Rodney McLeod pens emotional farewell to Eagles fans, Philadelphia

In looking back on Rodney McLeod‘s six-year career in the City of Brotherly Love, you’ll miss the point entirely if you resign yourself to concentrating on what he did from a statistical standpoint. That doesn’t tell the entire story.

Make no mistake about it, he put up numbers: 80 starts in 80 career games played (that includes five playoff games), 370 total tackles, three sacks, 11 interceptions, 35 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. That isn’t why we love him though.

Rodney was an Eagle through and through. Sure, we won’t act as though we don’t pay attention to statistics, but to be one of the great Birds, one of those guys we can’t stop talking about years later, you don’t have to be a perennial all-pro, nor do you need to find your way onto the Pro Bowl roster on a year-in and year-out basis.

All you have to do is what Rodney did. Heck, he was never elected to the Pro Bowl either. Show up for work, give it your all, and be the professional you’re expected to be. That’s all any Eagles fan can ask for. The rest will take care of itself. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who measures up if you use this young man as the example.

Here are a few thoughts on Rodney McLeod as he pens his emotional farewell.

As many Eagles fans enjoyed another Sunday in April, Rodney McLeod shared his farewell to fans and the City of Brotherly Love on Instagram. Here’s what he had to say.

"On behalf of myself and my entire family, I would like to say Thank You to the City of Brotherly Love, its surrounding areas, and its loyal, die-hard Eagles fan base. You truly helped me become the player, leader, and man I am today. Unfortunately, after six great years, my time as an Eagle has come to an end."

Here’s more.

"But, my heart and love for Philadelphia continues and will always be present. I may no longer be playing football here, but Philadelphia will always be a personal home for me. My dedication towards this amazing community will live on through my foundation, Change Our Future. To every single person that I came in contact with here, I am forever grateful."

We disagree with one sentiment there. Though his time as an Eagle has come to an end, for now, something tells us he’ll be back on a one-day deal to retire here.

So again, it doesn’t matter where you’re drafted because, in the end, years from now most Philadelphia Eagles fans probably won’t remember when it happened unless they enlist the help of Google. Birds fans are loyal to the guys that gave it everything, and with all respect to Freddie Mitchell, Rodney will always be the ‘People’s Champion’ and a Super Bowl champion.

Rodney McLeod’s philanthropy with his Change Our Future Foundation led to his nomination as the Eagles’ 2020 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee. He’s earned an Ed Block Courage Award. He’s also earned a 2022 Alan Page Community Award. He’s truly a superhero, and those are the reasons that he’s one of the most beloved Eagles of the past decade.

Sure, in each of those aforementioned 80 games, Rodney fought from whistle to whistle, but his legacy will be that he twice ended his season with trips to the injured reserve, but each time, he reemerged one year later as a better version of the player we last saw. Nothing says Eagles football like that does, and no one will ever tell the story of the 2017 Eagles without bringing up this guy. He’s a legend in our book.