The Philadelphia Eagles soared to glorious heights in 1960, clinching an NFL Championship that promised a bright future. It was a moment of triumph, the kind that binds fans to a team for life. But by 1968, that golden era felt like a distant memory, as the franchise plummeted to its darkest depths, leaving even the most devoted supporters heartbroken. The 1968 season wasn’t just bad—it was a catastrophe that defined the Eagles’ struggles for a decade.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Wreckage
Let’s start with the rare bright spots, because even in the bleakest moments, a few players shone. Running back Tom Woodeshick was the standout, delivering a career-defining performance. In 1968, he rumbled for 947 yards and three touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. His relentless grit offered a fleeting reason for Eagles fans to cheer.
Joining him in the Pro Bowl were right tackle Bob Brown, a stalwart on the offensive line, and kicker/punter Sam Baker, whose leg provided some consistency. Baker connected on 19 of 30 field goals and averaged 40.9 yards on 55 punts, offering small moments of reliability in an otherwise chaotic season. But these individual efforts were mere candles flickering in a storm.
The Season That Broke Hearts
The 1968 Eagles didn’t just lose—they collapsed spectacularly. The season opened with a soul-crushing 11-game losing streak, each defeat more demoralizing than the last. Seven of those losses were blowouts, with opponents winning by two or more possessions. The nadir came against the Cleveland Browns, who humiliated Philadelphia 47-13 in a 34-point rout that left the Eagles 0-11 and fans questioning their loyalty.
At that point, the team seemed destined for a winless season, which carried a silver lining: the number one pick in the 1969 NFL Draft. That pick promised a chance at USC’s electrifying running back, O.J. Simpson, a player who could have reshaped the franchise’s future. But in a cruel twist, the Eagles found just enough fight to win two of their final three games, finishing 2-12. The victories were bittersweet—they cost the team Simpson, who went to the Buffalo Bills, leaving Philadelphia with Purdue’s Leroy Keyes. Keyes, while talented, played just four underwhelming seasons with the Eagles, a far cry from Simpson’s Hall of Fame career.
A Perfect Storm of Failure
The Eagles’ woes in 1968 stemmed from dysfunction at every level. Quarterback Norm Snead, a longtime Eagle, endured a nightmare season. In 11 starts, he threw for 1,655 yards and 11 touchdowns but led the NFL with 21 interceptions. The team’s 29 total interceptions underscored a passing game that was more liability than asset.
Even more shocking was the presence of Mike Ditka, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, on the roster. A former Super Bowl champion head coach, Ditka was a shadow of himself in 1968, managing just 111 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. His lackluster performance was a microcosm of the team’s struggles, and he soon departed for the Dallas Cowboys to close out his career.
The defense was no better, routinely shredded by opponents. Head coach Joe Kuharich, widely regarded as the worst in Eagles history, couldn’t find answers. His 28-41-1 record over his tenure with the team culminated in this disastrous season, his last as a head coach. The Eagles were a team adrift, with no direction and no hope.
A Decade in the Wilderness
The 1968 season wasn’t just a low point—it was a turning point that set the Eagles back for years. Missing out on O.J. Simpson was a franchise-altering blow, as the team settled for Keyes and continued to flounder. It wasn’t until 1978 that Philadelphia posted another winning season and reached the playoffs, a decade of rebuilding that tested the patience of even the most loyal fans.
The 1968 Eagles were a disaster in every sense—offense, defense, coaching, and draft strategy all collapsed in unison. For a fanbase accustomed to passion and pride, this season was a gut punch, a reminder that even the most storied franchises can lose their way. Yet, it’s in these darkest moments that the resilience of Eagles fans was forged, a testament to their unwavering love for a team that, one day, would rise again.