When talking about Nick Foles the quarterback, most analysts stick to the usual stuff. What he accomplishes on the field. They see a big guy with a strong arm who can attack down the field but tends to take what the defense gives him. He isn’t the most mobile guy in the world but he can move around in the pocket. Not a perfect talent for the position but good enough to make things happen.
His greatest strength most agree is his mind. Foles’ football intelligence might be among the best in the league. He sees defenses well, able to recognize disguised coverages and blitzes, and make adjustments to exploit them. He can examine the field quickly, recognize where the openings will be, and get the ball there on time.
Yet the most common thing mentions by those who have worked with him over the years is nothing will ever top Foles the person. Not only is he a tremendous leader on the field. He’s also so personable off it. That would explain what happened to him after he led the Bears to their big comeback win in Atlanta.
“There was a lot of people from Philadelphia that sent me some really nice messages. I think it just goes back to the relationships you build throughout this game. Whether it’s players, personnel, or people in the city. I definitely heard from some former teammates and coaches and people I love in the city of Philadelphia which is always neat.”
Nick Foles is still beloved in Philadelphia two years later
All one needs to understand how Philadelphia still feels about Foles is their reactions to this season. The Eagles are 0-2-1 with Carson Wentz throwing six interceptions in that stretch. He’s looked nowhere close to the player he was last season. Much less the one that was ripping up the NFL in 2017. This has made more than a few fans start to regret the decision to go with him over Foles.
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Teammates seemed to treasure that time with him as well. Chris Long called him a “one-of-a-kind leader.” The outpouring of affection and congratulations after his comeback speaks to how influential he was in that locker room. So it’s little wonder he was able to gain a lot of fans at Halas Hall almost from the moment he walked in the doors.