The Former Stanford Standout Is Ready for the NFL.
With less than 24 hours until the final game of the 2024–2025 Eagles regular season — it looks increasingly likely that Eagles second-year quarterback Tanner McKee will make his first NFL start after relieving Kenny Pickett last week.
With the Eagles locked into the #2 Seed in the NFC Playoffs — Jalen Hurts still in concussion protocol and backup Kenny Pickett nursing a rib injury — the Eagles will almost certainly turn to McKee against the New York Giants.
Since being drafted in the sixth round out of Stanford in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has been a favorite at the Novacare Complex. Even when the Eagles signed Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett last season — McKee was still an important part of the organization.
No one knows the value of a great backup quarterback in the NFL like South Philly.
During a trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee found A.J. Brown for the over-the-shoulder touchdown catch. Already up 27–7 with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter, the game out of reach, and Kenny Pickett nursing sore ribs when the Eagles turned to McKee.
After another score that the Cowboys secondary couldn’t stop to A.J. Brown, the Eagles All-Pro wide receiver launched the football into the stands like a Citizens Bank Park centerfield throw to home plate. When he returned to the sideline, Nick Sirianni waited for him and explained that he had just launched McKee’s first NFL touchdown pass away. Without hesitation, Brown raced to the sideline and offered Eagles fans a signed Jersey in exchange for the ball. Also, without hesitation, fans came to the railing to help.
Just seconds after 67,325 onlookers saw the Eagles’ defense stop the Green Bay Packers offense on the three-yard line in the NFL Championship Game at Franklin Field on December 26, 1960, stormed the field and brought down the goal post, the legend of the Philadelphia football fan was born.
During a cold December 15th blizzard against Bud Grant’s Minnesota Vikings, the frustration came to a head. Fans took their frustrations out on poor Frank Olivo — a replacement Santa Claus who filled in for the regular one who didn’t venture out due to the weather. After Olivo’s float became stuck in the mud, he was pelted by the fans with snowballs.
Philadelphia football fans are some of the most passionate, loyal fans in the game. They endured fifteen years of cellar-dwelling Eagles teams before Philadelphia won a championship in 1949.
Then, there was another 57-year drought before the Eagles won a Super Bowl. The Eagles have fueled our passion and captured our hearts through the downturn, the revival when Andy rebuilt the team in the early 2000s, and the Super Bowl win in 2018. When the Eagles needed the fans, there was no doubt that they would help.
Eagles fans also love to support great play on the field — especially against the division rival New York Giants.
And especially for a quarterback the team is so high on and one that hopefully, after Sunday, we won’t see until the preseason next year.
PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
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