'The secret sauce is Howie:' Why it's always sunny in Philadelphia
The rich only get richer. These Philadelphia Eagles are loaded on both offense and defense. One front office member gives Go Long subscribers the inside look at how it's all possible.
A record 127.7 million witnessed the destruction. Without mercy, the Philadelphia Eagles bludgeoned Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. If this was a youth sports game, all parents involved would’ve signed off on a running clock.
The Eagles’ defense built a force field at the 50-yard line. The sport’s best player didn’t even cross midfield until his 10th drive. By then, the score was 34-0.
The Eagles offense operated with ease vs. one of the best defensive coordinators ever.
From Drive No. 1 — when zero Chiefs receivers could get open — it was obvious these teams did not belong on the same field and that the Eagles exist in their own stratosphere. The 31 other NFL franchises are chasing this one until further notice.
One through 53, this is as close as we’ve seen to a perfect team since… who?
This roster is a giant middle finger to the NFL’s pursuit of parity.
And the man flipping that virtual bird is a general manager who can take a beer can to the forehead.
“The secret sauce is Howie,” said one Eagles source in the front office. “He’s got a great process and he’s got great foresight.”
He’s able to pay everyone. Nobody’s singing the quarterback contract blues here. He fleeces teams in trades. Repeatedly. He turns special-teamers, like Zack Baun, into All-Pros. He lands Jalen Carter, a No. 1 talent, at ninth overall. He steals the best running back in football, Saquon Barkley, from a division rival. He revamps his secondary in one offseason. This asteroid didn’t hit the NFL World out of nowhere.
Central to everything is a GM — Howie Roseman — who ensures that asteroid only picks up speed with every transaction.
Honestly, it feels strange that we’ve spent so much time discussing other teams and other players the last five months. After dethroning the Chiefs, the Eagles have a realistic opportunity to string together multiple titles of their own.
After chatting at length with one of Roseman’s right-hand men, here are our findings…