Nick Foles is hanging up his pads.
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback announced he’ll officially retire from the NFL on Sept. 16 at the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener vs. the Atlanta Falcons.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle," Foles said in a statement released by the team. “The City of Brotherly Love has always felt like home to me as an NFL player. Philadelphia is a city I truly love, and it has been an honor to wear the Eagles jersey.”
He went on to thank the city and fans, ending his statement with the team’s rallying call, “Fly, Eagles, Fly!”
Foles revealed his decision in a video posted on social media Thursday morning.
Foles was the 88th overall pick (third round) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played for six teams in 11 NFL seasons.
Most fans remember him for leading the Eagles to a win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. He tossed three touchdown passes and caught a pass for a score during the vaunted “Philly Special” play. The Eagles won 41-33.
After the Super Bowl season, Foles signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played only one season in Jacksonville, suffering a broken clavicle in Week 1 that kept him out until Week 11. He started only four games.
The Jaguars later traded Foles to the Chicago Bears. His career also included stints in St. Louis and Kansas City.
Foles last appeared in an NFL game for the Indianapolis Colts. He played in three games, starting two of them, during the cursed 2022-2023 season that saw the Colts fire head coach Frank Reich and hire Jeff Saturday on an interim basis.
In Week 17 of that tumultuous season, Foles suffered a rib injury late in the second quarter during Indy’s New Year’s Day matchup against the New York Giants.
Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux came off the edge and crushed Foles, driving him into the turf. He managed to make his way to the sidelines before being taken to the locker room in a cart.
Burned into the collective memory of Indianapolis Colts fans: Foles, on the ground writhing in pain, as Thibodeaux celebrated by making a snow angel.
It marked Foles’ final appearance in the NFL. The Colts released him in May 2023.