The 2020 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 88th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fifth and final under head coach Doug Pederson. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from the previous season following a 23–17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. They were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2016 following a Week 16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and finished with a dismal 4–11–1 record, the second-worst in the National Football Conference (NFC), and their worst since 2012. After starting 3–4–1 heading into their bye week and leading the NFC East, the Eagles would lose 7 of their last 8 games. Injuries and poor quarterback play were factors in their struggles in the season. On January 11, 2021, the Eagles announced head coach Doug Pederson would not return after the season, as he was dismissed the same day. For the first time since 1998, the Eagles failed to score 30 or more points in a single game the entire season. Their .281 winning percentage was their worst since 2012. Overall, Carson Wentz, statistically, had one of the poorest seasons by a quarterback in franchise history, throwing for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and completed just 57.4% of his passes (251 for 437) to go with his 72.8 passer rating. He also got sacked 50 times for 326 yards.
On July 14, 2020, the city of Philadelphia placed a ban on large events for six months, meaning that the Eagles' home games would have no fans in attendance. However, starting in week 6, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced that the city would allow 7,500 fans to attend Eagles home games. This was reversed on November 16, 2020, as the city of Philadelphia implemented outdoor restrictions.
The season also marked the end of the Carson Wentz era in Philadelphia as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the 2021 off-season. As of the 2025 season, this is the most recent season in which the Eagles missed the playoffs, finished with a losing record, and finished in last place in the NFC East.
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player 2020 team Notes WR Nelson Agholor UFA Las Vegas Raiders 1-year deal RB Corey Clement UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal DE Vinny Curry UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal CB Ronald Darby UFA Washington Football Team 1-year deal LB Kamu Grugier-Hill UFA Miami Dolphins 1-year deal RB Jordan Howard UFA Miami Dolphins 2-year deal DT Timmy Jernigan UFA Jacksonville Jaguars 1-year deal QB Josh McCown UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal S Rodney McLeod UFA Philadelphia Eagles 2-year deal CB Jalen Mills UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal OT Jason Peters UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal DT Hassan Ridgeway UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal TE Richard Rodgers UFA Washington Football Team TBD QB Nate Sudfeld UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1-year deal OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai UFA Detroit Lions 5-year deal Player re-signed by the Eagles Player not re-signed by the Eagles
Signings Position Player 2019 team Date signed Notes DT Javon Hargrave UFA Pittsburgh Steelers March 18 3-year deal, $39 million LB Jatavis Brown UFA Los Angeles Chargers March 21 1-year deal, $1.047 million S Will Parks UFA Denver Broncos March 21 1-year deal, $1.6 million CB Nickell Robey-Coleman UFA Los Angeles Rams March 25 1-year deal, $1.3 million OT Casey Tucker UFA Detroit Lions April 28 Waiver claim
Departures Position Player 2020 team Date Reason RB Darren Sproles N/A December 21 Retired LB Nigel Bradham New Orleans Saints February 19 Released S Malcolm Jenkins New Orleans Saints March 17 Released WR Marken Michel Carolina Panthers April 30 Released WR River Cracraft San Francisco 49ers April 30 Released
Trades March 19: The Eagles traded a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the Detroit Lions for CB Darius Slay. April 25: The Eagles traded their sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, 190th overall, to the San Francisco 49ers for their sixth-round pick, 210th overall, and Marquise Goodwin
Draft
Notes The Eagles acquired one additional seventh-round selection, along with wide receiver DeSean Jackson, in a trade that sent their 2019 sixth-round selection to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the Eagles made trades with the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots involving both their own seventh-round selection and the one acquired from the Buccaneers. The Eagles acquired an additional fifth-round selection in a trade that sent one of their seventh-round selections and defensive end Michael Bennett to the Patriots. The Eagles acquired an additional sixth-round selection, along with linebacker Duke Riley, in a trade that sent one of their seventh-round selections and safety Johnathan Cyprien to the Falcons. The Eagles traded a sixth-round selection to the Chicago Bears in exchange for running back Jordan Howard. As the result of the negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Eagles experienced during the first wave of the 2019 free agency period, the team is projected to receive two compensatory selections for the 2020 draft. Free agent transactions that occurred after May 7, 2019, did not factor into the team's formula for determining compensatory selections. The Eagles traded a third-round and fifth-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft to the Detroit Lions for cornerback Darius Slay.
Undrafted free agents Player Position College Grayland Arnold CB Baylor Manasseh Bailey WR Morgan State Julian Good-Jones OG Iowa State Michael Jacquet CB Louisiana Luke Juriga C Western Michigan Adrian Killins RB UCF Dante Olson LB Montana Elijah Riley S ArmyPrince SmithCB New Hampshire Khalil Tate WR Arizona Noah Togiai TE Oregon State Michael Warren RB Cincinnati Raequan Williams DT Michigan State
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Eagles' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Week Date Opponent Venue Result 1 at Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium 3 New England Patriots Lincoln Financial Field 4 New York Jets Lincoln Financial Field
Regular season Schedule The Eagles' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at Washington Football Team L 17–27 0–1 FedExField Recap 2 September 20 Los Angeles Rams L 19–37 0–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 27 Cincinnati Bengals T 23–23 0–2–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 October 4 at San Francisco 49ers W 25–20 1–2–1 Levi's Stadium Recap 5 October 11 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 29–38 1–3–1 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 18 Baltimore Ravens L 28–30 1–4–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7 New York Giants W 22–21 2–4–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 8 November 1 Dallas Cowboys W 23–9 3–4–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 at New York Giants L 17–27 3–5–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 11 November 22 at Cleveland Browns L 17–22 3–6–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 Seattle Seahawks L 17–23 3–7–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 13 December 6 at Green Bay Packers L 16–30 3–8–1 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 13 New Orleans Saints W 24–21 4–8–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 15 December 20 at Arizona Cardinals L 26–33 4–9–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–37 4–10–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Washington Football Team L 14–20 4–11–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Washington Football Team
In a near-reversal of the previous season's opener, the Eagles scored the first 17 points, only for the Washington Football Team to then shut their offense out for the remainder of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Washington's offense scored 27 unanswered points, and the defense sacked Carson Wentz eight times, recorded two interceptions, and forced three fumbles.
With the loss, Philadelphia's six-game winning streak against Washington dating back to 2016 came to an end, and the Eagles lost the first game of the season for the first time since 2015.
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Eagles' struggles continued in their home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. An early fumble by Miles Sanders led to a Rams touchdown by Tyler Higbee. After the Eagles cut their deficit to four with a Jake Elliott field goal, Los Angeles responded with a Robert Woods touchdown run followed by a second Higbee touchdown catch. Trailing 21–3, the Eagles closed the deficit to five points by halftime with touchdown runs by Wentz and Sanders. After forcing a three-and-out on the Rams' first possession of the second half, the Eagles would drive to the Los Angeles 21, only for Wentz's first down pass to be picked off by Darious Williams, turning the momentum back in the Rams' favor as they would outscore the Eagles 16–3 the rest of the way. Despite not being sacked once during the game, Wentz finished the day with a 56.5 passer rating, completing 26 of 43 passes for 242 yards and two interceptions.
The 37–19 blowout loss dropped Philadelphia to 0–2 for the first time since 2015, and marked the Eagles' first home opener loss since that same season. It was also the first home loss to the Rams franchise since 2001.
Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Eagles welcomed the Cincinnati Bengals to Lincoln Financial Field seeking their first win over Cincinnati since 2000. After a scoreless first quarter, the two teams traded field goals in the second, before the Bengals took a 10–6 lead on a touchdown reception by Tee Higgins. Wentz responded on the ensuing drive, as he threw his 100th career touchdown pass to Greg Ward to put the Eagles in front 13–10 at halftime. After the Eagles added another Jake Elliott field goal, the Bengals reclaimed a one-point lead with Higgins' second touchdown of the afternoon. Cincinnati would pad its lead to seven points with two fourth-quarter field goals. Trailing 23–16 with just over 3 minutes left in regulation, Philadelphia drove down the field to score the game-tying touchdown on a 7-yard run for Wentz. In overtime, both defenses held strong, with neither team being able to get into field goal range until the final drive, when the Eagles got to the Bengals' 41. However, a costly false start on Matt Pryor brought Philadelphia out of field goal range. The Eagles punted the ball, and the game ended on the following play with the Bengals at their own 20. Despite his milestone, Wentz's struggles continued as he also threw two interceptions for the third straight game and finished the game with a 62.8 passer rating. Philadelphia improved to 0–2–1 with the tie, but failed to snap their winless streak against Cincinnati and fell to 0–3–2 in their last five against the Bengals, including an 0–2–1 mark at Lincoln Financial Field. This marked the Eagles' first tie since 2008, which was also against the Bengals.
Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers
A depleted Eagles team stunned the 49ers on Sunday Night Football to win their first game of the season. Unknown wide receiver Travis Fulgham signed a 1-year contract before the game and caught a key go-ahead score in the 3rd quarter. Linebacker Alex Singleton also scored a touchdown on an interception which proved to be the decider.
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
After being the hero the previous week, Travis Fulgham had a breakout game with 10 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown, but was outperformed by Steelers rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool, who scored 4 total touchdowns, 3 receiving, from 7 catches and 110 yards. The loss dropped the Eagles to 1–3–1.
Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens