The Eagles’ terrible 2020 campaign contributed to their Super Bowl victory.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2020 season was undeniably one of the most tumultuous and underwhelming in recent memory for the franchise. Finishing with a 4-11-1 record, the Eagles fell far short of expectations. Yet, in an ironic twist, the struggles of this forgettable campaign can be seen as a crucial turning point that eventually contributed to the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory just a few seasons earlier in 2018. While at first glance, the disastrous 2020 season might seem like a blip on the radar, it set in motion key decisions, personnel changes, and strategic adjustments that ultimately shaped the Eagles’ future. To understand how the 2020 campaign contributed to the Super Bowl victory, one must delve deeper into the ramifications of that difficult year and how it led to growth both on and off the field.

The Eagles’ Pre-2020 Success

Before discussing the dismal 2020 season, it’s necessary to acknowledge the high point for the franchise in recent memory: the 2017 season, which culminated in their first-ever Super Bowl win in February 2018. The Eagles, under head coach Doug Pederson, had a magical year, driven by a strong team dynamic, excellent coaching, and the emergence of backup quarterback Nick Foles, who famously took over for the injured Carson Wentz. That season saw the Eagles defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, in one of the most thrilling and improbable victories in NFL history.

The 2017 Super Bowl victory marked the pinnacle of the Eagles’ success in the 21st century. However, in the years that followed, the franchise was unable to maintain that same level of excellence. The team made the playoffs again in 2019 but was eliminated in the divisional round by the Seattle Seahawks. As the 2020 season approached, there was a growing sense of discontent among fans and analysts alike. The Eagles were stuck in a kind of mediocrity, struggling to return to the Super Bowl level of play.

The Disastrous 2020 Campaign

The 2020 season was a complete disaster for the Eagles, and the front office, coaching staff, and players all felt the effects. From a 4-11-1 finish to a series of bad decisions, the year was filled with missteps. Carson Wentz, who had been a franchise quarterback for the Eagles, regressed significantly, ultimately leading to his benching midway through the season in favor of rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. Wentz’s struggles were compounded by a lack of chemistry with the team’s skill players, and an offensive line that was decimated by injuries. Head coach Doug Pederson, once hailed as a genius play-caller and Super Bowl-winning leader, found himself under fire as the team limped to the finish line.

On the defensive side, the Eagles were also inconsistent. Despite having a defensive-minded coach in Jim Schwartz, the team was unable to consistently stop opposing offenses, and the Eagles’ defensive line, which had been a strength in the past, seemed unable to dominate as it had in previous seasons. Injuries to key players like Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox also hindered their ability to pressure quarterbacks.

Perhaps one of the most widely discussed aspects of the 2020 season was the controversial decision to bench Wentz in favor of Hurts, which led to further dysfunction within the locker room. The decision was emblematic of a larger issue in the organization: the inability to find a cohesive identity. Wentz, once viewed as the future of the franchise, was now an afterthought. Hurts, a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, showed flashes of promise but lacked the consistency to propel the team out of its slump.

The Front Office Shake-Up

In the wake of the disastrous 2020 campaign, the Eagles made a series of major changes to their roster and front office. The most significant of these was the firing of head coach Doug Pederson after the season ended. Despite bringing the franchise its first-ever Super Bowl title, Pederson was deemed to have lost the locker room and was no longer seen as the right leader to guide the team forward. His relationship with Wentz had soured, and the team’s offense had stagnated under his leadership.

The firing of Pederson was not just a reaction to the poor 2020 season—it was a reflection of the broader issues within the Eagles organization. The front office, led by general manager Howie Roseman, recognized that the team needed a fresh direction. Roseman had made several questionable roster moves in recent years, including the decision to trade up for Wentz in the 2016 draft, which now appeared to be a misstep. However, the 2020 season provided an opportunity to hit the reset button and reframe the future of the franchise.

In January 2021, the Eagles hired Nick Sirianni as their new head coach. Sirianni had spent the previous seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts and was seen as a rising star in the coaching ranks. His appointment was a significant departure from the past, as the Eagles chose to go in a different direction from Pederson’s Super Bowl-winning staff.

While Sirianni was an untested commodity at the NFL head coach level, his hiring marked a philosophical shift in the franchise. It was clear that the Eagles were no longer content with simply trying to recreate the formula that had led to the 2017 Super Bowl win. They needed to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of the NFL.

The Jalen Hurts Era Begins

Another significant fallout from the 2020 season was the emergence of Jalen Hurts. Although the rookie quarterback did not immediately lead the team to success, his presence injected new energy into the Eagles’ locker room. Hurts, who had been drafted as a potential developmental player, proved that he had the leadership and talent to become the face of the franchise. Despite the team’s overall struggles, Hurts demonstrated enough promise to become the unquestioned starter moving forward.

The decision to move forward with Hurts was not an easy one, especially given the financial commitment the Eagles had made to Wentz just a few years earlier. However, the 2020 season made it clear that Wentz was no longer the solution. Hurts brought an entirely new dynamic to the quarterback position, one that allowed the Eagles to be more mobile and adaptable. His ability to extend plays with his legs, combined with his leadership and poise, made him the cornerstone of the Eagles’ future.

The Role of the 2020 Draft Class

The 2020 NFL Draft class also played a pivotal role in shaping the Eagles’ future. Despite the team’s disappointing record, the Eagles were able to secure valuable assets in the draft, including the 6th overall pick. This pick eventually led to the selection of wide receiver DeVonta Smith, one of the most exciting young talents in the league. Smith’s ability to make plays downfield and provide a true number-one target for Hurts was crucial in the Eagles’ rebuilding process.

The 2020 draft also saw the team add key defensive players like linebacker Davion Taylor and safety K’Von Wallace, who would contribute to the team’s defensive depth in the coming seasons. These young players provided the foundation for the Eagles to rebuild their roster, especially with the team entering a new era with Hurts at quarterback and Sirianni as the head coach.

Rebuilding and the Super Bowl Window

Although the Eagles were in the midst of a rebuilding phase following the disaster that was the 2020 season, the foundation for future success was being laid. The team began to adjust its roster with an eye toward the future, ensuring they could compete in the NFC East and the league as a whole.

In the years following the 2020 campaign, the Eagles made key moves to bolster their roster, including drafting players who would form the core of the next Super Bowl-caliber team. By making strategic moves in free agency and the draft, the Eagles began to reassemble the pieces needed to challenge for another championship.

As the 2022 season approached, the Eagles had successfully rebuilt their offense around Hurts, and their defense had returned to form under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The franchise had a renewed sense of purpose and focus. In fact, the 2022 season saw the Eagles return to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in a thrilling contest. While they did not win that Super Bowl, the experience of playing for a championship so soon after the 2020 collapse proved that the Eagles had learned from their mistakes.

In many ways, the Eagles’ disastrous 2020 season laid the groundwork for their eventual return to championship contention. The front-office shake-up, the rise of Jalen Hurts, and the drafting of key players all stemmed from the team’s failures in 2020. While it may have been a painful and frustrating year for fans and players alike, the Eagles’ ability to learn from their struggles helped them evolve into a more dynamic and competitive team. The 2020 season was a necessary catalyst that pushed the organization to make the changes needed to put them back on the path to success.

Ultimately, while the 2020 campaign was a disappointment, it was an essential part of the Eagles’ growth. Their Super Bowl victory, just a few years prior, was built upon the decisions made and lessons learned during those dark days. In the NFL, success and failure are often intertwined, and for the Eagles, the 2020 season was the crucible in which their future championship aspirations were forged.