Zach Ertz’s best Eagles moments, on and off the field, from a Super Bowl TD to the blond era to an emotional goodbye
Zach Ertz had too many great moments to choose from his eight-plus years in Philly. We picked some of our favorites.
Dust off your No. 86 jersey.
The Eagles are signing Zach Ertz, NFL sources told The Inquirer, confirming an initial ESPN report. The move comes after tests revealed that Dallas Goedert will miss multiple weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee after suffering the injury in Sunday’s win. Ertz, 35, will join the practice squad and is expected to be available to play Monday in Chicago.
Ertz, who last played for the Eagles in 2021, could eclipse Harold Carmichael as the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions with just 11 more catches.
To welcome him back to the city, The Inquirer put together a list including some of Ertz’s most memorable moments — both on and off the field — in Philadelphia.
Super Bowl LII
How else could you start this list?
Ertz’s game-winning touchdown grab in Super Bowl LII etched his name into Eagles history. On third-and-7 , Ertz found the end zone on an in-route to take the lead over the Patriots with just over 2 minutes to go. He bobbled Nick Foles’ pass , but a review confirmed that the Eagles tight end had possession.
“I want to get the ball whenever the situation calls for it,” Ertz, who finished with seven catches for 67 yards, said after the game. “We have a lot of talented guys on this football team. They’ve done an amazing job building this roster. When the situation calls for it, they trusted me. That’s all I can ask.”
Record-breaking 2018
Ertz did not show any signs of a “Super Bowl Hangover” the following season.
In 2018, the tight end had his best statistical season. In 16 starts, Ertz caught 116 passes for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. With the performance, Ertz set the NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season. Last season, the Cardinals’ Trey McBride broke Ertz’ record with 126 passes hauled in — but he had 17 games to do it.
Going blond … and regretting it
A short-lived, but memorable period of Ertz’ tenure in Philadelphia was when he went blonder than usual.
In 2021, it was evident that Ertz’s tenure in Philadelphia was near the end. The Eagles were going through a period of change following the firing of coach Doug Pederson, and Goedert had emerged as the team’s No. 1 tight end. Ertz expected to be traded by the start of preseason, so he looked to have some fun in the meantime.
His idea of fun? Showing up to training camp with platinum/bleach-blond hair.
“I probably wouldn’t have dyed my hair,” Ertz told The Inquirer in a wide-ranging piece in April.
Jason Kelce decided to join. The Eagles center promised Ertz that if he was not traded by the time the season began, he would also dye his hair. Unfortunately for Kelce, Ertz was not traded to the Cardinals until Week 7. So the two sported bleach-blond hair for the majority of the 2021 season.
“I just wanted Zach to have something to look forward to if he was still on the team, like, ‘At least Jason dyed his hair to match,’” Kelce said.
Power couple
Before Jason and Kylie Kelce were Philly’s “it couple,” Zach and Julie Ertz ran the city.
While Zach Ertz excelled on the gridiron, Julie Ertz helped lead the U.S. women’s soccer national team to two World Cup titles. In 2015, Julie Ertz (then Johnson) starred for the U.S. at center back. Four years later, she won gold again playing defensive midfield. Julie, who retired in 2023, is widely seen as an all-time great in the sport.
A viral moment for the couple came in 2018 after the Eagles defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship. While confetti rained down at Lincoln Financial Field, Julie was playing a game for the U.S. in San Diego. She received the news after her match that her husband was going to the Super Bowl. She broke down in tears.
Zach traveled to watch many of his wife’s U.S. games.
“As an athlete, I feel like I have a little bit of control — or a lot of control — of the situation,” Ertz told the Inquirer in 2019. “When you’re in the stands, you have no control of the situation. You’re just praying (a) she’s healthy, (b) she’s having fun and successful. It’s definitely more nerve-wracking watching than playing.”
Saying ‘thank you’
After he was traded to the Cardinals, Ertz bought a full-page advertisement in The Inquirer to thank the city and the Eagles organization.
“Running through that tunnel every Sunday at the Linc truly changed my life,” Ertz wrote. “You have inspired me to push my limits each and every day to make sure I left no stone unturned in my pursuit to represent you the way you deserved. It was because of your love and commitment that I knew I needed to reciprocate that back every single day as a member of this team and community.”
Later in the message, Ertz wrote “Now comes the toughest part for me, saying goodbye, for now, to the city that I love.” Five years later, Ertz’s use of “for now” hits a bit different.
