Let’s get right down to it, that title is 100% clickbait and I don’t care. It’s too easy to say Saquon Barkley. You know it, I know it, he should be the League MVP but I’m sure that’ll go to someone who played in the illustrious Pro Bowl Flag Football circle jerk from this past weekend. So instead I want to give some flowers to Howie for getting the Birds back to the ‘chip, with a completely overhauled roster from just two short years ago. And I know what you’re thinking, “JJ Howie gets his flowers all the time, we call it HOWIE SEASON in March and April for Chrissakes!” Yes, very true, no argument from me, but in a league that is designed for parity, the sustained success of the Eagles can only be attributed to the guy who assembles the roster and, as we enter Super Bowl week, I want to look a little further into the moves that created a second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
The Revolving Door at the Coordinator has made the Task Harder than it Should Be
There seem to be only two options if you take a job as offensive or defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, you’ll either be hired as the head coach of another team, or you’ll be cast off into the sun. No in-between. Howie had the laborious task of replacing both coordinators after last season’s collapse and succeeded in the tone of a Vic Fangio defense being the best in the league and a new-look offense under Kellen Moore being DOMINANT on the ground. Howie eat al fixed the issues in one year and even though this will probably need to be readdressed in this upcoming offseason (looking at you Kellen), this is not one of the looming issues that seem to be keeping the fanbase awake at night.
The Jalen Reagor Pick was the Causation of Fundamental Draft Changes that have Worked Every Year Since
Now I might be a bit critical of QB1 here in Philly, but as a second-round pick, he has exceeded any and all possible expectations of a quarterback selected in that draft slot. The pick made by the Eagles before him in the first round? Our old friend Jalen Reagor. And yes we all know what could have been if another wideout was selected there instead, but ever since that pick you cannot argue with the results:
What’s that 9 starters and 3 rotational/2nd string guys out of 12? That’s how you flip a team from being one of the oldest rosters in the league in 2022 and now, as one of the youngest to land right back in the only NFL game in February.
Free Agency and Trades are Truly Howie’s Forte
When there is video proof of other GMs lamenting their fate as soon as they see his name on their cell on draft day, you know the guy has a knack for getting value. Howie’s arguably two biggest successes in the last few years fall into this category. AJ Brown was acquired for the 18th pick in 2022 and a 3rd-round Compensatory Pick. Granted the trade emerged as Tennessee and Brown were at an impasse in contract talks, the trade can only be viewed as ridiculously lopsided no matter what lens you view it through. And we all know the greatest free agent signing of Howie’s career if not all of Eagles history:
So as we all begin the anticipation and the nerves start to creep in as they want to do to us Phaithful, remember Howie is the reason we’re back here so soon.
Go Birds.
Do you agree the real MVP of the Eagles is Howie Roseman? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, BlueSky, or TikTok.