We bid farewell to the coach who gave Philly its first Super Bowl. We watched the decline of the MVP that magnificent year, and saw him depart for Indianapolis. And now, a day after the quarterback who fell to that roster in 2017 as a member of the dynasty Patriots came to Philly and beat the new regime, the heartbreak continues.
After an offseason surrounded by trade rumors, three-time Pro Bowl tight end, Zach Ertz, has been traded. He will join the 5–0 Arizona Cardinals who will, at least this year, provide a better chance at playoffs for the veteran tight end. The Eagles will receive rookie cornerback Tay Gowan and a 2022 fifth-round pick in the deal.
This comes as no big surprise, but it is emotionally jarring nonetheless for both fans and players. At the postgame of the Eagles’ final game at the Linc, Ertz had shown just how emotional he was when pondering the idea of departing the city, stating how much he loved the city and its fans, and that he was thankful for the opportunity. To cap the emotions felt that night, Eagles fans saw a video clip of the tight end walking off the empty field with his best friend and soon-to-be traded player, Carson Wentz, along with Jason Kelce. It seemed like a scene from the end of an era.
To say Ertz was well-loved here would be an understatement. Ertz was right there, leading the birds to their first Lombardi trophy in 2017 and catching the game-winning reception, along with so many clutch third-down conversions. He dominated that season as both Wentz’s and Foles’ primary and most reliable target. His hands were sure, and somehow he could always find his way open for his quarterback to pick up a first down. This was so often the case that he ended up only 11 catches away from tying the hall-of-famer Harold Carmichael as the franchise’s all time reception leader. Now, unless he returns for some brief stint, he will have no chance to take that top slot.
It was bound to happen sooner or later as the tight end fell behind the up-and-coming Dallas Goedert on the depth chart, and the team seemed to be preparing to deal him rather than let him walk when his contract expired. Still, seeing such a well-loved stalwart for the last near-decade leave is heart wrenching for the bleeding green fans. But, like Ertz said in his final press conference, he “gave it all” every season, every week and every down, and he can bid farewell knowing that fact. Thank you for everything, Zach. Good luck in Arizona.