Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie shares thoughts on Tommy McDonald
Jeffrey Lurie, the chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Eagles, took some time to share thoughts on one of the franchise’s greatest players ever, Tommy McDonald.
Jeffrey Lurie, as you know, is the chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Eagles. He doesn’t talk often, at least not publicly, but when he does, it’s always worth paying attention to. On August 23rd, he attended a play, “Tommy and Me”, that pays tribute to the life of Eagles legend Tommy McDonald.
He also took some time to share a few stories with everyone in attendance. Everybody wants to know what the boss has to say, right? If we haven’t learned anything about Lurie yet, it’s this. He doesn’t crave the spotlight, but he’s an Eagles historian. Big moments involving the franchise will always bring him out of that quiet shell of his. Anything involving Tommy McDonald definitely qualifies.
Even the youngest of Eagles fans will tell you they’ve heard a story or two about the first guy to make the number 25 iconic in Philly. Take a look.
“He was sort of the energizer that to me, represented how a football team should be today – all heart.” - Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie on #Eagles legend Tommy McDonald.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/jX0h8yPhop
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 26, 2019
Here’s a story about McDonald that you may be unfamiliar with. Once upon a time, after spending his first seven seasons of his career Philly, he was traded to, of all teams, the Dallas Cowboys in 1964 in exchange for Sam Baker, John Meyers, and Lynn Hoyem. Imagine had that happened today.
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Sure, the rivalry then wasn’t what it is today, but just imagine the angst that would come with an Eagles great joining ‘America’s Team’. Imagine if Tommy McDonald played in the current era. What type of response would that evoke?
The fans have booed Terrel Owens in a Cowboys jersey and DeSean Jackson when he made his first appearance at Lincoln Financial Field as a member of the Washington Redskins (and Jackson didn’t even want to leave Philly). They probably even found some sick feeling in seeing Randall Cunningham suit up for the Cowboys on a Monday night game once.
Even with all of that being said, if Tommy McDonald played in the current era and left the Eagles to join the Cowboys, it would be impossible for Philly fans to show any disdain towards him. He’s impossible not to like, even if you never met him.
He left us on September 24th of 2018, at the age of 84, but his legacy reads like this. He was a member of the Eagles’1960 NFL Championship team, the only playoff game Vince Lombardi lost as an NFL head coach. He’s a six-time Pro Bowl selection (1958–1962, 1965), a two-time First-team All-Pro (1959, 1960), and a two-time Second-team All-Pro (1961, 1962).
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He also led the NFL in receiving yards in 1961, and he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1958 and 1961. He’s a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Eagles 75th-anniversary team, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We often throw phrases around so much that they lose their meaning, like G.O.A.T., but ladies and gentlemen, Tommy McDonald sure qualifies. If you don’t believe us, ask Mr. Lurie.