Philadelphia owner history: full list and timeline

Gosh, we'd love to own an NFL franchise, especially the one in the City of Brotherly Love... for a day or two at least. That's probably all that we'd be able to muster before going crazy. Something tells us that catering to a fan base as loyal (and sometimes as zany) as the Philadelphia Eagles would probably make for a few more grey hairs and, possibly sleepless nights.

With that said, the arrangement probably wouldn't work, even if we were only pondering a few hours or days. Around these parts, we love relaxation and our beauty rest... But, it would still be fun, to command the ship for a day or two.

Since joining the NFL in 1933 as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets, Philly's professional football franchise has captured the hearts of millions of fans.

They have made a bit of money too.

Nine decades have seen a couple handfuls of owners. Let's take a walk down memory lane.

Every Eagles owner in franchise history

Eight people have held the mantle of Eagles owner. Here's a full list.

If you have been watching this team for a while, that list has probably evoked good and bad memories. Here are a few thoughts about everyone.

Bert Bell

In 1933, the Eagles were one of three franchises to join the NFL as expansion teams. The Pittsburgh Pirates (now the Steelers) and the now-defunct Cincinnati Reds were the other two.

Philly played its inaugural NFL season on October 15th of that year versus the New York Giants. They lost 56-0. We have come a long way, haven't we?

Bell is remembered for many reasons. It was his ingenuity (and frustration) that led to the first NFL Draft, and event that, as you know, has taken on a life of its own.

Alexis Thompson

Alexis Thompson was a former field hockey player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics for the US team. He's a graduate of Yale.

He unfortunately passed in 1954 at the young age of 43, but he enjoyed a full life. He owned not only the Eagles but was also part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and part owner of the 1943 Eagles-Steelers combined team, affectionately known as the Steagles. The latter was formed when the two franchises joined forces to field a single unit because both sides had lost players to military service during World War II.

James P. Clark

James P. Clark was an American political boss, sportsman, businessman, and leader of the Party in Philadelphia. In 1949, he led a group of 100 Philadelphia businessmen. The purchase of the Philadelphia Eagles from Alexis Thompson was performed for $250,000.

Wow... If we could transport back in time and know what we know now, right?

Jerry Wolman

Then-36-year-old Jerry Wolman bought the Philadelphia Eagles franchise for $5.5 million from the 'Happy Hundred' (Clark and company). That made him the NFL's youngest owner at the time. He also owned Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, the baseball ballpark of the Phillies through 1970.

He was also briefly one of the founding owners of the expansion Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, but he would hit hard times. Over two years, his $100-million financial empire would fall and eventually file for bankruptcy. That forced him to give up his interests in both teams.

Leonard Tose

Tose was a member of the aforementioned 'Happy Hundred'. A Bridgeport native, he invested $3,000 as one of the owners to help purchase the Eagles from Alexis Thompson in 1949. He attempted to buy the team with a group of his own investors in 1956 but failed. He was successful, however, in purchasing the Birds in 1969 for $16.15 million.

In his first act, he fired then-Eagles head coach Joe Kuharich and followed that decision by naming former franchise legend as general manager and Jerry Williams as head coach.

In 1976, he hired Dick Vermeil from UCLA. In 1982, the NFL strike pushed the Eagles further into financial difficulty. Tose attempted to move the franchise to Phoenix, Arizona and/or trade franchises with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, but that thankfully failed. Can you imagine had that worked out.

In 1985, Tose was forced to sell our Philadelphia Eagles to the next man on our list.

Norman Braman

Depending on who you ask, it won't be hard to find an older Eagles fan that could fill you in about the nightmares of Norman Braman's era. Buddy Ryan referred to him as 'the guy in France'. That didn't lead to a happy ending for our beloved former head coach.

Braman fired Buddy after Ryan reached the NFL postseason three times and never advanced past Philly's first game, but he is perhaps best remembered, in part, for his theories on free agency. He just wouldn't pay to keep players around.

As a result, when guys like Reggie White saw their number come up, they left as Braman wouldn't pay the price to keep them.

You know what? This hurts. Let's just move on.

Ed Leibowitz

Braman's purchase of the Eagles was assisted by his brother-in-law, Ed Leibowitz. They became co-owners of the Philadelphia Eagles in April 1985 after acquiring the franchise from Leonard Tose for a reported $65 million. Braman originally owned 65% of the team while Leibowitz owned 35%.

In July 1986, Braman bought out Leibowitz’s interest. In 1994, he sold the Birds for $185 million. At the time, it was a record price tag for a sports franchise. The purchaser was a guy that you may have heard of.

Jeffrey Lurie

Looking at that list has probably helped you appreciate Jeffrey Lurie more, hasn't it? The Eagles Chairman and CEO since 1994, Jeffrey is a motion picture producer who also appeared in Jerry Maguire as an actor. He's a three-time Academy Award winner.

Despite his many lists of accomplishments, his claim to being a Super Bowl champion (LII) will be what most Birds fans remember when Jeffrey crosses their minds.

The Birds have enjoyed great fortune during his era as owner. Things haven't always been perfect, but he and Howie Roseman make a great team. We're thankful both are here.

Read more about the Philadelphia Eagles storied history