1952 Philadelphia Eagles season

NFL team season November 2013 March 2026 521009-Eagles-Browns-program.jpg Philadelphia Eagles 1952 7–5 2nd (tied) NFL American Jim Trimble Happy Hundred Shibe Park Did not qualify Eagles seasons The 1952 Philadelphia Eagles season marked their 20th year in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their previous output of 4–8, winning seven games.1952 Philadelphia Eagles The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Off season Head coach Wayne Millner took over, for ailing head coach Bo McMillin in 1951, would resign on September 8, 3 weeks before the 1952 season started, citing health as the reason for stepping down. NFL draft The 1952 NFL draft was held on January 17, 1952. Picks made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans franchise. There were 12 teams picking for 32 rounds. The Eagles made the 4th pick in each round and made 31 picks in the 32 rounds they had picks in. The New York Yanks had the Eagles pick in the 5th round. The Los Angeles Rams received this year's lottery bonus pick. The Rams used it to pick Bill Wade a quarterback out of Vanderbilt University. The Eagles used their number-4 pick in the 1st round to take Johnny Bright a back of Drake University. Johnny Bright, was chosen before fellow backs and future NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame members Frank Gifford from University of Southern California and Hugh McElhenny out of University of Washington, passed up playing for the Eagles. Bright later commented: I would have been their (the Eagles') first Negro player. There was a tremendous influx of Southern players into the NFL at that time, and I didn't know what kind of treatment I could expect.Soutar Ted https://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=page&id=56 CFL Legend: Johnny Bright CFL.ca August 12, 2006 Player selections The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away. = Pro Bowler Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.= Hall of Famer=Canadian Football Hall of Famer Rd Pick PlayerPosition School Rd Pick PlayerPosition School 1 5 Johnny BrightBackDrake 2 17 Jim WeatherallTackleOklahoma 3 29 Lum SnyderTackleGeorgia Tech 4 41 Chuck UlrichTackleIllinois 5 53 Pick Taken By New York Yanks 6 65 Dick LemmonBackCalifornia 7 77 John ThomasEndOregon State 8 89 Wayne RobinsonCenterMinnesota 9 101 Maury NippGuardLoyola (CA) 10 113 Gerry McGinleyGuardPennsylvania 11 125 Ralph GoldstonBackYoungstown State 12 137 Jack BlountTackleMississippi State 13 149 Ed HamiltonBackKentucky 14 161 Bob StringerBackTulsa 15 173 Malcolm SchmidtEndIowa State 16 185 Jim BrewerGuardNorth Texas State 17 197 John WeigleEndOklahoma State 18 209 Ed RomanowskiBackScranton 19 221 Talbott TrammellEndWashington & Lee 20 233 Bob BlaikBackArmy/Colorado College 21 245 Les WheelerGuardAbilene Christian 22 257 Johnny TurcoBackHoly Cross 23 269 Maury SchnellBackIowa State 24 281 Joe TyrrellGuardTemple 25 293 Bob KelleyCenterWest Texas State 26 305 Bob AlbertBackBucknell 27 317 Chuck HillBackNew Mexico 28 329 Johnny BrewerBackLouisville 29 341 Tony "Zippy" MoroccoBackGeorgia 30 353 Don StevensBackIllinois Regular season Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–25 1–0 Forbes Field 22,501 Recap 2 October 4 New York Giants L 7–31 1–1 Shibe Park 22,112 Recap 3 October 12 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–21 2–1 Shibe Park 18,648 Recap 4 October 19 Cleveland Browns L 7–49 2–2 Shibe Park 27,874 Recap 5 October 26 at New York Giants W 14–10 3–2 Polo Grounds 21,458 Recap 6 November 2 at Green Bay Packers L 10–12 3–3 Marquette Stadium 10,149 Recap 7 November 9 Washington Redskins W 38–20 4–3 Shibe Park 16,932 Recap 8 November 16 Chicago Cardinals W 10–7 5–3 Shibe Park 18,908 Recap 9 November 23 at Cleveland Browns W 28–20 6–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 34,973 Recap 10 November 30 at Chicago Cardinals L 22–28 6–4 Comiskey Park 13,577 Recap 11 December 7 Dallas Texans W 38–21 7–4 Shibe Park 18,376 Recap 12 December 14 at Washington Redskins L 21–27 7–5 Griffith Stadium 22,468 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game recaps Week 1: at the Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 31 (1–0–0)  at  Pittsburgh Steelers 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary September 28, 1952 EST Philadelphia Eagles 14 3 7 7 Pittsburgh Steelers 0 12 0 13 Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 22,501 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles Bud Grant 84-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – Pitt 0 Eagles Frank Ziegler 4-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – Pitt 0 2nd Steelers Jim Finks 20-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 14 – Pitt 6 Eagles Bobby Walston 32-yard field goal Phila 17 – Pitt 6 Steelers Ed Modzelewski 1-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 17 – Pitt 12 3rd Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 12 4th Steelers Jim Finks 1-yard rush (Gary Kerkorian kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 19 Eagles Pete Pihos 25-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 31 – Pitt 19 Steelers Ray Mathews 27-yard pass from Jim Finks (kick failed) Phila 31 – Pitt 25 Week 2: vs New York Giants New York Giants; New York Giants;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 2: New York Giants 31 (2–0–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (1–1–0)  – Game summary October 4, 1952 EST New York Giants 7 14 7 3 Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 0 0 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 22,512 Recap and Stats 1st Giants Bob McChesney 18-yard pass from Frank Gifford (Ray Poole kick) Phila 7 – NY 0 Eagles John Brewer 71-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 7 2nd Giants Joe Scott 30-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 7 Giants Bill Stribling 20-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Ray Poole kick) Phila 21 – NY 7 3rd Giants Joe Scott 10-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 28 – NY 7 4th Giants Ray Poole 16-yard field goal Phila 31 – NY 7 Week 3: vs Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 2:Philadelphia Eagles 26 (2–1–0)  vs  Pittsburgh Steelers 21 (0–3–0)  – Game summary October 12, 1952 ? pm EST Pittsburgh Steelers 7 7 7 0 Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 0 13 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 18,648 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles Bobby Walston 25-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 3 2nd Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 6 Steelers Lynn Chandnois 93-yard kickoff return (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 6 Eagles John Brewer 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 13 3rd Steelers Ray Mathews 25-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 14 – Phila 13 4th Steelers Elbie Nickel 54-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 21 – Phila 13 Eagles Bud Grant 17-yard pass from Fred Enke (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 21 Phila 20 Eagles Bobby Walston 24-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 23 Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 26 Week 4 vs Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns; Cleveland Browns;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 4:Cleveland Browns 49 (3–1–0)  at  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (2–2–0)  – Game summary October 19, 1952 ? pm EST Cleveland Browns 14 7 21 7 Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 0 7 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 27,874 Recap and Stats 1st Browns Len Ford unknown-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 7 – Phila 0 Browns Pete Brewster 47-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 14 – Phila 0 2nd Browns Sherman Howard 35-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 21 – Phila 0 3rd Browns Dub Jones 63-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 28 – Phila 0 Browns Mac Speedie 8-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 35 – Phila 0 Browns Dub Jones 16-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 42 – Phila 0 4th Browns Horace Gillom 11-yard pass from George Ratterman (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 0 Eagles Ralph Goldston 4-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 7 Week 5 at New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 37 (1–0–0)  at  New York Giants 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary September 28, 1952 ? PM EST Philadelphia Eagles 0 14 0 0 New York Giants 3 0 7 0 Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York 21,458 Recap and Stats 1st Giants Ray Poole 30-yard field goal Phila 0 – NY 3 2nd Eagles Bibbles Bawel 52-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 3 Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – NY 3 3rd Giants Bud Sherrod unknown-yard fumble return (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 10 Week 6 at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers; Green Bay Packers;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: Green Bay 12 (3–3–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 10 (3–3–0)  – Game summary November 2, 1952 ? PM EST Philadelphia Eagles 3 0 0 7 Green Bay Packers 6 0 0 6 City Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin 10,149 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles Bobby Walston 23-yard field goal Phila 3 – Green Bay 0 Packers Breezy Reid 21-yard pass from Babe Parilli (kick failed) Phila 3 – Green Bay 6 4th Eagles Russ Craft 32-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 10 – Green Bay 6 Packers John Martinkovic 5-yard blocked punt return (kick failed) Phila 10 – Green Bay 12 Week 7 vs Washington Redskins Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 7:Philadelphia Eagles 38 (4–3–0)  vs  Washington Redskins 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary November 9, 1952 ? PM EST Washington Redskins 0 7 6 7 Philadelphia Eagles 14 14 7 3 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 16,932 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles Don Stevens 56-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) 0 7 Eagles Bud Grant 7-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 0 14 2nd Redskins Johnny Williams 74-yard punt return (George Buksar kick) 7 14 Eagles John Huzvar 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) 7 21 Eagles Mike Jarmoluk 16-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) 7 28 3rd Eagles Bud Grant 4-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 7 35 Redskins Chuck Drazenovich 1-yard rush (kick failed) 13 35 4th Eagles Bobby Walston 26-yard field goal 13 38 Redskins Hugh Taylor 55-yard pass from Harry Gilmer (George Buksar kick) 20 38 Week 8 vs Chicago Cardinals Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles 10 (5–3–0)  vs  Chicago Cardinals 7 (3–5–0)  – Game summary November 16, 1952 ? PM EST Chicago Cardinals 0 7 0 0 Philadelphia Eagles 0 10 0 0 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 18,406 Recap and Stats 2nd Eagles Pete Pihos 12-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) Chi 0 – Phila 7 Cardinals Cliff Anderson 14-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick) Chi 7 – Phila 7 Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Chi 7 – Phila 10 Week 9 at Cleveland Browns Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles 28 (4–3–0)  at  Cleveland Browns 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary November 23, 1952 ? PM EST Philadelphia Eagles 14 0 0 14 Cleveland Browns 7 3 10 0 Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio 28,948 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7   –   Cleve 0 Eagles Bobby Walston 3-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)Phila 14   –   Cleve 0 Browns Mac Speedie 28-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 7 2nd Browns Lou Groza 18-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 10 3rd Browns Mac Speedie 48-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 17 Browns Lou Groza 19-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 20 4th Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 21   –   Cleve 20 Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 28   –   Cleve 20 Week 10 at Chicago Cardinals Arizona Cardinals; Arizona Cardinals;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 10:Chicago Cardinals 28 (4–6–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 22 (6–4–0)  – Game summary November 30, 1952 ? PM CST Philadelphia Eagles 0 3 12 7 Chicago Cardinals 0 14 14 0 Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois 13,577 Recap and Stats 2nd Eagles – Bobby Walston 35-yard field goal       PHIL 3 – 0 Cardinals – Johnny Karras 4-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick)      Tied 3 – 7 Cardinals -Volney Peters 10-yard fumble return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 3 – 14 3rd Eagles – Safety, Matson tackled in end zone by E. Van Buren       CHI C 5 – 14 Cardinals – Ollie Matson 13-yard rush (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 5 – 21 Eagles – Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal       CHI C 8 – 21 Cardinals – Ollie Matson 79-yard kickoff return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 8 – 28 Eagles – Bobby Walston 8-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 15 – 28 4th Eagles – Bud Grant 30-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 22 – 28 Week 11 vs Dallas Texans Philadelphia Eagles; Philadelphia Eagles;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles 38 (7–4–0)  vs  Dallas Texans 21 (0–10–0)  – Game summary December 7, 1952 ? PM EST Dallas Texans 0 7 0 14 Philadelphia Eagles 17 7 14 0 Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 18,376 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles John Huzvar 5-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)        Dallas 0  –   Phila   7 Eagles Bud Grant 41-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0   –   Phila   14 Eagles Bobby Walston 29-yard field goal    Dallas 0  –   Phila   17 2nd Eagles Ebert Van Buren unknown-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0  –   Phila   24 Texans Buddy Young 1-yard rush (Pat Cannamela kick)    Dallas 7  –   Phila   24 3rd Eagles Bud Grant 23-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Dallas 7  –   Phila   31 Eagles Vic Sears 9-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) ,    Dallas 7  –   Phila   38 4th Texans Stan Williams 24-yard fumble return (Pat Cannamela kick),    Dallas 14  –   Phila   38 Texans Dick Wilkins 42-yard pass from Frank Tripucka (Pat Cannamela kick),    Dallas 21  –   Phila   38 Week 12 at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins; Washington Redskins;text-align:center; border:2px solid #FFBE26; autocollapse Week 12: Washington Redskins 27 (4–8–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 21 (7–5–0)  – Game summary December 14, 1952 ? PM EST Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 0 7 Washington Redskins 7 7 0 13 Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. 22,468 Recap and Stats 1st Eagles – Frank Ziegler 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) Redskins – Gene Brito 23-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick) 2nd Eagles – Al Pollard 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Redskins – Johnny Williams 38-yard interception return (George Buksar kick) 4th Eagles – Mike Jarmoluk 45-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) Redskins – Hugh Taylor 16-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick) Redskins – Eddie LeBaron 1-yard rush (kick failed) Standings Playoffs With a record of 7–5, the Eagles fall one game back of Cleveland and failed to make the playoffs. The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams would tie for the National Division title and had to play a Division Championship game before meeting Cleveland in the 1952 NFL Championship Game Roster (All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history) = 1952 Pro BowlPlayers are identified as a 1952 All-Star.= Hall of Famer NO. PlayerAGE POS GP GSWTHTYRSCollege Jim Trimble 35 COACH 1952 record7–5–0NFL-Eagles Lifetime7–5–0 1st Indiana University81Bibbles Bawel22DB1201856–1RookieEvansville 60Chuck Bednarik+27LB-C1202336–33Pennsylvania 36John Brewer24FB1202306–4RookieLouisville 10Adrian Burk25QB1231906–22Baylor33Russ Craft*33DB-HB1201785–96Alabama 17Fred Enke28QB902086–14Arizona 53Ken Farragut24C-LB1202406–4 1 Mississippi27Neil Ferris25DB-HB801815–111Loyola Marymount 22Ralph Goldston23HB-DB901955–11RookieYoungstown State 86Bud Grant25E-DE1201996–3 1 Minnesota 62Bill Horrell22G402225–11RookieMichigan State 38John Huzvar23FB1202476–4RookieNorth Carolina State, and Pittsburgh78Mike Jarmoluk30DT-T-MG1202326–56Temple76Bucko Kilroy31G-MG-T-DT1202436–29Temple67John Magee29G1202205–104La-Lafayette, and Rice 68Maury Nipp22G1002196–0RookieLoyola Marymount 89Bob Oristaglio28DE-E402146–2 Pennsylvania 43Jim Parmer26FB-HB601936–04Oklahoma State 35Pete Pihos+29E-DE1202106–15Indiana 21Al Pollard24HB-FB1201966–0 1 Army 62Knox Ramsey26G302166–14William & Mary 82Joe Restic25E301806–2RookieVillavova 52Wayne Robinson22LB-C1202256–2RookieMinnesota 65Dan Rogas26G-DT-T1002306–1 1 Tulane 27Clyde Scott28HB-DB201746–03 Arkansas, and Navy 79Vic Sears34T-DT1202236–311Oregon State 73Lum Snyder22T1102286–5RookieGeorgia Tech20Don Stevens24HB1101765–9RookieIllinois 44Bob Stringer23LB-FB1201976–1RookieTulsa 45Joe Sutton28DB-HB1001805–113Temple 11Bobby Thomason24QB1291966–13VMI69Joe Tyrrell23G202155–11RookieTemple 31Ebert Van Buren28DB-LB-FB-HB1202106–2 1 LSU83Bobby Walston24E-HB-K1201906–0 1 Georgia 63Norm Willey25DE-G-E1202246–22Marshall 75Frank Wydo28T-DT12122256–45Cornell41Frank Ziegler29HB-DB1101755–113Georgia Tech 88Jack Zilly31DE-E1202126–25Notre Dame 38 Players Team Average 26.1 12 208.2 6–1.2 2.4 Postseason At the end of the season, Bud Grant was offered a pay raise in his contract. He chose to play football in the CFL(Canadian Football League) instead. He had a career worthy of being named to the CFL's Hall of Fame as a player. Later on he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Awards and honors Pro Bowl Players Chuck Bednarik and Pete Pihos both make the Pro Bowl 1st team. Russ Craft and Bucko Kilroy selected to the Pro-Bowl team as back-ups. League leaders Bud Grant finishes 2nd in receptions with 56. Bud Grant finishes 2nd in receiving yards with 997 yds. Adrian Burk leads league in number of punts with 83 and 40.2 yds avg Bobby Walston finishes 2nd with 11 field goals made. References Category:Philadelphia Eagles seasons Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia