Philadelphia Eagles: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Simply put. He could not stay away from Philadelphia for all that long. Middle linebacker played for the Eagles for eight years over three stints. He initially came to the City of Brotherly Love in the 1998 NFL Daft as a third-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin. His best years happened to coincide with his first two stops with the Eagles.

Trotter’s first stint with Philadelphia lasted just four years, but he ascended to a star player by year three in the league. In 2000, Trotter made his first trip to the Pro Bowl and garnered first team All-Pro status. He would back up his breakout season with another stellar one in 2001. Trotter earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl and made the All-Pro second team. Then, he hit free agency in spring 2002.

Trotter signed a massive seven-year deal worth $36 million to play for the NFC East rival Washington Redskins. His productivity waned in the nation’s capital, as he was released by the Redskins only two years into his seven-year contract with Washington. Philadelphia would swoop in and scoop up their former All-Pro in 2004. Playing on a veteran’s minimum contract, Trotter would make his third trip to the Pro Bowl in 2004. He made his fourth and final Pro Bowl the following season in 2005.

After the 2006 NFL season, Trotter signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2007 campaign. He only played in three games for the Buccaneers. After spending a year out of football, Trotter would return to the Eagles on last time in 2009 before retiring at conclusion of that NFL campaign. In eight years with the Eagles, Trotter recorded 564 tackles, 128 assists, 25 pass deflections, 11.0 quarterback sacks, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.