nfl

Eagles Trade Long Snapper Jon Dorenbos to New Orleans Saints

The Eagles traded Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 7th round pick in 2019.

The Magic Man is moving on.

On Monday night, the Philadelphia Eagles traded their longest-tenured player Jon Dorenbos, a long snapper and fan favorite who gained additional fame as a popular contestant on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.

The Eagles traded Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 7th round pick in 2019.

Entering his 15th season, Dorenbos signed with the Eagles in 2006 after spending his first three years in the league with the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. During his time with the Birds, Dorenbos was named to the Pro Bowl twice and appeared in a franchise-record 162 consecutive regular season games, tying Eagles Hall of Fame wide receiver Harold Carmichael. Dorenbos' streak ended last season due to a wrist injury.

Dorenbos was also named the Eagles’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient in 2008. The award honors NFL players who exemplify sportsmanship and courage and is given by a vote of the team based on effort and individual performance. Dorenbos was also selected as the Eagles’ nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2016.

In addition to his exploits on the field, Dorenbos also appealed to a different audience during his time on America’s Got Talent in which he showed off his magic skills and tricks, finishing in third place in the competition’s final in 2016.

“Jon is one of the most inspiring people I have ever known," Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie wrote in a released statement. "He gave everything that he had to this organization for more than a decade, but his legacy in Philadelphia goes far beyond his performance on the field, his Pro Bowl selections or the consecutive games streak. His true impact is measured by the number of people in this city that he connected with, the lives he has been able to change and the courage he displays every day after battling such tremendous adversity as a child."

The adversity as a child Lurie spoke of is a pretty well-known story at this point. When Dorenbos was 12, his mother was murdered by his father. Dorenbos immersed himself in magic and created a way to deal with the pain.

Eventually, that magic became an outlet for him to communicate with teammates, coaches and fans. Last season, he made an incredible run on the television show America's Got Talent and became even more of a fan favorite than he already was.

The Eagles had been carrying two long snappers for the entire offseason. With the move, Rick Lovato will likely take over for Dorenbos, who was as popular in the locker room as he was among the fanbase.

Howie Roseman, the Eagles' Executive Vice President of Football Operations, called the decision to trade Dorenbos "difficult."

"We have the utmost respect for his consistency and his relentless commitment to winning over the last 11 seasons," Roseman wrote. "We all remember adding him to the team in 2006 and winning six straight games to win the division and a playoff game. He is a genuine class act who has positively influenced the lives of so many through his community work and his motivational speaking."

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson also released a statement on the trade.

“These are always hard decisions to make, especially with a player like Jon who has so much respect from the coaches, players and fans," Pederson wrote. "On a personal level, it has been a pleasure to work with him and get to know him over the last few years. He’s as tough and reliable as they come. We appreciate everything he has done for this organization and in the community and at the same time we are excited for him to be able to continue his career with the Saints.”

Copyright CSNPH - CSN PHI
Contact Us