MVP: The Rise And Fall And Rebirth Of Nick Foles Will Make You Believe In Miracles
No one expected Nick Foles to become the savior of Philadelphia in 2017. Originally drafted by the team in 2012, he bounced around the league for years, then nearly bounced out of the league before returning to the Eagles in 2016. What followed was one of the most epic and unexpected Super Bowl runs in NFL history. The ultimate underdog, Nick Foles' football life is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. This is the story of the rise, fall, and rebirth of Nick Foles; one of the least likely Super Bowl MVPs of all-time.
Big Shoes To Fill
Nick Foles played high school football at Westlake High School in Austin Texas. He followed in the footsteps of future hall of famer Drew Brees, who set nearly every school record before taking his talents to Purdue (and then New Orleans).
Foles started for two seasons, breaking almost all of Brees' Westlake records. He threw for 5,658 yards and 56 touchdowns. Despite this, he was not highly recruited by college football programs. Instead, it would be another sport colleges wanted Foles to play.
Two Way Sports Star
At Westlake, Foles was good at football, but he known for basketball. For three years he was the star of Westlake's team. When it came time for college recruiting, NCAA programs saw a hoops star in the making, not a future Super Bowl MVP.
Foles was heavily recruited by Baylor, Texas, and Georgetown, but turned them all down to pursue his NFL dreams. He committed to Arizona State, before changing his mind and enrolling at Michigan State, where he got a harsh taste of reality.
The Great Lakes Disappointment
Nick Foles career at Michigan State was not good. As a freshmen, he was kept on the sideline, only seeing action in one game. That game, against Alabama-Birmingham, he threw for 57 yards and completed five of eight pass attempts.
After the disappointing season was over, Foles transferred to the University of Arizona. He redshirted his freshmen year in the desert before being given the opportunity to compete with Matt Scott for the starting job. He was named the backup when coaches decided they wanted a more athletic quarterback running the show.
The Phoenix Rises In The Desert
Matt Scott started three games for the University of Arizona. A threat with his legs and not his arm, he struggled in the school's third game against Iowa State. Scott was quickly benched and Foles was told he would start the next week.
Starting his first college game against PAC-12 heavyweight Oregon State, Foles was magical, tossing three touchdown passes in a 37-32 victory. The win made him the unquestioned starter in the desert for the next three years.
Entering The NFL
There was no question about Foles' athletic ability when he entered the NFL Draft in 2012. The Eagles took him with the 88th overall pick, making him Michael's Vick's backup in the city of brotherly love. In week 11, Foles made his first NFL start.
Foles, taking over for an injured Michael Vick, played miserably. The pride of Westlake High School threw two interceptions, zero touchdowns, and completed less than half his passes. His NFL career looked over before it had even begun.
Foles Played Second Fiddle To Michael Vick
When the 2012 season ended, the Eagles changed head coaches, switching out Andy Reid for college guru Chip Kelly. Foles and Vick remained on the roster, fighting for the starting quarterback job. The "fight" was short lived when Kelly declared Vick the starter after a blistering preseason.
Vick couldn't stay healthy, paving the way for Foles. In his third start that season, Foles threw seven touchdowns, tying an NFL single game record. The rest of the season, Vick played backup to Nick. The rest of the season, Foles wouldn't be content setting single-game records.
27-2
When the final whistle blew on the 2013 NFL regular season, Nick Foles played in 13 games, threw for 2,800 yards, and had a NFL record 27 to 2 touchdown to interception ratio. He had finally arrived. The Eagles were in the playoffs and Foles was named a Pro Bowler.
His playoff debut came against the New Orleans Saints in Philadelphia. Foles threw for under 200 yards and the Eagles lost 26-24. His rise was historic, but the fall he was about to face nearly ended his NFL career.
Crashing Back Down
The 2014 season started ominously for Nick Foles. The Eagles played the Jaguars, and the hero of Philadelphia fell apart. He lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions. At halftime, the Jaguars had a 17-0 halftime lead. Halfway through the season, Foles broke his collarbone and was placed on injured reserve.
Foles' eight games in 2014 were unspectacular. He threw 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Eagles replaced him with Mark Sanchez, who didn't fare much better in Chip Kelly's high octane offense. During the offseason, Philadelphia traded Foles to the Rams.
The Jeff Fisher Effect
In St. Louis, Nick Foles became the new face of the franchise, and was immediately awarded a $24 million contract extension. Foles floundered in Jeff Fisher's "run, run, pass" offense. He put up career-worst numbers, throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
In week 12, he was benched for Case Keenum. Upset with Jeff Fisher and the Rams, Foles asked to be released at the end of the season. The team cut ties with him, and Foles fell into the darkest despair of his career.
Foles Considered Retirement
"I couldn't pick up a football for about eight months. I had no love for the game, and it was tough," Foles revealed in a YouVersion video in 2017. His time with the Rams was so debilitating he seriously contemplating exiting from the sport he has loved his entire life.
Foles turned to God and spent the offseason praying. After months away from the game, he decided he would give the NFL one last chance under one condition. Would teams be willing to listen?
A Reunion With Reid
Nick Foles fielded calls from several teams about his services for the 2016 season. He was 28-years-old and in high demand. He didn't want to play for just any team, though. He waited until the Kansas City Chiefs called and signed a one year contract to be reunited with Andy Reid.
The decision to rejoin Reid was important to Foles, "I knew that if I played for him, I'd give it one more shot — that he could find the joy. If I had joy in there, he could bring it back out, and he sure did."
Life As A Backup
Foles, who forced his way out of Los Angeles (then St. Louis) because he didn't want to be a backup, accepted his fate. For the next year he would watch Alex Smith and hopefully re-learn to love the game of football.
Smith got hurt twice that year, and Foles made the most of the opportunity. Making appearances in three games (starting two), he completed 65 percent of his passes and threw three touchdowns with zero interceptions. With his love for the game restored, Foles happily became a free agent after the season ended.
Coming Full Circle
When Nick Foles signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before the start of the 2017 season, he had no plans to resurrect the franchise. That was up to Carson Wentz, the teams first round pick the year prior.
In 13 games, Wentz threw 31 touchdowns and looked unstoppable. Then disaster struck; at the end of that unlucky 13th game, Wentz tore his ACL diving into the endzone to score a touchdown. Suddenly, the hopes and dreams of Philly were on the shoulders of Nick Foles.
Nothing Spectacular
The Eagles had already clinched a playoff spot when Nick Foles took over for Carson Wentz in week 15. There was no pressure for him to save the regular season. He played unspectacular football, averaging 76 yards per game and completing 56 percent of his passes.
Once again, the stage had been set for disappointment. Philadelphia fans began mourning the loss of their season. How could they possibly win a playoff game with a quarterback who couldn't even throw for 100 yards a game?
Rebirth
Nick Foles looked around the field in the NFC divisional game against the Falcons. He stepped under center and took a breath. His career was on the line. He finished the game completing 23 of 30 pass attempts. He threw for 246 yards and beat Atlanta 15-10.
It was the Eagles first playoff win in nine seasons, but it wouldn't be their last. The next week Foles faced the NFL's best defense. He torched them, throwing three touchdowns and completing 26 of 33 pass attempts for 352 yards. The Eagles won 38-7, setting Foles up to start the biggest game of his NFL career.
Nick Foles Versus Tom Brady
Nick Foles faced a nearly impossible task in the Super Bowl. Not only was he a backup quarterback starting a Super Bowl, he was starting a Super Bowl against Tom Brady. The year before, Brady had engineered the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, beating the Falcons after falling behind 28-3 at halftime.
In seven Super Bowl appearances, Brady had only lost twice. Both of those losses came against Eli Manning. To have any chance against Brady, Foles would have to push his game to the next level. Remember his seven touchdown performance? He needed to be even better on Super Sunday.
In Familiar Company
For the first time in 16 seasons, a backup quarterback was starting the Super Bowl. Ironically, Nick Foles was playing against that backup. Tom Brady took over for Drew Bledsoe in 2001 after the Patriots starter got hurt in week two.
Brady took control of the team, leading them to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. He would go on to win four more before going up against Nick Foles and the Eagles in Super Bowl 52.
Brady Makes History In Super Bowl 52
Tom Brady did everything he needed to and more to win Super Bowl 52. He threw for an NFL playoff record 505 yards. The Patriots steamrolled the Eagles formidable defense, gashing them for 33 points. Looking at the numbers, Brady should have had his sixth Super Bowl ring.
Brady should have been named the Super Bowl MVP, too. Unfortunately, players who play for the losing team don't usually win the award. It's happened once in NFL history, and Nick Foles made sure it didn't happen again.
Nick Foles - MVP
No one thought Nick Foles would lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl, and everyone counted him out when he did. He silenced the critics after throwing three touchdown passes and completing 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards. He also caught a touchdown.
The Eagles beat the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl 52, and Nick Foles was named the MVP of the game. In doing so, he became the 10th quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl and became a folk hero in Philadelphia.
The Philly Special
Nick Foles is one of three quarterbacks to catch a pass in the Superbowl. He's also the only quarterback in NFL history to catch and throw a touchdown pass. The play, which has come to define Super Bowl 52, was the "Philly Special."
On fourth and goal just before halftime, Nick Foles put himself in motion and caught a perfect pass from tight end Trey Burton. Before the ball was snapped, broadcaster Chris Collinsworth said, "This is an unbelievable call... This is like going for an onside kick. This could decide the game."
