The 2021 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 89th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under head coach Nick Sirianni. They improved on their 4–11–1 record from the previous season after a 40–29 win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11 and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. This was the Eagles' first season since 2015 without quarterback Carson Wentz, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in March 2021.
Philadelphia entered the season with low expectations following a disastrous 4–11–1 2020 season that resulted in the firing of Super Bowl champion head coach Doug Pederson. The Eagles started the 2021 season slowly with a 2–5 record. However, things turned around and the Eagles went 7–2 in their next 9 games and clinched a playoff berth after a one-year absence. The Eagles finished tied with the New Orleans Saints for the last Wild Card spot, but won the tiebreaker based on their Week 11 head-to-head victory over the Saints. The Eagles went on to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, but lost by a score of 31–15 to the defending champions.
Despite the 9–8 record, the Eagles did not beat any team that made the playoffs in the 2021 season, going 0–6. New Orleans was the only team with a winning record that the Eagles beat during the season.
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player 2021 team Notes RB Corey Clement UFA New York Giants 1 year DE Vinny Curry UFA New York Jets 1 year S Rudy Ford UFA Jacksonville Jaguars 2 years LB Nathan Gerry UFA San Francisco 49ers 1 year CB Cre'Von LeBlanc UFA Miami Dolphins 1 year S Jalen Mills UFA New England Patriots 4 years OT Jason Peters UFA Chicago Bears 1 year DT Hassan Ridgeway UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year LB Duke Riley UFA Miami Dolphins 1 year CB Nickell Robey-Coleman UFA Detroit Lions 1 year TE Richard Rodgers UFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year QB Nate Sudfeld UFA San Francisco 49ers 1 year P Cameron Johnston RFA Houston Texans 3 years TE Joshua Perkins RFA San Francisco 49ers 1 year RB Boston Scott ERFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year LB Alex Singleton ERFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year WR Greg Ward ERFA Philadelphia Eagles 1 year Player re-signed by the Eagles Player not re-signed by the Eagles
Signings Position Player 2020 team Date signed Notes RB Adrian Killins UFA Philadelphia Eagles March 17 2 years S Andrew Adams UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 18 1 year, $1.13 million S Anthony Harris UFA Minnesota Vikings March 20 1 year, $5 million QB Joe Flacco UFA New York Jets March 23 1 year, $3.5 million LB Eric Wilson UFA Minnesota Vikings April 7 1 year, $3.25 million RB Jordan Howard UFA Philadelphia Eagles April 7 1 year, $990,000 RB Kerryon Johnson WVR Detroit Lions May 7 1 year CB Nate Meadors UFA Jacksonville Jaguars May 14 1 year DE Ryan Kerrigan UFA Washington Football Team May 17 1 year, $2.5 million OT Casey Tucker UFA Indianapolis Colts May 18 1 year OT Le'Raven Clark UFA Indianapolis Colts May 19 1 year, $1.065 million DT Willie Henry UFA Houston Texans May 25 1 year WR Michael Walker UFA Jacksonville Jaguars June 11 1 year QB Nick Mullens UFA San Francisco 49ers June 14 1 year CB Steven Nelson UFA Pittsburgh Steelers July 25 1 year, 2.5 million S Obi Melifonwu UFA San Francisco 49ers July 29 1 year WR Andre Patton UFA Miami Dolphins July 29 1 year S Blake Countess UFA Philadelphia Eagles August 9 1 year WR Marken Michel WVR Carolina Panthers August 10 1 year TE Cary Angeline UFA Arizona Cardinals August 22 1 year CB Andre Chachere WVR Indianapolis Colts September 2 1 year CB Mac McCain UFA Denver Broncos September 7 1 year G Jack Anderson UFA Buffalo Bills September 21 1 year QB Reid Sinnett WVR Miami Dolphins October 25 1 year LS Rick Lovato UFA Philadelphia Eagles October 26 1 year RB Jordan Howard UFA Philadelphia Eagles November 10 1 year CB Mac McCain WVR Denver Broncos November 24 1 year OT Le'Raven Clark UFA Philadelphia Eagles December 8 2 years
Departures Position Player 2021 team Date Reason WR DeSean Jackson Los Angeles Rams February 19 Released S Blake Countess Philadelphia Eagles March 4 Released DT Treyvon Hester Buffalo Bills March 4 Released DT Malik Jackson Cleveland Browns March 17 Released WR Alshon Jeffery March 17 Released WR Deontay Burnett March 23 Released LB Joe Bachie Cincinnati Bengals May 25 Released QB Jamie Newman June 9 Released WR Khalil Tate June 9 Released WR Trevon Grimes June 21 Released DT Willie Henry New York Giants July 25 Released CB Shakial Taylor August 5 Released WR Adrian Killins Denver Broncos August 14 Released TE Caleb Wilson Washington Football Team August 14 Released RB Kerryon Johnson August 26 Released QB Nick Mullens Cleveland Browns August 28 Released DT T. Y. McGill September 13 Released LS Rick Lovato Philadelphia Eagles October 25 Released OT Brett Toth Philadelphia Eagles November 2 Released LB Eric Wilson Houston Texans November 3 Released CB Mac McCain Denver Broncos November 9 Released CB Mac McCain Philadelphia Eagles December 8 Released
Trades March 17: The Eagles traded QB Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. March 17: Per the terms that saw WR Marquise Goodwin traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, Goodwin has reverted to San Francisco 49ers after not appearing for Philadelphia. The Eagles received a seventh-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft from 49ers as part of this deal. May 18: The Eagles traded CB Jameson Houston and a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for CB Josiah Scott. August 28: The Eagles traded a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for QB Gardner Minshew. August 31: The Eagles traded G Matt Pryor and a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft to the Indianapolis Colts for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. October 15: The Eagles traded TE Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals for CB Tay Gowan and a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. October 25: The Eagles traded QB Joe Flacco to the New York Jets for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. November 2: The Eagles traded a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft to the Denver Broncos for CB Kary Vincent Jr.
Draft
Draft Notes The Eagles received two compensatory selections, both in the sixth round (224th and 225th overall). The Eagles traded a fourth-round selection (110th) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Genard Avery. The Eagles received a third-round selection (84th) and a 2022 conditional second-round selection, which became a first-round selection, from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for quarterback Carson Wentz The Eagles received 2020 and 2021 fifth-round selections (156th) from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round selection. The Eagles received 2021 seventh-round selection (240th) from the San Francisco 49ers as part of the deal that saw Marquise Goodwin revert to the 49ers. The Eagles traded their first-round selection (6th) and a fifth-round selection (156th) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a first-round selection (12th), a fourth-round selection (123rd), and a 2022 first-round selection. The Eagles traded their first-round selection (12th) and third-round selection (84th) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a first round selection (10th) Philadelphia traded a third-round selection (70th) to Carolina in exchange for third and sixth-round selections (73rd and 191st) The Eagles traded a sixth-round selection (225th) and a seventh-round selection (240th) to the Washington Football Team in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents Player Position College Jhamon Ausbon WR Texas A&M Kayode Awosika OT Buffalo JaQuan Bailey DE Iowa State Harry Crider C Indiana Trevon Grimes WR Florida Jamie Newman QB Wake Forest Jack Stoll TE Nebraska
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–24 0–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 2 New England Patriots L 0–35 0–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 at New York Jets T 31–31 0–2–1 MetLife Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule The Eagles' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Atlanta Falcons W 32–6 1–0 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 September 19 San Francisco 49ers L 11–17 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 at Dallas Cowboys L 21–41 1–2 AT&T Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 30–42 1–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 5 October 10 at Carolina Panthers W 21–18 2–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 22–28 2–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7 October 24 at Las Vegas Raiders L 22–33 2–5 Allegiant Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at Detroit Lions W 44–6 3–5 Ford Field Recap 9 November 7 Los Angeles Chargers L 24–27 3–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 10 November 14 at Denver Broncos W 30–13 4–6 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 11 November 21 New Orleans Saints W 40–29 5–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 12 November 28 at New York Giants L 7–13 5–7 MetLife Stadium Recap 13 December 5 at New York Jets W 33–18 6–7 MetLife Stadium Recap 14 Bye 15 Washington Football Team W 27–17 7–7 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 December 26 New York Giants W 34–10 8–7 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 January 2 at Washington Football Team W 20–16 9–7 FedExField Recap 18 Dallas Cowboys L 26–51 9–8 Lincoln Financial Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
After an Atlanta field goal, the Eagles would take the lead after an 18 yard pass from Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith and never looked back. The week one rout over the Falcons was the Eagles biggest win, scoring over 30 points, and have a winning record (1-0) for the first time since 2019. This is also the Eagles first win in Atlanta since 2009.
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers The Eagles would start the game being able to march down the field throughout the first half, including a 91 yard bomb from Jalen Hurts to Quez Watkins. However, after a failed "Philly Special" attempt, and blocked field goal, the Birds could only muster 3 points in the first half. The 49ers would tack on 10 points in the 4th quarter before surrendering a late QB sneak TD from Hurts. The loss dropped the Eagles to 1-1 and their first loss to the 49ers since 2014.
Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys The Eagles traveled down to Arlington, Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys would jump on the board quickly after an Ezekiel Elliott 1 yard TD. The Eagles defense made a play by stripping the ball from Dak Prescott in their own endzone resulting in a touchdown from Fletcher Cox. From that point on, the Dallas offense had its way on the Eagles defense and didn't get any help from a pass heavy Eagles offense that could not gain much momentum. The Eagles would get a couple of garbage time TDs from Jalen Hurts to Zach Ertz and Greg Ward. With the loss, the Eagles would fall to 1-2 and lose their 4th straight game at AT&T Stadium.
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5: at Carolina Panthers After a slow offensive start, the Eagles would rally a second half comeback with the help of a blocked punt and outscoring the Panthers 15-3 in the second half. With the win, the Eagles improved to 2-3.
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 8: at Detroit Lions In a newly looking, run heavy offense, the Eagles would rush their way to a 44-6 blowout over the lowly Detroit Lions. The win marks the first time the Eagles win at Ford Field since 2010, as well as their first 40+ point game since Super Bowl LII. With the Win, the Eagles improve to 3-5.
Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 10: at Denver Broncos