Remembering Randall, 'The Ultimate Weapon'
Twenty-five years ago today, Eagles QB Randall Cunningham was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's NFL preview issue.
TODAY MARKS the 25th anniversary of Sports Illustrated's NFL preview cover proclaiming Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham as "The Ultimate Weapon."
How's that for a Throwback Thursday item?
Cunningham is 51 now, but back then he was a 26-year old acrobat coming off a 1988 Pro Bowl season in which he led the Eagles to a 10-6 record that featured a Monday night win against the Giants that showcased his talents to the entire nation.
Randall finished 31-for-41 for 369 yards and three touchdowns and the Eagles won, 24-13. But the play everyone remembers most occurred in the second quarter from the Giants' 4 when No. 12 amazingly maintained his balance despite a take-your-legs-out hit by linebacker Carl Banks and found Jimmie Giles in the end zone.
The 80-yard bomb Randall threw to Cris Carter to cap the scoring wasn't too shabby, either.
The Eagles, of course, went on to lose to the Bears in the playoffs in the now-famous Fog Bowl. But by then, Randall had caught the eye of a nation and the attention of SI.
He ended up playing 11 years for the Eagles and split five more between the Vikings, Cowboys and Ravens. Overall, he threw for 29,979 yards with 207 touchdown passes.
By the way, the "Ultimate Weapon" headline proved to be prophetic. During that '89 season, Cunningham threw for a career-high 447 yards with five touchdowns in a Week 2 win over the Redskins. And, he boomed a 91-yard punt in a Week 13 victory over the Giants that is still a team record.