NFL Legend Chose to Enter Hall of Fame as a Philadelphia Eagle Despite History With St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs: “I Live And Deeply Identify With The Community”
Follow Us
Legendary NFL head coach Dick Vermeil is credited with flipping the fortunes of three franchises throughout his legendary career. However, when it was time for his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Vermeil was asked to make his No.1 team choice. While it might have appeared a difficult choice, the HC only had one team and city on his mind.
While talking with NBC10 sports anchor John Clark about his Hall of Fame induction, Vermeil states, “I’m going in as an Eagle. They ask you to select which team you are going in as No.1. Yes, I coached the Chiefs, and yes, I coached the Rams, but Philadelphia is my home team. It’s where I live and deeply identify with the community.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Despite winning the 1999 Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams and winning the AFC West title with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ was his choice.
“I’m going in as an Eagle”
“Philadelphia is my home team. It’s where I live and deeply identify with the community”
-Dick Vermeil told me he had to choose a team when he goes into the Hall of Fame in August. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams, but his heart is in Philly 💚 pic.twitter.com/PnYok0jee4
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 20, 2022
The former Eagles head coach earned his stripes during his 6-year tenure in Philadelphia and ended their 9-year absence from the NFL playoffs in 1978. As a versatile communicator and motivator in a career that spanned nearly four decades, Vermeil took a then-bumbling Eagles franchise and led them to play in the Super Bowl in 1980.
Dick Vermeil set standards for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL
The highest individual award in the NFL is the result of Vermeil earning a reputation after entering the league following a 2-year head coaching stint with UCLA. Philadelphia was struggling before his arrival and didn’t manage an above .500 record between 1967 and 1976. While gaining a reputation for being a harsh taskmaster early on with an emphasis on hard work, Vermeil was working towards instilling accountability in the Eagles dressing room.
Forehead Jokes Go Too Far as Peyton Manning’s Hall of Fame Bust Undergoes Unfortunate Edit; Fans Have a Field Day on Twitter
A player’s coach till 1982, Vermeil took a sabbatical to work as a broadcaster for 15 years before returning in 1997 to the St. Louis Rams. It took him 3 seasons, but he made the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ Rams roster, a legitimate Super Bowl team.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
Where Is Russell Wilson’s Ex-partner Ashton Meem Now? Everything We Know About Broncos QB’s First Wife
November 20, 2023 04:39 AM EST
Antonio Brown Unveils “Caitlin Clark’s Hair Force One’s” in Another Insulting Attack, Hours After Being Blocked
April 19, 2024 05:57 PM EDT
Deiondra Sanders Rebels Against Father Coach Prime’s Pregnancy Restrictions on Her Birthday
April 17, 2024 09:37 PM EDT
Controversial Antonio Brown Launches Another Attack on Caitlin Clark With Vulgar Jab
April 18, 2024 01:45 PM EDT
“I Don’t Fear..”: Dak Prescott Breaks Silence on Dallas Cowboys Future
April 20, 2024 08:00 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
In 1999, the wait finally was over for Vermeil as his Rams team. They beat the Tennessee Titans to clinch his only Super Bowl title.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
While he retired again for a year before returning to the Chiefs, his heart always remained in Philadelphia. It seems to be the perfect end to his Hall of Fame career that NFL fans will get an opportunity to honor again in August.
Watch This Story: What Does Aaron Rodgers Rumored New Girlfriend Blu of Earth Do For a Living?
Written by:
Edited by:
Gurjyot Singh Dadial