The

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito i ...

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...

season was their 21st in the

league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

. The team improved on their previous output of 7–5, going 7–4–1. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Off Season

At the end of the 1952 season, 2-year player

Bud Grant Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (born May 20, 1927) is a former head coach and player of American football, Canadian football, and a former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Grant served as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings ...

is offered a pay raise in his contract. He chooses to play football in the CFL(

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

) instead. He would have a career worthy of being named to the CFL's Hall of Fame as a player. Later on he would make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles held training camp at

Hershey Park Stadium Hersheypark Stadium is a stadium located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of Hersheypark. It opened on May 18, 1939. It is used as a sporting facility, concert venue and location for various other large functions (including a birthday gal ...

in Hershey, PA for the 3rd strait year. Matt Guokas, Sr. is hired to be the PA announcer for the Eagles. Guokas played basketball for

Saint Joseph's Hawks The Saint Joseph's Hawks are the athletic teams that represent Saint Joseph's University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hawks compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference a ...

in college and the

Philadelphia Warriors The history of the Golden State Warriors began in Philadelphia in 1946. In 1962, the franchise was relocated to San Francisco, California and became known as the San Francisco Warriors until 1971, when its name was changed to the current Golden St ...

in the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

. After losing his right leg in an automobile accident, Guokas turned to broadcasting, and he served as an announcer for the N Philadelphia Eagles for 32 years from 1953 to 1985.

NFL Draft

The

1953 NFL Draft The 1953 National Football League Draft was held on January 22, 1953, at Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Selections made by the folded Dallas Texans were assigned to the new Baltimore Colts. This was the seventh year that the first ove ...

was held on January 22, 1953. There was 30 rounds in the draft with 12 teams picking. The

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

received this year's Lottery bonus pick. With this pick they chose Harry Babcock an

End End, END, Ending, or variation, may refer to: End *In mathematics: ** End (category theory) ** End (topology) **End (graph theory) ** End (group theory) (a subcase of the previous) **End (endomorphism) *In sports and games **End (gridiron footbal ...

out of

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

. The 1952 expansion team

Dallas Texans (NFL) The Dallas Texans played in the National Football League (NFL) for one season, 1952, with a record of 1–11. The Texans are considered one of the worst teams in NFL history, both on and off the field, and while based in Dallas, they were later ...

folded during the 1952 season and then became the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...

on January 23, 1953. The Colts had the number 1 pick and choose

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

winner

Billy Vessels Billy Dale Vessels (March 22, 1931 – November 17, 2001) was a gridiron football player. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and won the Heisman Trophy in 1952. Vessels went on to play professional football with the Nati ...

a Halfback out of

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

. With a 7–5 record in 1952 the Eagles got the 7th, 8th or 9th pick in the 30 rounds. With trading away their 1st round pick the Eagles 1st selection was the 7th pick in the 2nd round, 20th overall, they chose

Al Conway Alfred Joseph Conway (March 16, 1930 – August 3, 2012) was an American football official for 28 seasons. He worked in the American Football League (AFL) in its last year, 1969, and in the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 to 1996. Over ...

a Back out of

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

and

William Jewell College William Jewell College is a private liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and endowed with $10,000 by William Jewell. It was associated with the Missouri Baptist Conventi ...

. He did not play due to injury and ended up as an official in the

American Football League The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. ...

and an official in the NFL for 28 years.

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.

Schedule

Game recaps

Week 1 @ San Francisco

Week 2 vs Washington

The Eagles inability to hold onto the ball allows the Washington Redskins to tie them at 21 – 21. The Eagles allowed 4 interceptions and would lose 1 fumble as they allowed Washington to gain 182 yards on 9 completions. The Eagles also hurt their cause by having 10 penalties for 99 yards called against them.

Week 3 @ Cleveland Browns

Week 4 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 5 @ Chicago Cardinals

Week 6 @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 7 vs New York Giants

Week 8 vs Baltimore Colts

Week 9 vs Chicago Cardinals

Week 10 @ New York Giants

Week 11 @ Washington Redskins

Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns

The Eagles give the Cleveland Browns their only loss of the regular season in the final week of the season. Cleveland would have 3 turn overs during the game.

Standings

Playoffs

With a record of 7–4–1 the Eagles finish behind Cleveland and fail to make the playoffs. The Detroit Lions won the National Division and played the Cleveland Browns in the

1953 NFL Championship Game The 1953 NFL Championship Game was the 21st annual championship game, held on December 27 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The defending NFL champion Detroit Lions (10–2) of the Western Conference were led by quarterback Bobby Layne and running ...

Roster

''(All time

List of Philadelphia Eagles players This is a complete list of American football players who have played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). It includes players that have played at least one game in the NFL regular season. The Philadelphia Eagles franch ...

in franchise history)'' * + = Pro Bowl starter , , 22, , HB, , 12, , 0, , 187, , 6–0, , Rookie, , - Align=left, California Golden Bears football, California , - Align=center bgcolor=#FFCC00 , 76, , - Align=left,

Bucko Kilroy Francis Joseph "Bucko" Kilroy (May 30, 1921 – July 10, 2007) was an American football player and executive. Kilroy was born in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, where he attended St. Anne's grade school before attending Northeast Ca ...

, , 32, , G-MG-T-DT, , 12, , 0, , 243, , 6–2, , 10, , - Align=left, Temple , - Align=center , 25, , - Align=left, Toy Ledbetter, , 26, , HB, , 10, , 0, , 198, , 5–10, , 3, , - Align=left,

Oklahoma State Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

, - Align=center , 67, , - Align=left, John Magee, , 30, , G, , 12, , 0, , 220, , 5–10, , 5, , - Align=left, _{La-Lafayette and
''Rice

Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima

''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...
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John Michels John Spiegel Michels (born March 19, 1973 in La Jolla, California) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. High school career Michels attended La Jolla High School, where he was a three time letterman in ...

, , 22 , , G , , 11 , , 0 , , 200 , , 5–11 , , Rookie , , - Align=left, Tennessee , - Align=center , 72, , - Align=left, George Mrkonic, , 24, , T-DT, , 10, , 0, , 225, , 6–2, , Rookie, , - Align=left,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

, - Align=center , 68, , - Align=left,

Maury Nipp Maurice Herman Nipp (born March 21, 1930) is a former American football guard who played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the ninth round of the 1952 NF ...

, , 23, , G, , 12, , 0, , 219, , 6–0, , 1 , , - Align=left, Loyola Marymount , - Align=center , 43, , - Align=left, Jim Parmer, , 27, , FB-HB, , 12, , 0, , 193, , 6–0, , 5, , - Align=left, Oklahoma State , - Align=center bgcolor=#FFCC00 , 35, , bgcolor=#CCFFCC Align=left,

Pete Pihos Peter Louis Pihos (; October 22, 1923August 16, 2011) was an American football player and coach. Pihos played college football, principally as an end and fullback, for Indiana University from 1942 to 1943 and 1945 to 1946. He was selected as a ...

+ , , 30, , E-DE, , 12, , 0, , 210 , , 6–1, , 6, , - align=left, Indiana , - Align=center , 21 , , - Align=left, Al Pollard, , 25, , HB-FB, , 12, , 0, , 196, , 6–0, , 2, , - Align=left, _{Army

An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
''and''
Loyola Marymount} , - Align=center , 65 , , - Align=left, Jess Richardson, , 23 , , DT , , 12 , , 0 , , 261 , , 6–2 , , Rookie , , - Align=left, Alabama , - Align=center , 52 , , - Align=left,

Wayne Robinson Wayne Lavern Robinson (January 14, 1930 – December 20, 2015) was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1952 through 1956. He played college football at the University of ...

, , 23 , , LB-C , , 11 , , 0 , , 225 , , 6–2 , , 1 , , - Align=left, Minnesota , - Align=center , 85 , , - Align=left,

Bob Schnelker Robert Bernard Schnelker (October 17, 1928 – December 12, 2016) was an American football tight end who played for nine seasons in the National Football League, mainly with the New York Giants. Schnelker played college football at Bowling Gree ...

, , 25 , , E , , 8 , , 0 , , 214 , , 6–3 , , Rookie , , - Align=left, Bowling Green , - Align=center , 82 , , - Align=left, Tom Scott, , 23 , , DE-LB , , 12 , , 0 , , 218 , , 6–2 , , Rookie , , - Align=left, Virginia , - Align=center , 79 , , - Align=left,

Vic Sears Victor Wilson Sears (March 14, 1918 – September 22, 2006) was an American football guard and tackle who played in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Oregon State University where he was a ...

, , 35 , , T-DT , , 12 , , 0 , , 223 , , 6–3 , , 12 , , - Align=left, Oregon State , - Align=center bgcolor=#FFCC00 , 73 , , - Align=left, Lum Snyder, , 23 , , T , , 12 , , 0 , , 228 , , 6–5 , , 1 , , - Align=left, Georgia Tech , - Align=center , 44, , - Align=left, Bob Stringer, , 24, , LB-FB, , 12, , 0, , 197, , 6–1, , 1 , , - Align=left,

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

, - Align=center bgcolor=#FFCC00 , 11, , - Align=left,

Bobby Thomason Robert Lee "Bobby" Thomason (March 26, 1928 – November 5, 2013) was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected to three Pro Bo ...

, , 25, , QB, , 12, , 8, , 196, , 6–1, , 4, , - Align=left, VMI , - Align=center , 31 , , - Align=left,

Ebert Van Buren Harry Ebert Van Buren (December 6, 1924 – June 14, 2019) was an American football fullback and halfback who played in the National Football League (NFL), He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951 and played in the 1951 through 1953 sea ...

, , 29 , , DB-LB-FB-HB , , 12 , , 0 , , 210 , , 6–2 , , 2 , , - Align=left, LSU , - Align=center , 83, , - Align=left,

Bobby Walston Robert Harold Walston (October 17, 1928 – October 7, 1987) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver and placekicker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football ...

, , 25, , E-HB-K, , 12, , 0, , 190, , 6–0, , 2, , - Align=left,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, - Align=center , 86, , - Align=left,

Norm Willey Norman Earle "Norm" Willey (August 22, 1927 – August 18, 2011) was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles. He went to two Pro Bowls during his eight-year career and was credited ...

, , 26, , DE-G-E, , 12, , 0, , 224, , 6–2, , 3, , - Align=left,

Marshall Marshall may refer to: Places Australia * Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria Canada * Marshall, Saskatchewan * The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia Liberia * Marshall, Liberia Marshall Islands * Marshall Islands, an i ...

, - Align=center , 49, , - Align=left, Jerry Williams, , 30, , DB-HB, , 12, , 0, , 175, , 5–10, , 4, , - Align=left, _{Idaho ''and''
Washington State

Washington (), officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. Named for George Washington—the first U.S. president—the state was formed from the western part of the Washington ...} , - Align=center , 75, , - Align=left, Frank Wydo, , 29, , T-DT, , 12, , 12, , 225, , 6–4, , 6, , - Align=left,

Cornell Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

, - Align=center , 41, , - Align=left,

Frank Ziegler Francis Richard Ziegler (October 1, 1923 – March 6, 2011) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) who played five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American ...

, , 30, , HB-DB, , 12, , 0, , 175, , 5–11, , 4, , - Align=left, Georgia Tech , - align=center bgcolor="90EE90" , , , 35 Players
Team Average , , , , , , 12 , , , , , , , , , , * Jerry Williams will become head coach of Eagles for the 1969 season

Postseason

Philadelphia finished second in last 2 seasons to the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference ( ...

, with that Trimble is awarded a three-year contract after the team's second straight runnerup finish in 1953.

Awards and honors

Pro Bowl The Eagles placed 6 players on the 1953 Pro Bowl team. Chuck Bednarik is named MVP of the Pro Bowl. :Chuck Bednarik (Center – Linebacker) :Ken Farragut (Center – Linebacker) :Bucko Kilroy (Lineman) :Pete Pihos (End) :Lum Snyder (Tackle) :Bobby Thomason (Quarterback) League leaders 1953 League Leaders :Bobby Thomason finished 2nd in passing attempts and passing yards to

George Blanda George Frederick Blanda (September 17, 1927 – September 27, 2010) was an American football placekicker and quarterback who played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Blanda played 26 seasons ...

:Bobby Thomason finished 3rd in pass completions :Pete Pihos leads league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs :Chuck Bednarik ties for lead in interceptions returned for TD

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953 Philadelphia Eagles Season Philadelphia Eagles seasons