The 10 best safeties in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles

Might Sydney Brown, Reed Blankenship, or C.J. Gardner-Johnson make our list of the top ten Eagles safeties one day? We're pulling for them, but for now, here are the guys who did make the cut.

Very honorable mention: Ray Ellis

Tenure: 1981 - 85

Eagles fans don't always remember final scores, but they often remember knockout shots. Ray Ellis, despite being a 12th-round pick in 1981 (and the 331st player taken that year) will always be remembered for concussing Tony Dorsett in 1984.

Outside of that, Ellis was a good player. He racked up 12 interceptions during 73 career games with 36 starts, but as much as he was on our mind while crafting this one, we just couldn't argue him into the top ten.

Here's the list. Let the debate begin.

Also read: The top ten cornerbacks in Eagles history

10. Damon Moore

Tenures: 1999 - 2001

An unfortunate torn ACL during the 2001 NFC Championship Game helped end Damon Moore's career prematurely, but he appeared to be headed towards a phenomenal Eagles career.

During five Eagles postseason games (all starts), Moore notched three interceptions. That ties him with Eric Allen, Seth Joyner, and Roynell Young for the third-most in franchise history.

He's remembered for two picks during a 31-9 playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (one was a pick-six) and for stopping a Giants trick play/lateral that went for 76 yards. Moore tracked down the ball carrier Rod Dixon at the four-yard line.

Had Dixon scored, New York would have taken the 2001 NFC East title away from the Eagles.

9. Rodney McLeod

Tenure: 2015 - 21

Rodney McLeod made one of the most underrated (but important) plays in Super Bowl LII. He power-bombed a Patriots ball carrier Kevin Nash style and stopped a drive on a third-down reverse. That was huge because, in a game where stops were few, New England missed the field goal attempt that followed on fourth down.

McLeod is one of those strong but silent types and one of the beloved players from the Doug Pederson era as head coach.

He too was dependable and sturdy for the most part. His 2018 season ended with injury, but he started all 75 games he showed up to play, and he ended his run with 347 tackles, two sacks, 11 interceptions, 34 pass breakups, and four forced fumbles.

8. Michael Lewis

Tenure: 2002 - 06

Five years isn't a very long time, especially by NFL standards, so to make a list like this guys need to make a tremendous impact during a short time. Michael Lewis most certainly did that.

325 of his 394 career tackles during 76 games played in Philly were of the solo variety. He notched nine interceptions and six sacks. He also tallied 41 pass breakups and ten forced fumbles.

Heads needed to be on swivels whenever Lewis was in the area or they'd be lost. He earned a spot on the Pro Bowl roster in 2004.

7. Quintin Mikell

Tenure: 2003 - 10

Quintin Mikell made a Pro Bowl roster in 2009 and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2008 and 2010. He played in three NFC Championship Games and 123 regular-season games with 59 starts.

He notched 448 tackles, four sacks, 48 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, and ten interceptions. He isn't mentioned as often as he should be, but he's one of the best Eagles to ever play the safety position.

6. Andre Waters

Tenure: 1984 - 93

Andre Waters' career began with a bang in 1984. He returned a kickoff for a game-winning 89-yard TD as a rookie. When teamed with Buddy Ryan in 1986, his ferocious play earned him a special place in Buddy's heart and a starting role for the duration of Ryan's coaching tenure and the following season.

Being called 'Dirty' might be an insult in some towns. For Waters, it became a badge of honor and one of the reasons he earned a spot on the 75th Anniversary Team.

Also read: The top 10 QBs in Eagles history

5. Randy Logan

Tenure: 1973 - 83

Randy Logan is another of the true 'iron men'. He didn't miss a single Eagles game from 1973 through Week 2 of the 1982 NFL season, and he ended his career having started 154 of his 159 in-game appearances.

A Second-Team All-Pro in 1980, he helped lead Philly to the doorstep of a Super Bowl win. How might we view him and some of the other Eagles on that team had they not lost to the Raiders?

Either way, Logan is still a legend.

4. Wes Hopkins

Tenure: 1983 - 93

Wes Hopkins missed the 1987 season with a knee injury but had already notched impressive runs from 1983 to 1985. He also bounced back to play six more seasons from 1988 to 1993.

In total, he racked up 12 sacks from the safety position and 30 interceptions. He owned a First-team All-Pro nod and a spot on the Pro Bowl roster in 1985.

3. Malcolm Jenkins

Tenure: 2014 - 19

There was nothing Malcolm Jenkins couldn't do. He could play deep or in the box. He could play slot corner or on special teams. If you want to marvel at his leadership, find any clip you can of his mic'd up performance at Super Bowl LII. Frankly, we aren't certain the Birds would have won the game without him.

One of the true iron men, Jenkins didn't miss a game in six seasons in Philadelphia... 102 games (including six during the postseason). 102 starts.... 515 tackles... 5.5 sacks... He also added 12 forced fumbles, 11 interceptions, 58 pass breakups, four defensive TDs, and three Pro Bowl nods in an Eagles jersey.

2. Bill Bradley

Tenure: 1969 -74

Bill Bradley became the first player on NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in consecutive seasons. He notched a mind-blowing 11 picks in 1971 before snagging nine more in 1972.

In total, he'd tally 34 interceptions in 110 games as an Eagle with 79 starts. His resume carries two First-Team All-Pro mentions (1971, 1972) and three trips to the Pro Bowl (1971–1973). He's also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame.

1. Brian Dawkins

Tenure: 1996 - 2008

Brian Dawkins isn't just one of the greatest Eagles of all time. He's one of the greatest players to ever play the safety position. He is the only player in NFL history to notch 36 forced fumbles, 37 interceptions, and 26 sacks during his career.

Seven of the Pro Football Hall of Famer's nine Pro Bowl nods came in an Eagles jersey. So did his four First-Team All-Pro nods (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006). He's a Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame member and part of their 75th Anniversary Team. His number 20 jersey is also retired.

He's one of the most beloved Eagles ever for a reason. There will NEVER be another Weapon X.