Who are the 5 longest tenured coaches in Eagles history?

Long, long ago, in 1933, an NFL franchise was born. The first iteration of the Philadelphia Eagles needed a head coach to lead its team. They settled on a guy named Lud Wray. Sadly, his teams struggled, so he has never been viewed like many of his successors. Still, he's part of an amazing fraternity.

Fast forward to 2023, Nick Sirianni is enjoying his tenure as Philly's 24th head coach (that includes Fred Bruney and Pat Shurmur who both coached one game apiece). The question is how high might Nick fly?

During the first 90 years of the Eagles' story, the average tenure of the previous head coaches didn't exceed four full seasons. Their successes and failures have produced a mixed bag.

We have seen NFL Championship-winning seasons, Super Bowl appearances, one-hit wonders, and interim coaches. Through the ups and down, several HCs have prospered and become mainstays in our hearts. Here are the five longest-tenured head coaches in Eagles history.

1. Andy Reid (1999-2012)

Andy Reid coached an incredible 224 regular-season games in Philadelphia which is more than double the total of the man currently in second place. He orchestrated a 130-93-1 regular-season record. He won ten of 19 playoff games.

Big Red was Jeffrey Lurie's second head coaching hire and helped turn the Eagles into one of the better teams in the NFL. Despite multiple NFC Championship appearances and one Super Bowl appearance, he never brought the Vince Lombardi Trophy home.

He has since won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs including Super Bowl LVII over the Eagles.

2. Greasy Neale (1941-1950)

Alfred Earle 'Greasy' Neale was hired as the Eagles' third head coach in 1941. He led the Birds to a 63-43-5 win-loss total over their next 111 games. He engineered a 3-1 run during the postseason.

The franchise won two NFL Championships in 1948 and 1949 by way of shutout victories under his watch. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969 and left the organization as the first head coach to produce a winning record or a playoff appearance.

3. Dick Vermeil (1976-1982)

Following the NFL and AFL merger in 1966, the Eagles spent the majority of their time being one of the worst teams in the league. Then, they hired Dick Vermeil in 1976.

One of the most beloved leaders in franchise history, Vermeil, now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, crafted a 54-47 record during 101 games in Philadelphia. He led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance but was unable to close the deal versus the Oakland Raiders. His playoff record in Philly consisted of three wins and four losses.

4. Doug Pederson (2016-2020)

There's only one man that can lay claim to being the first head coach to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. That man is Doug Pederson. He led Philly from the sideline during 80 regular-season games (42-37-1). He was an impressive 4-2 during the postseason.

He'll always be a fan-favorite. He owns a special place in our hearts, and had it not been for a disastrous 2020 season, one that saw the demise of quarterback Carson Wentz, it's debatable that he may have hung around longer.

5. Buddy Ryan (1986-1990)

Buddy Ryan rode into the City of Brotherly Love following a Super Bowl win with the Chicago Bears, one where he led one of the fiercest defenses the game has ever seen as its coordinator. Unfortunately, his tenure didn't help Philly win a Super Bowl of its own.

Ryan led the Eagles to a 43-35-1 in 79 regular-season games. He failed to produce any wins in three playoff appearances. He's best remembered for fielding some of the scariest defenses in franchise history and for a brash personality that won some over and offended others.

That's an impressive group of men. MIght Nick Sirianni find his way onto this list one day? Stay tuned. He's off to a great start.

Continue taking a walk down Eagles memory lane with us!