Yet another member of Philadelphia’s 2017 championship team is calling it a career.
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday.
Hicks hasn’t played for the Eagles since the 2018 season but he was a starter for them during their first-ever Super Bowl-winning season in 2017.
That is, for the first seven games of that year before suffering a season-ending injury. Hicks all too often struggled to stay healthy in Philly, which contributed to the Eagles allowing him to eventually walk in free agency.
But Hicks did play pretty well at times when he was healthy. The 2015 third-round pick generated some Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz early in his career. Pro Football Focus named him the Eagles’ “secret superstar” after the 2016 season.
Hicks especially tormented the Dallas Cowboys, which is kind of funny since he played college football at Texas. Tony Romo never really recovered from the hit he took from a Hicks strip-sack early in 2015. Hicks had a big pick-six — his only career touchdown — in a 2015 overtime road win in Dallas. Four of his 13 career interceptions came against the Cowboys.
After leaving Philly to sign with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Hicks’ bad injury luck turned around. He didn’t miss a game until the 2023 season as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He reunited with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
All told, Hicks made 134 starts in 138 career games played (including playoffs) over 10 seasons. According to Over The Cap, his career earnings totaled about $44.6 million (very fitting number as a Cowboys Killer).
On a personal note, I really enjoyed covering Hicks. I found his weekly press conferences back during the 2016 season enjoyable due to his honesty and insight. It’s a shame that “Simba” to DeMeco Ryans’ “Mufasa” didn’t pan out as a career-long Eagle. Still, he should always be remembered fondly in Philly.
All the best to Hicks in retirement.
Of the players to log at least one snap for the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, these ones are currently under contract with an NFL team in 2025:
- OT Lane Johnson (Eagles)
- K Jake Elliott (Eagles)
- TE Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders)
- WR Mack Hollins (New England Patriots)
- OG Isaac Seumalo (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- DE Derek Barnett (Houston Texans)
Not many left!
There are some free agents who could conceivably sign with a team and play this season:
- WR Nelson Agholor
- DB Jalen Mills
- LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
- CB Rasul Douglas
- LS Rick Lovato
