How many people get the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl? Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and former Arizona Wildcat Nick Foles will have the opportunity to wear that accomplishment on his sleeve for the rest of his life.
Foles and the Eagles knocked off the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship and will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. The ex-Wildcat finished Sunday with 26 of 33 passing for 352 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Foles will have the chance to play against his former UA teammates Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Marquis Flowers, who’s also playing in his first Super Bowl.
However, Foles’ story is more historic.
Foles will become the first quarterback in UA history to appear and start in the Super Bowl.
After Eagles starting quarterback and Most Valuable Player candidate Carson Wentz went down with a torn ACL against the Rams in December, Foles filled in and the Eagles have been 4-1 since then.
Foles isn’t a stranger to being a successful quarterback in Philly. Before Foles’ two-year stint in Kansas City and St. Louis, he was once viewed as a potential franchise player for the Eagles, thriving in Chip Kelly’s hurry-up-no-huddle offense. In 2013, Foles threw for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions with a quarterback rating of 119.2. The following season, Foles threw for 2,163 yards and then was traded to the Rams for Sam Bradford.
The Eagles returned Foles as a backup for the franchise centerpiece, but once Wentz went down and was ruled out for the season, the biggest question: Can the backup from UA take the top-seeded Eagles to the Super Bowl? After Sunday, all questions were answered and Foles made history.
Can he become the first quarterback from Arizona to win a Super Bowl? That remains to be seen considering arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history in Tom Brady stands in his way. Dethroning a quarterback like Brady, who’s now in his eighth Super Bowl and has five rings, will be a tough task. The only quarterback to beat Brady at this stage was Eli Manning so it won’t be easy for Foles.
Regardless, Foles will be the first ex-Arizona quarterback in history to play in the Super Bowl, and playing against two other Wildcats should call for a fun Super Bowl Sunday in Tucson.
