Flashback Friday: A Philadelphia Eagles fan looks back on Brent Celek’s career
Brent Celek may not be one of those names that NFL fans roll off of their tongues constantly, but he’s in the hearts of Eagles fans forever.
Who? That was the first word out of the mouths of Philadelphia Eagles fans when their favorite team took a chance on a six-foot-four tight end out of the University of Cincinnati. Brent Celek wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine. He wasn’t the owner of a name that had NFL scouts and coaches buzzing.
Philly took the 162nd-overall selection of the 2007 NFL Draft and added Celek to the Eagles organization. He wouldn’t leave the team or play for another until he announced on August 30th of 2018 that he would retire after what he called ‘A perfect ending’.
Yep, a perfect ending is the best way to describe it. During his 11-year career in Philly, he saw the lowest of lows. He saw the highest of highs, but all of those highs pale in comparison to the final game of his long NFL career, a 41-33 victory by his beloved Eagles in Super Bowl LII over, perhaps, the greatest dynasty in the history of sports, the New England Patriots.
NFL.com’s Michael Silver delivered the news shortly before most of our bedtimes on the east coast.
Take a look:
Some news: @BrentCelek has informed the @Eagles he is retiring and will release a farewell statement on the team's website Friday morning. The team's longest-tenured player was released after 11 seasons in March. Attracted interest from other teams but decided against playing.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 31, 2018
After leaving the Eagles, it was reported that he drew interest from a few other teams but stated “In the end, I just couldn’t fathom putting on another uniform. I had a perfect ending, and it was time.”
An Eagles fan issues a fond farewell.
Celek will probably never join his longtime teammate Brian Dawkins in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His entry into the Eagles Hall of Fame, however, is a no brainer.
He’s eighth all time in receiving yards with 4,998. That makes him second among tight ends (only Pete Retzlaff ranks higher).
There were many moments we’ll always remember. Just think about his catch and run against the hated New York Giants in the ‘Second Miracle at the Meadowlands’, where his touchdown reception started the comeback.
There was another catch and touchdown run, one where he made a defender miss, in 2008’s version of the NFC Championship Game. That one was part of a second-half comeback versus the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, ‘The Birds’ would lose that one, but his 19 catches during the 2008-09 playoffs were the third most in league history for a tight end.
Check out this highlight reel:
Video courtesy of The Disgruntled Eagles Fan’s YouTube page
He’s 11th in receiving touchdowns with 31. He’s fourth in receptions with 398. He’s fourth in games played (only Brian Dawkins, David Akers and the great Harold Carmichael have appeared in more). Lastly, and most importantly, he’s one of the most beloved Eagles of all time.
Why? It’s simple. It’s because he was an Eagle through and through. He’s earned his wings, but now, he can just kick back and put his feet up. Hats off to a great football player and a great person.