1953 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1953 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 21st in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 7–5, going 7–4–1.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

1953 Philadelphia Eagles season
OwnerHappy Hundred
Head coachJim Trimble
Home fieldShibe Park
Results
Record7–4–1
Division place2nd NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Off Season

At the end of the 1952 season, 2-year player Bud Grant is offered a pay raise in his contract. He chooses to play football in the CFL(Canadian Football League) instead. He would have a career worthy of being named to the CFL's Hall of Fame as a player. Later on he would make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

The Eagles held training camp at Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey, PA for the 3rd strait year.

Matt Guokas, Sr. is hired to be the PA announcer for the Eagles. Guokas played basketball for Saint Joseph's Hawks in college and the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA. After losing his right leg in an automobile accident, Guokas turned to broadcasting, and he served as an announcer for the N Philadelphia Eagles for 32 years from 1953 to 1985.

NFL Draft

The 1953 NFL Draft was held on January 22, 1953. There was 30 rounds in the draft with 12 teams picking. The San Francisco 49ers received this year's Lottery bonus pick. With this pick they chose Harry Babcock an End out of University of Georgia.

The 1952 expansion team Dallas Texans (NFL) folded during the 1952 season and then became the Baltimore Colts on January 23, 1953. The Colts had the number 1 pick and choose Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels[2] a Halfback out of University of Oklahoma.

With a 7–5 record in 1952 the Eagles got the 7th, 8th or 9th pick in the 30 rounds. With trading away their 1st round pick the Eagles 1st selection was the 7th pick in the 2nd round, 20th overall, they chose Al Conway a Back out of Army and William Jewell College. He did not play due to injury and ended up as an official in the American Football League and an official in the NFL for 28 years.

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.

= Pro Bowler [3] = Hall of Famer
Rd Pick Player Position School Rd Pick Player Position School
17Pick Traded to Los
Angeles Rams		 220Al ConwayBackArmy and William Jewell College
334Don JohnsonBackCalifornia 445George MrkonicGuardKansas
556Eddie BellEndPennsylvania 561Rex Smith
(pick from Detroit Lions)		EndIllinois
670Pick Traded to
Chicago Cardinals		 776Jack Erickson
pick from Chicago Cardinals		TackleArmy/Beloit
781Ray MalavasiGuardArmy/Mississippi State 892Jess RichardsonTackleAlabama
9106Roger FrenchEndMinnesota 10117Tom BrookshierBackColorado
11128Bob PollardBackPenn State 12142George PorterTackleSan Jose State
13153Ray WestortGuardUtah 14164Roy BaileyBackTulane
15178Willie IrvinEndFlorida A&M 16189Bud WallaceBackNorth Carolina
17200Tony RadosBackPenn State 18214Marv TrauthTackleMississippi
19225Pete BachourosBackIllinois 20236Rollie ArnsCenterIowa State
21250Hal BrooksTackleWashington & Lee 22261Laurie LeClaireBackMichigan
23272Jeff KnoxEndGeorgia Tech 24286Eli RomeroBackWichita State
25297Johnny MichelsGuardTennessee 26308Harvey AchzigerTackleColorado State
27322Earl HershBackWest Chester 28333Joe GratsonBackPenn State
29344Ralph PaoloneBackKentucky 30357Chuck HrenBackNorthwestern

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record
1 September 27 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–31 0–1
2 October 2 Washington Redskins T 21–21 0–1–1
3 October 10 at Cleveland Browns L 13–37 0–2–1
4 October 17 Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–7 1–2–1
5 October 25 at Chicago Cardinals W 56–17 2–2–1
6 November 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 35–7 3–2–1
7 November 8 New York Giants W 30–7 4–2–1
8 November 15 Baltimore Colts W 45–14 5–2–1
9 November 21 Chicago Cardinals W 38–0 6–2–1
10 November 29 at New York Giants L 28–37 6–3–1
11 December 6 at Washington Redskins L 0–10 6–4–1
12 December 13 Cleveland Browns W 42–27 7–4–1

Game recaps

Week 1 @ San Francisco
Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 21 (0–1–0)    at    San Francisco 49ers 31 (1–0–0)    – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 7721
San Francisco 49ers 14 3 7731

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

Game information
1st
  • 49ers – Joe Arenas 18-yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick)
  • Eagles – Adrian Burk 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)
  • 49ers – Y.A. Tittle 1-yard rush (Gordie Soltau kick)
2nd
  • 49ers – Gordie Soltau 39-yard field goal
3rd
  • 49ers – Billy Wilson 39-yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick)
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 3-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)
4th
  • 49ers – Billy Wilson 37-yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick)
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 10-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Al Pollard kick)

Week 2 vs Washington

The Eagles inability to hold onto the ball allows the Washington Redskins to tie them at 21 – 21. The Eagles allowed 4 interceptions and would lose 1 fumble as they allowed Washington to gain 182 yards on 9 completions. The Eagles also hurt their cause by having 10 penalties for 99 yards called against them.

Week 2:Philadelphia Eagles 21 (0–1–1)     vs     Washington Redskins 21 (1–1–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Washington Redskins 7 7 7021
Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 0721

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

Game information
1st
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 6-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 7 – 0
  • Redskins – Laurie Niemi unknown-yard fumble return (Bill Dudley kick)     Tied 7 – 7
2nd
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 10-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 14 – 7
  • Redskins – Hugh Taylor 24-yard pass from Jack Scarbath (Bill Dudley kick)    Tied 14 – 14
3rd
  • Redskins – Hugh Taylor 61-yard pass from Jack Scarbath (Bill Dudley kick)    Wash 21 – 14
4th
  • Eagles – Adrian Burk 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Tied 21 – 21

Week 3 @ Cleveland Browns
Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles 13 (0–2–1)     at     Cleveland Browns 37 (3–0–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 6 0 7013
Cleveland Browns 6 7 141037

at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Game information
1st
  • Browns – Lou Groza 20-yard field goal     Cleve 3 – 0
  • Browns – Lou Groza 16-yard field goal     Cleve 6 – 0
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 1-yard rush (kick failed)    Tied 6 – 6
2nd
  • Browns – Chick Jagade 14-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 13 – 6
  • Browns – Dante Lavelli 25-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 20 – 6
3rd
  • Eagles – Adrian Burk 32-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Cleve 20 – 13
  • Browns – Chick Jagade 13-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 27 – 13
4th
  • Browns – Lou Groza 27-yard field goal     Cleve 30 – 13
  • Browns – Jerry Helluin 42-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 37 – 13

Week 4 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles 26 (1–2–1)     vs     Pittsburgh Steelers 7 (2–2–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pittsburgh Steelers 0 0 707
Philadelphia Eagles 0 0 61723

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

Game information
3rd
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 28-yard pass from Adrian Burk (kick failed)    Phila 6 – 0
  • Steelers – Ray Mathews 23-yard pass from Jim Finks (Nick Bolkovac kick)    Pitt 7 – 6
4th
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 11-yard field goal    Phila 9 – 7
  • Eagles – Hal Giancanelli 16-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 16 – 7
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 23 – 7

Week 5 @ Chicago Cardinals
Week 5:Philadelphia Eagles 56 (4–6–0)     at     Chicago Cardinals 17 (6–4–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 7 21 72156
Chicago Cardinals 3 0 01417

at Comiskey Park, Chicago,ILL

Game information
1st
  • Cardinals – Pat Summerall 28-yard field goal    Chi C 3 – 0
  • Eagles – Toy Ledbetter 34-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 7 – 3
2nd
  • Eagles – Jim Parmer 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 14 – 3
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 52-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 21 – 3
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 6-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 28 – 3
3rd
  • Eagles – Hal Giancanelli 28-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 35 – 3
4th
  • Cardinals – Charlie Trippi 8-yard pass from Jim Root (Pat Summerall kick)    Phila 35 – 10
  • Cardinals – Billy Cross 51-yard pass from Jim Root (Pat Summerall kick)    Phila 35 – 17
  • Eagles – Jim Parmer 7-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 42 – 17
  • Eagles – Tom Scott unknown-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick)   Phila 49 – 17
  • Eagles – John Brewer 9-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 56 – 17

Week 6 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 6:Philadelphia Eagles 35 (3–2–1)     at    Pittsburgh Steelers 7 (3–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 14 7 01435
Pittsburgh Steelers 0 7 007

at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Hal Giancanelli 7-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 7 – 0
  • Eagles Jerry Williams 48-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 14 – 0
2nd
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 21-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 21 – 0
  • Steelers Ray Mathews 11-yard pass from Jim Finks (Nick Bolkovac kick)     Phila 21 – 7
4th
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 26-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 28 – 7
  • Eagles Hal Giancanelli 8-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 35 – 7

Week 7 vs New York Giants
Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles 30 (4–2–0)     vs     New York Giants 7 (2–5–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
New York Giants 0 0 077
Philadelphia Eagles 3 14 6730

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

Game information
1st
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 15-yard field goal     Phila 0 – 3
2nd
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 62-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 10
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 32-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 –
3rd
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 8-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (kick failed)     Phila 0 – 23
4th
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 13-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 30
  • Giants – Frank Gifford 32-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Frank Gifford kick)     Phila 7 – 30

Week 8 vs Baltimore Colts
Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles 45 (5–2–1)     at     Baltimore Colts 14 (3–5–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Baltimore Colts 7 0 0714
Philadelphia Eagles 7 14 02445

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

Game information
1st
  • Colts – Buddy Young 104-yard kickoff return (Buck McPhail kick)   Balti 7 – 0
  • Eagles – Hal Giancanelli 47-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)   Tied 7 – 7
2nd
  • Eagles – Pete Pihos 56-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 7 – 14
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 24-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 7 – 21
4th
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Phila 7 – 28
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 66-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 7 – 35
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 22-yard field goal     Phila 7 – 38
  • Colts – Bert Rechichar 66-yard pass from Jack Del Bello (Buck McPhail kick)     Phila 14 – 38
  • Eagles – Chuck Bednarik 26-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 14 – 45

Week 9 vs Chicago Cardinals
Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles 38 (6–2–1)     vs     Chicago Cardinals (0–8–1) 0 (4–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chicago Cardinals 0 0 000
Philadelphia Eagles 14 10 7738

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

Game information
1st
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 7
  • Eagles – Hal Giancanelli 37-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 14
2nd
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 27-yard field goal     Phila 0 – 17
  • Eagles – Jerry Williams 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 24
3rd
  • Eagles – Jerry Williams 4-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 31
4th
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Phila 0 – 38

Week 10 @ New York Giants
Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles 28 (6–3–1)     at     New York Giants 37 (7–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 14028
New York Giants 7 7 131037

at Polo Grounds, New York, NY

Game information
1st
  • Giants – Frank Gifford 8-yard rush (Randy Clay kick)     NY G 0 – 7
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     NY G 7 – 7
2nd
  • Giants – Kyle Rote 1-yard rush (Randy Clay kick)     NY G 7 – 14
  • Eagles – Jerry Williams 33-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     NY G 14 – 14
3rd
  • Giants – Kyle Rote 30-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Randy Clay kick)     NY G 14 – 21
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 21-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     NY G 21 – 21
  • Giants – Kyle Rote 25-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (kick failed)     NY G 21 – 27
  • Eagles – Don Johnson 63-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     NY G 28 – 27
4th
  • Giants – Eddie Price 31-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Randy Clay kick)     NY G 28 – 34
  • Giants – Randy Clay 17-yard field goal     NY G 28 – 37

Week 11 @ Washington Redskins
Week 11:Philadelphia Eagles 21 (6–4–1)     at     Washington Redskins 21 (6–4–1)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 0 0 000
Washington Redskins 0 0 01010

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Game information
4th
  • Redskins – Bill Dudley 15-yard field goal     Wash 3 – 0
  • Redskins – Harry Dowda 23-yard interception return (Bill Dudley kick)     Wash 10 – 0

Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns

The Eagles give the Cleveland Browns their only loss of the regular season in the final week of the season. Cleveland would have 3 turn overs during the game.

Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles 42 (7–4–1)     vs     Cleveland Browns 27 (11–1–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cleveland Browns 10 3 7727
Philadelphia Eagles 0 14 141442

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Browns – Ray Renfro 11-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 7 – Phila 0
  • Browns Lou Groza 19-yard field goal     Cleve 10 – Phila 0
2nd
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 15-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Cleve 10 – Phila 7
  • Eagles Bobby Thomason 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)    Cleve 10 – Phila 14
  • Browns Lou Groza 24-yard field goal     Cleve 13 – Phila 14
3rd
  • Browns Ken Carpenter 8-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)    Cleve 20 – Phila 14
  • Eagles Toy Ledbetter 14-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Cleve 20 – Phila 21
  • Eagles Don Johnson 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Cleve 20 – Phila 28
4th
  • Eagles Toy Ledbetter 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)     Cleve 20 – Phila 35
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 17-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Cleve 20 – Phila 42
  • Browns Dante Lavelli 17-yard pass from George Ratterman (Lou Groza kick)     Cleve 27 – Phila 42

Standings
NFL Eastern Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns 11 1 0 .917 9–1 348 162 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 4 1 .636 6–3–1 352 215 W1
Washington Redskins 6 5 1 .545 6–3–1 208 215 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 6 0 .500 5–5 211 263 W2
New York Giants 3 9 0 .250 3–7 179 277 L2
Chicago Cardinals 1 10 1 .091 0–10 190 337 W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Playoffs

With a record of 7–4–1 the Eagles finish behind Cleveland and fail to make the playoffs. The Detroit Lions won the National Division and played the Cleveland Browns in the 1953 NFL Championship Game.

Roster

(All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history)

= 1953 Pro Bowl[4] = Hall of Famer
  • + = Pro Bowl starter
NO. Player AGE POS GP GS WT HT YRS College
Jim Trimble35COACH1953
record
7–3–1		NFL-Eagles
Lifetime
14–9–1		2ndIndiana University
60Chuck Bednarik +28C-LB1202336–34Pennsylvania
36John Brewer25FB602306–41Louisville
45Tom Brookshier22DB1101966–0RookieColorado
10Adrian Burk26QB1041906–23Baylor
33Russ Craft34DB-HB1201785–97Alabama
53Ken Farragut25C-LB1202406–42Mississippi
14Bob Gambold24QB302156–4RookieWashington State
27Hal Giancanelli24HB1201825–10RookieLoyola Marymount
88Bob Hudson23DB-LB-E1202256–42Clemson
81Willie Irvin23DE-E302036–3RookieFlorida A&M
78Mike Jarmoluk31DT-T-MG1202326–57Temple
40[[Don Johnson (halfback)}]]22HB1201876–0RookieCalifornia
76Bucko Kilroy32G-MG-T-DT1202436–210Temple
25Toy Ledbetter26HB1001985–103Oklahoma State
67John Magee30G1202205–105La-Lafayette and
Rice
61John Michels22G1102005–11RookieTennessee
72George Mrkonic24T-DT1002256–2RookieKansas
68Maury Nipp23G1202196–01Loyola Marymount
43Jim Parmer27FB-HB1201936–05Oklahoma State
35Pete Pihos +30E-DE1202106–16Indiana
21Al Pollard25HB-FB1201966–02Army and
Loyola Marymount
65Jess Richardson23DT1202616–2RookieAlabama
52Wayne Robinson23LB-C1102256–21Minnesota
85Bob Schnelker25E802146–3RookieBowling Green
82Tom Scott23DE-LB1202186–2RookieVirginia
79Vic Sears35T-DT1202236–312Oregon State
73Lum Snyder23T1202286–51Georgia Tech
44Bob Stringer24LB-FB1201976–11Tulsa
11Bobby Thomason25QB1281966–14VMI
31Ebert Van Buren29DB-LB-FB-HB1202106–22LSU
83Bobby Walston25E-HB-K1201906–02Georgia
86Norm Willey26DE-G-E1202246–23Marshall
49Jerry Williams30DB-HB1201755–104 Idaho and
Washington State
75Frank Wydo29T-DT12122256–46Cornell
41Frank Ziegler30HB-DB1201755–114Georgia Tech
35 Players
Team Average		12
  • Jerry Williams will become head coach of Eagles for the 1969 season

Postseason

Philadelphia finished second in last 2 seasons to the Cleveland Browns, with that Trimble is awarded a three-year contract after the team's second straight runnerup finish in 1953.

Awards and honors

Pro Bowl

The Eagles placed 6 players on the 1953 Pro Bowl team. Chuck Bednarik is named MVP of the Pro Bowl.

Chuck Bednarik (Center – Linebacker)
Ken Farragut (Center – Linebacker)
Bucko Kilroy (Lineman)
Pete Pihos (End)
Lum Snyder (Tackle)
Bobby Thomason (Quarterback)

League leaders[5]

Bobby Thomason finished 2nd in passing attempts and passing yards to George Blanda
Bobby Thomason finished 3rd in pass completions
Pete Pihos leads league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs
Chuck Bednarik ties for lead in interceptions returned for TD

References
  1. 1953 Philadelphia Eagles
  2. "Heisman Trophy". Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  3. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
  4. Players are identified as a 1953 All-Star.
  5. "NFL 1953 League stats, awards and more on databaseFootball.com". Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011. 1953 League Leaders
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