the final week of the 2015 season.
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player 2015 Team Notes S Nate Allen UFA Oakland Raiders 4 years/$23 million deal CB Bradley Fletcher UFA New England Patriots 1 year/$2.5 million deal OLB Brandon Graham UFA Philadelphia Eagles 4 years/$26 million deal WR Jeremy Maclin UFA Kansas City Chiefs 5 years/$55 million deal WR Jeff Maehl ERFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year/$660,000 deal ILB Casey Matthews UFA Minnesota Vikings 1 year/$825,000 deal RB Chris Polk RFA Houston Texans 1 year/$760,000 deal QB Mark Sanchez UFA Philadelphia Eagles 2 years/$9 million deal WR Brad Smith UFA Free agent DE Cedric Thornton RFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year/$2.52 million deal Player re-signed by the Eagles
Signings Position Player 2014 Team Date signed Notes and references ILB Brad Jones UFA Green Bay Packers March 2 Signed 2-year/$2.85 million deal CB Byron Maxwell UFA Seattle Seahawks March 10 Signed 6-year/$63 million deal CB Walter Thurmond III UFA New York Giants March 11 Signed 1 year/$3.25 million deal RB DeMarco Murray UFA Dallas Cowboys March 12 Signed 5-year/$42 million deal RB Ryan Mathews UFA San Diego Chargers March 12 Signed 3-year/$11.5 million deal WR Miles Austin UFA Cleveland Browns March 30 Signed 1 year/$2.5 million deal WR Seyi Ajirotutu UFA San Diego Chargers April 7 Signed 1-year deal CB E.J. Biggers UFA Washington Redskins April 7 Signed 1-year deal QB Tim Tebow UFA Free agent April 20 Signed 1-year deal OG Jared Wheeler UFA Free agent June 15 Signed 1-year deal OG John Moffitt UFA Free agent June 29 Signed 1-year deal
Trades On March 3, the Eagles agreed to trade running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso. On March 10, the Eagles traded quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford and draft compensation. On September 4, the Eagles traded quarterback Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.
Roster changes The Eagles released veterans James Casey, Todd Herremans, Trent Cole, Evan Mathis and Cary Williams prior to the official start of the new season.
Draft
Notes The Eagles acquired an additional fourth-round selection (No. 113 overall) as part of a trade that sent running back Bryce Brown to the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles traded quarterback Nick Foles and their original fourth-round selection (No. 119 overall) to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams' fifth-round selection (No. 145 overall). The trade also included a possible 2016 conditional selection the Eagles could receive, based on Bradford's playing time in 2015. If Bradford took less than 50 percent of the snaps, the Eagles would receive the Rams' fourth-round selection; it would upgrade to a third-rounder if Bradford did not play at all in 2015.
Undrafted free agents Position Player College Notes OG Cole Manhart Nebraska-Kearney Released on June 29 OG Brett Boyko UNLV Practice squad WR John Harris Texas Released on August 10 TE Andrew Gleichert Michigan State Released on September 4 C Mike Coccia New Hampshire Released on August 30 DE Travis Raciti San Jose State Practice squad OG Malcolm Bunche UCLA Practice squad RB Raheem Mostert Purdue Dolphins practice squad TE Eric Tomlinson UTEP Released on September 4 WR Rasheed Bailey Delaware Valley Released on September 4 LB Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo Duke Released on August 18 CB Denzel Rice Coastal Carolina Made 53-man roster WR Devante Davis UNLV Released on August 4 P Kip Smith Oklahoma State Released on September 4 TE Justin Tukes UCF Released on August 30 DE B.J. McBryde UConn Released on August 14 RB Kevin Monangai Villanova Practice squad WR Mike Johnson Delaware Released on August 30 WR Josh Reese UCF Released on August 30
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 16 Indianapolis Colts W 36–10 1–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 2 Baltimore Ravens W 40–17 2–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 at Green Bay Packers W 39–26 3–0 Lambeau Field Recap 4 at New York Jets L 18–24 3–1 MetLife Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 24–26 0–1 Georgia Dome Recap 2 September 20 Dallas Cowboys L 10–20 0–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 27 at New York Jets W 24–17 1–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Washington Redskins L 20–23 1–3 FedExField Recap 5 October 11 New Orleans Saints W 39–17 2–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 6 New York Giants W 27–7 3–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7 October 25 at Carolina Panthers L 16–27 3–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap 8Bye 9 November 8 at Dallas Cowboys W 33–27 4–4 AT&T Stadium Recap 10 November 15 Miami Dolphins L 19–20 4–5 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 11 November 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–45 4–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 12 November 26 at Detroit Lions L 14–45 4–7 Ford Field Recap 13 December 6 at New England Patriots W 35–28 5–7 Gillette Stadium Recap 14 December 13 Buffalo Bills W 23–20 6–7 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 15 December 20 Arizona Cardinals L 17–40 6–8 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 Washington Redskins L 24–38 6–9 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 January 3 at New York Giants W 35–30 7–9 MetLife Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
The Eagles opened their season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. Other than the one-handed Kiko Alonso interception in the end zone, Atlanta dominated in the first half, while former Legion of Boom cornerback Byron Maxwell had trouble covering Julio Jones. DeMarco Murray also struggled in the first half, as he had a 12-yard loss on one run. In the second half, the Eagles opened up with an interception on Matt Ryan by Walter Thurmond and scored on their next 3 possessions, and took the lead late in the 4th quarter. However, Matt Bryant kicked a field goal to give the Falcons back a 26–24 lead and the Eagles had a chance to come back. However, the Eagles were stopped on 3rd and 1, and Cody Parkey missed a 44-yard field goal attempt. Malcolm Jenkins then made a critical stop on 3rd down to force a Falcons punt. The Eagles' next drive ended as Sam Bradford threw a pass to Jordan Matthews, but the ball bounced off him and was intercepted by the Falcons, sealing a Falcons' victory. Reigning NFL rushing champ DeMarco Murray had 8 carries for 9 yards, which included an 8-yard touchdown run. Backup Darren Sproles picked up the slack by averaging 10 yards per carry and catching 7 passes for 76 yards.
The Eagles open their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles played poorly in a 20–10 loss to their divisional rival. The defense played a great game, but the offense was unable to convert it into points. Connor Barwin and Cedric Thornton each scored a sack, while Byron Maxwell forced a fumble that Malcolm Jenkins recovered. Rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks, who was filling in for injured stars Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso, not only sacked Cowboys starter Tony Romo, but he also injured Romo and forced a fumble that Fletcher Cox recovered. However backup Brandon Weeden went 7/7 and scored a passing touchdown to seal the game. All Bradford could muster was a meaningless touchdown to Jordan Matthews in the fourth quarter. Ex-Cowboy DeMarco Murray was given the ball 13 times but only came up with 2 yards, bringing his total for the season at merely 11 rushing yards on 21 carries.
The Eagles dropped to 0–2, the first time since 2007 that the Eagles lost their first two regular season games.
Week 3: at New York Jets
As the visit of Pope Francis generated excitement in the city of Philadelphia, the Eagles made the first of two visits to MetLife Stadium to square off with the Jets. The Eagles improved their all-time head-to-head record against the Jets to 10–0. DeMarco Murray was out with a hamstring injury, but Ryan Mathews carried the load, rushing 25 times for 108 yards. Darren Sproles also ran for 17 yards and one touchdown, but the highlight of his game was an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown. In the first half, all areas of the Eagles dominated the Jets 24–7. Right before the first half ended, Brandon Marshall fumbled the ball on an ill-conceived lateral attempt, which was recovered the Eagles and turned into a Darren Sproles 1-yard touchdown run. In the second half, the Eagles attempted to mostly maintain the lead and run the clock out, using a majority of run plays that the Jets were able to predict. Eric Rowe, Jordan Hicks, and Walter Thurmond all intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick in the game, who had done relatively well with turnovers until this game. The Jets would however score 10 unanswered points, but the Eagles would stop their comeback by recovering an onside kick and being able to get a first down off a last-minute Jets penalty.
The Eagles improved to 1–2 and were tied at 2nd place in the NFC East along with the Redskins and the Giants.
A day later, the Eagles announced that kicker Cody Parkey would undergo season-ending groin surgery.
Week 4: at Washington Redskins
In a heart-pounding NFC East battle, the Redskins scored a last-minute touchdown to end the Eagles' comeback hopes. The Eagles struggled in the first half as the offensive line struggled to protect Sam Bradford and the defense gave up big plays in the first half. And after DeMarco Murray's first run went for 30 yards, he only added 6 yards to it for the rest of the game. The defense would hold the Redskins from a TD on the first 2 drives. Kirk Cousins and the Redskins were able to get the ball moving in the first half. New Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis, who replaced an injured Cody Parkey, missed a short field goal at the end of the first half and an extra point at the beginning of the second half. The Eagles were able to get the chains moving in the third quarter. Touchdowns by veterans Riley Cooper and Brent Celek gave the Eagles a tie, but Washington took the lead back. At the end of the third quarter, Brandon Graham forced a fumble on Jordan Reed, which was recovered by rookie Jordan Hicks. The Eagles would score on the corresponding drive with a Miles Austin touchdown. However, the Eagles made costly mistakes on 3rd down and had to settle for a punt with 5 minutes left in the game. The Redskins then drove down the field and Pierre Garçon scored the game-winning touchdown. The Eagles attempted to tie or win the game with only 26 seconds left, but the Redskins defense held. The offensive line failed to protect Bradford again and gave up another 2 sacks.
With the loss, the Eagles dropped to 1–3 and last place in the NFC East. However, due to the Cowboys losing and dropping to 2–2, the Eagles were only one game out of 1st place.
Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints