In the first portion of our series on the Eagles’ history of MVPs, we looked at Norm Van Brocklin capturing the only MVP award in franchise history in 1960, followed by a few honorable mention-type seasons in the MVP award voting. We ended with Ron Jawroski’s mention in the 1980 MVP race in Part 1, and the Philadephia Eagles have had several challengers over the years that have not managed to bring the AP Most Valuable Player award back to Philadelphia.
Saquon Barkley’s 1,499 yards lead the NFL following Week 13 and could put him in position to be in the end-of-season conversation to bring the award back to Philly for the first time in over sixty years.
Related: PSN – Can Saquon Barkley End 60+ Year MVP Drought? (Part 1)
Randall Cunningham Owns Two Second Place Finishes
Randall Cunningham contested for the AP Most Valuable Player award twice—in 1988 and 1990. The dynamic quarterback lost his first quest for MVP to Boomer Esiason by a handful of votes, 31 to 21. Cincinnati’s quarterback finished the season with a 28-14 TD-INT ratio, outclassing Cunningham’s 24 – 16 TD-INT mark.
Two years later, Cunningham’s defeat was even smaller as Joe Montana repeated as NFL MVP in 1990 behind a 26-18 vote. The 49ers dominated the NFC with a 14-1 record, while Montana completed 62% of his passing attempts, including 26 throws that added six points to the scoreboard. Cunningham’s 30 TD passes generated noise, but not enough to unseat the reigning, defending Most Valuable Player.
Seth Joyner’s Bid was Stopped by a pair of Buffalo Bills
In 1991, Philadelphia lost their star quarterback in the first game of the season against the Green Bay Packers as Cunningham tore his ACL, resulting in backups like Jim McMahon to guide a team with Super Bowl dreams to a 10-6 non-Playoff finish. Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner created enough buzz with his play to earn a solo vote in the 1991 MVP race. In 16 games, Joyner was a nightmare for opposing offenses with 110 tackles, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions, two touchdowns … and a partridge in a pear tree.
It was a stampede victory for the Buffalo Bills as Thurman Thomas (39 votes) defeated teammate Jim Kelly (18) with legendary halfback Barry Sanders close behind (16). Joyner finished fifth in the voting.
McNabb Almost Claimed MVP in 2000
Donovan McNabb’s first full season leading Andy Reid’s offense resulted in an 11-5 season and a first-time Pro Bowl appearance for the 24-year-old quarterback. It also almost included an MVP as well, if not for the performance of a running back from “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Marshall Faulk picked up 2,189 yards and 26 touchdowns in the 2000 NFL season to claim the AP’s award with 24 votes. McNabb finished second with 18 votes following a season with 3,365 passing yards, a 21-11 TD-INT ratio, and six touchdowns rushing the ball over the goal line.
Carson Wentz’s MVP Ends in Los Angeles in 2017
The Eagles received the kind of play they dreamed of from first-round selection Carson Wentz during the magical 2017 Super Bowl LII season. With a month left in Philly’s season, Wentz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams, putting a parade down Broad Street on hold….at least temporarily, anyway. Wentz was operating at an insane rate that season, with 33 touchdowns to seven interceptions. The small-school star featured a 78.6 QBR, or Quarterback Rating, when his season-ending injury occurred.
Philadelphia watched the award slip away to Tom Brady for his third AP NFL Most Valuable Player. Brady finished the season with 32 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and a 71.1 QBR, which were all short of Wentz’s numbers. However, the legendary quarterback finished the final four games of the season, which heavily impacted the voting process. The Eagles had the last laugh in Minnesota. Brandon Graham’s fourth-quarter strip sack of Brady led to Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl Championship with a 41-33 victory at Super Bowl LII to end the 2017 season.
Mahomes Steals MVP, Super Bowl from Eagles in 2022
Okay, fine…. Patrick Mahomes didn’t “steal anything, but it feels that way to Philadelphia fans after the dramatic 38-35 loss in Super Bowl LVII. Even a few years later, the sting of Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal with eight seconds remaining is nightmare fuel for Eagles fans who felt destined to watch Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni lift their first Lombardi title together. Mahomes was the runaway victor in the 2022 MVP race, with 41 first-place votes. Hurts and Josh Allen each received one first-place nomination.
Two seasons later, it’s the running back standing next to Hurts attempting to claim the Eagles’ first NFL Most Valuable Player award since 1960. According to FoxSports.com, Josh Allen leads the 2024-25 NFL MVP odds at -225, with Saquon Barkley at +350 after Week 14. Patrick Mahomes is listed as fifth currently, but you can never count out the Chiefs’ propensity for late-season magic that could shift the entire MVP race. Jalen Hurts is currently listed with the sixth-best odds for MVP at +6000.
Saquon Barkley Might Need 2,000 Rushing Yards for MVP Award
Only eight NFL running backs have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, with Derrick Henry being the last one in 2020. Barkley sits at 1,499 rushing yards with five games remaining in the 2024 NFL season.
Barkley can continue to stake his claim to the award with a favorable schedule that some of the worst teams against the run in the NFL according to yards allowed to opponents this season. Carolina (32nd), Washington (30th), Cowboys (29th), and Giants (28th) have all allowed over 1,750 rushing yards against their defenses this season. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers, the fourth-best defensive unit against the run, possess a threat to contain Barkley in the remaining regular season games of 2024.
The 27-year-old running back faces an upcoming schedule featuring teams employing a “Swiss-cheese style” run defense with minimal success in the leadup to the NFL’s postseason. If Kellen Moore and Nick Sirianni let Barkley run through those open holes and feast this holiday season, Philadelphia might be celebrating its first AP NFL Most Valuable Player award since 1960.
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images