Nick Foles shares Doug Pederson story during Philadelphia Eagles retirement press conference

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Nick Foles will at all times be part of Philadelphia Eagles historical past for profitable the franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl in 2018 towards the New England Patriots. 

The “Philly Particular” — the play the place Foles hauled in a receiving landing on a go from backup tight finish Trey Burton — is perpetually etched into Eagles lore. 

Nonetheless, Foles believes that play does not occur if not for a second with Doug Pederson main as much as the 2012 NFL Draft. 

Throughout his retirement press convention on Monday evening earlier than the Eagles sport towards the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Monetary Subject, Foles shared a narrative the place Pederson labored him out at his alma mater, Westlake Excessive Faculty. 

“I will always remember strolling into the car parking zone and I see Doug sitting in his automobile and I knock on his window, like, ‘Hey, I am Nick Foles, you are right here to work me out,'” Foles mentioned. 

On the time of the exercise, Pederson was the quarterbacks coach for the Eagles below former head coach Andy Reid. Pederson had Foles throwing within the wind on a chilly, wet day in Austin, Texas, with slightly little bit of sleet, in response to the now newly retired participant. 

At one level, Foles mentioned Pederson had him throw a “divide” route about 65 yards into the wind. Foles mentioned he did not know what the route was on the time, but it surely ended up changing into his favourite route when throwing the ball to former Birds speedster DeSean Jackson.

The primary time, Foles mentioned the throw bought caught within the wind and fell 10 yards in need of Pederson. 

“I bear in mind considering like, ‘Oh, I am completed. It is over,'” Foles mentioned. 

However Pederson provided him one other attempt to Foles made positive he did not miss. The throw landed proper into Pederson’s arms from about 65 yards. A few days later, Foles mentioned the group introduced him in for a exercise in Philly, which led to the Eagles drafting him within the third spherical of the 2012 NFL draft. 

“I’ve to imagine that second proper there with Doug, enjoying for Doug with him as my quarterbacks coach, me coming again as a quarterback in 2017 and 18 culminated in me going over to him within the Tremendous Bowl on fourth-and-one on timeout and asking, ‘You need Philly Philly?'” Foles mentioned. “To me, that end result of life, that end result of occasions all the best way again to Westlake Excessive Faculty led Doug to a pause and mentioned, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ And once I look again at my profession, at that second, it simply reveals you the relationships you make and the way you do it and as you go alongside the journey are so particular. And that is why that play to me is so particular. I do know it is particular to town, I do know it is particular to the Eagles. However that second with Doug, really superb.”

Together with Pederson, Foles thanked his household, teammates and different members of the Eagles group throughout his retirement press convention, together with proprietor Jeffrey Lurie and common supervisor Howie Roseman. 

Foles additionally thanked Reid and even former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who dealt him to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford in 2015. 

“With out these moments in St. Louis with Chip buying and selling me away occurred, I would not of been in a position to do what we did in 17,” Foles mentioned. “I might not of been in a position to step in with my coronary heart and play the sport I did with my teammates.”

Foles had two totally different stints with the Eagles from 2012-14 and 2017-18 in his 11 yr NFL profession. He additionally hung out with the Rams, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. 

However for Foles, he was by no means in a position to recreate the magic he had enjoying in Philadelphia in different stops across the league. In Philly, it was simply totally different. 

“There was simply one thing about carrying midnight inexperienced,” Foles mentioned. “I at all times felt one thing totally different on this metropolis, on this stadium… I used to be simply meant to play right here, I am so grateful to been aside of those groups and be aside of the historical past right here. It is made me a greater individual enjoying right here. However as soon as once more, I would not be who I’m right this moment with out these different stops, so every cease had it is personal function and it is personal distinctive story. All through the remainder of my life, I will have the chance to mirror on all of them and I am grateful for all of them.”