1959 Philadelphia Eagles season


The Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League. They improved on their previous output of 2–9–1, winning seven games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season.

Off-season

The Eagles held training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

NFL Draft

The 1959 NFL Draft was held on December 2, 1958 and January 21, 1959. The draft was 30 rounds long, and had 12 teams making picks. A total of 360 players were selected in this year draft. There was no Lottery bonus pick this year as it had run the course as all 12 teams had been given the bonus pick.
As the Green Bay Packers had the worst record, a 1-10- 1, in the 1958 NFL season they had the first draft pick and selected Randy Duncan who played Quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes was the first pick. The Packers lone win was on Sunday, October 26, 1958 38–35 over the Eagles in Green Bay.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Cardinals both had a 2–9–1 record in the 1958 season, and that was the 2nd worst record in the league, rotated in picking 2nd or 3rd in each round. Both of these teams defeated during the season the eventful Eastern Division champion New York Giants during the regular season. The Eagle 1st round pick, 2nd in the draft, was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Norm Van Brocklin. The Eagles' first pick in the draft was in round 2 with the 15th pick.
In this year's NFL Season the Eagles and Packer would both improve to 7–5–0. Then in 1960 the Eagles and Packers would meet in the 1960 NFL Championship Game in Philadelphia.

Player selections

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with.
Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

Standings

Roster

'
  • + After name means 1st team selection
NO. PlayerAGE POS GP GSWTHTYRSCollege
Buck Shaw61COACH'''1958
record
7–5–0		Eagles
Lifetime
9–14–1		NFL
Lifetime
80–53–5		2Notre Dame Fighting Irish
50Darrel Aschbacher24G1102206–1RookieBoise State,Oregon
33Billy Ray Barnes24HB1202015–112Wake Forest
60Chuck Bednarik33LB-C1202336–310Pennsylvania Quakers
36Dick Bielski27E-FB1202246–14Maryland Terrapins
40Tom Brookshier28DB1201966–06Colorado Buffalos
78Marion Campbell30DE-DT-MG-G-T1102506–35Georgia Bulldogs
67Stan Campbell29G12122266–07Iowa State
21Jimmy Carr26DB-LB-HB1202066–14 Charleston
63Tom Catlin28LB-C1202136–16Oklahoma Sooners
45Paige Cothren24K702015–112Mississippi
74Jerry DeLucca23T-DT1202476–2RookieMiddle Tenn. State Blue Raiders
65Jerry Huth26G1002266–03Wake Forest Demon Deacons
27Gene Johnson24DB1201876–0RookieCincinnati Bearcats
9Sonny Jurgensen25QB1202025–112Duke Blue Devils
73Ed Khayat24DT-DE-T902406–32Tulane Green Wave
43Walt Kowalczyk24FB-DB1202086–01Michigan State Spartans
61Tom Louderback26LB-C-G1202356–21San Jose State
80Ken MacAfee30E-TE402126–25Alabama Crimson Tide
75Jim McCusker23T1202466–21Pittsburgh Panthers
25Tommy McDonald25FL-HB-SE-WR1201785–92Oklahoma Sooners
29John Nocera25LB1202206–1RookieIowa Hawkeyes
70Don Owens27DT-T1202556–52Southern Miss Golden Eagles
32Joe Pagliei25FB702206–0RookieClemson Tigers
26Clarence Peaks24FB1202186–12Michigan State Spartans
53Bob Pellegrini25LB-G1202336–23Maryland Terrapins
87Art Powell22SE-DB-WR1202116–3RookieSan Jose State Spartans
44Pete Retzlaff28E-HB-TE1002116–13South Dakota State Jackrabbits
72Jess Richardson29DT1202616–26Alabama Crimson Tide
22Lee Riley27DB1201926–14Univ. of Detroit-Mercy Titans
66Joe Robb22DE-LB1202386–3RookieTCU Horned Frogs
30Theron Sapp24FB-HB1202036–1RookieGeorgia Bulldogs
76J.D. Smith23T11112506–2RookieRice Owls
68Bill Striegel23G-T-LB1202356–2RookiePacific
11Norm Van Brocklin33QB12121906–110Oregon Ducks
83Bobby Walston31E-HB-K1201906–08Georgia Bulldogs
51Chuck Weber29LB-DE-G1202296–14West Chester Golden Rams
88Jerry Wilson23DE1202386–3RookieAuburn Tigers
37 Players
Team Average		26.112220.16–1.22.8

Postseason

Before the start of the 1960 Season, but after the 1960 NFL Draft, on March 19, the NFL had an expansion draft for the Dallas Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles lost, Dick Bielski a tight end, Gerry Delucca an offensive tackle, and Bil Striegel, a linebacker.

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl selections – East Team
  • *Norm Van Brocklin – QB
  • *Billy Barnes – HB
  • *Tommy McDonald – Flanker
  • *Marion Campbell – DT
  • *Tom Brookshier – CB
League leaders
  • *Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Pass Attempts with 340
  • *Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Pass Completions with 191
  • *Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd in Passing Yards with 2617
  • *Norm Van Brocklin finishes 3rd in Passing Yards per Attempt Avg with 7.70
  • *Norm Van Brocklin finishes 3rd in Passing Touchdowns with 14
  • *Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Pass Receptions with 47
  • *Tommy McDonald finishes 3rd in Pass Receiving Yards with 846
  • *Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Pass Receptions Touchdowns with 47
  • *Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Punt Return for a Touchdown with 1
  • *Tommy McDonald finishes 2nd in Kickoff Returns with 24
  • *Art Powell finishes 2nd in Kickoff Returns Avg. 27.1