1960 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1960 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League, and finished with the Eagles' win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFL championship game to get their third league title. The victory over the Packers was also the first and only playoff defeat of the Packers' Vince Lombardi's coaching career. The 1960 season was the Eagles' first postseason appearance since their last NFL championship season of 1949. It was their only postseason appearance in the 28 seasons from 1950 to 1977, and their last NFL title until their victory in Super Bowl LII, 57 years later.

Off Season
On March 13, 1960, there was an expansion draft to stock the Dallas Rangers, who soon changed their name to the "Cowboys." In this draft the Eagles lost tight end Dick Bielski, tackle Jerry DeLucca, and linebacker Bill Striegel to Dallas.

As since 1951, the Eagles held training camp at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

NFL Draft
The 1960 NFL draft and the 1960 AFL Draft were held separately for college players (the common draft was initiated in 1967).
 * The NFL Draft was a draft of 20 rounds with 12 teams picking. The Eagles rotated having the 7th, 8th or 9th pick in the draft rounds, with Chicago and Cleveland. The quickly assembled NFL franchise of the Dallas Cowboys did not have a chance to pick, as the draft was held on November 30, 1959, before they were formed on January 28, 1960.


 * The AFL draft was a list made the teams of territorial players they claimed first. Then a draft was held by drafting players by position instead of any available player. When Minneapolis left the league other AFL teams pursued those picks. Oakland got the rights after they joined the league.


 * The Philadelphia Eagles lost four players to the AFL including 1st round pick Ron Burton, a running back from Northwestern University. A total of six NFL 1st round picks in this draft signed with the AFL this year.

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.

Regular season
During the 1960 season, Chuck Bednarik is perhaps best known for knocking Frank Gifford of the New York Giants out of football for over eighteen months, considered one of the most famous tackles in NFL history. It occurred late in the game at Yankee Stadium on November 20.

Bednarik was the last player to play the whole game. He averaged 58 minutes a game, starting at center and linebacker in the second half of season.

Schedule

 * Friday night (September 30)
 * A bye week was necessary in, as the league expanded to an odd-number (13) of teams (Dallas); one team was idle each week.

Postseason
Soon after the championship game against Green Bay, 61-year-old Buck Shaw retired as head coach of the Eagles. Quarterback and 12-year veteran Norm Van Brocklin retired after the game also and expected to be named head coach, but assistant coach Nick Skorich was promoted; he led the Eagles for the next three years, through the 1963 season.

Van Brocklin, age 34, was named head coach of the expansion Minnesota Vikings in January 1961. In the 1961 expansion draft the Eagles lost guard Gerry Huth, defensive back Gene Johnson, and center Bill Lapham to Minnesota.

Awards and honors
1960 Pro Bowl Players:  League Leaders Other Awards
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd to Johnny Unitas in Passing Attempts, Completions, Yards, and TDs
 * Norm Van Brocklin finishes 2nd to Milt Plum in Yards per Attempt and Passer Rating
 * Ted Dean leads league in KO Returns and 2nd in Punt Returns
 * Chuck Bednarik, All-Pro Selection
 * Norm Van Brocklin, Bert Bell Award
 * AP NFL MVP – Norm Van Brocklin
 * UPI MVP – Norm Van Brocklin