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Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the Philadelphia Eagles Won Their First Super Bowl Championship
ESPN's Sal Paolantonio takes readers inside the Eagles' improbable 2017 season, one which culminated in the franchise's long-awaited first Super Bowl victory—from their hot start in the fall with nine straight wins, to the unfathomable loss of star quarterback Carson Wentz, to the sweetest victory over the New England Patriots in Minnesota featuring the unforgettable "Philly Special," and finally to the raucous celebrations on Broad Street. Through exclusive interviews, fans will learn how Philadelphia overcame Wentz's season-ending injury which instantly branded them underdogs, gaining inside perspective into the dynamic between head coach Doug Pederson, back-up quarterback and eventual Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, and the many individuals who stepped up and answered the call at the right times. Paolantonio captures the mood of the team week by week, every step of the way, profiling numerous key players, coaches, and more.
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2019
73 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 1, 2018
Philly Special was simply okay. Nothing really stuck out for me except the really bad writing. Sal Pal tried a bit too hard with some of the analogies making it a bit painful to read at times.
The book basically works through the Eagles 2017 season with some detail. Roughly a chapter per game. He would often provide a variety of mostly related insights into the story of the games. In my opinion, Sal Pal injected himself a bit too much into this story - I guess, as a reporter, he has no other choice. And it often seemed like he made quite a few stretches or filling in of the blanks.
I love my Eagles and this past year was great. This book made me want to re-watch some highlights, but it didn't really add much to anything. It was interesting getting a bit more background into the Philly Special. That was about it.
I personally enjoyed Nick Foles' Believe It a lot more. And Doug Pederson's Fearless is up next.
Eagles fans will read it, if only for the nostalgia.
The book basically works through the Eagles 2017 season with some detail. Roughly a chapter per game. He would often provide a variety of mostly related insights into the story of the games. In my opinion, Sal Pal injected himself a bit too much into this story - I guess, as a reporter, he has no other choice. And it often seemed like he made quite a few stretches or filling in of the blanks.
I love my Eagles and this past year was great. This book made me want to re-watch some highlights, but it didn't really add much to anything. It was interesting getting a bit more background into the Philly Special. That was about it.
I personally enjoyed Nick Foles' Believe It a lot more. And Doug Pederson's Fearless is up next.
Eagles fans will read it, if only for the nostalgia.
December 27, 2018
I am a huge eagles fan and was a pleasure to relive the super bowl season.
January 26, 2023
Getting a chance to relive that season week to week with all its ups and downs made the book impossible to put down. Loved that season and that team. GO BIRDS!!!!!
December 8, 2024
I’m a life long Eagles fan this book gave me chills remembering everything about that Special day🦅🦅
August 29, 2018
Waited my whole life for this
Sal does a great job breaking down the season and providing the insights that come with his long career of covering the Eagles. As a lifelong fan, I will cherish this book as much as I cherish the night that we finally won it all!
Sal does a great job breaking down the season and providing the insights that come with his long career of covering the Eagles. As a lifelong fan, I will cherish this book as much as I cherish the night that we finally won it all!
February 24, 2019
Sal Paolantonio takes you through the lone Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl championship season in this moment-by-moment, smile-inducing retrospective. Bouyed by Paolantonio's inside access, gained through years of his reputable, noteworthy coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles beat for sports media giant ESPN, this book sprinkles charming vignettes that illuminate Doug Pederson's coaching philosophy, the historical angst shared amongst Philly fans and the coalescence of factors that relieved a long-suffering city from its greatest albatross -- zero Super Bowl trophies.
The memories "Sal Pal" recaps are sweet for any Eagles fan, but lack detailed dissection. While some deeper explorations of player development emerge, this is not a tell-all and falls far short in terms of offering enticing personality profiles or profound analysis.
Some golden nuggets are intermingled, however, including the influence of Pederson's late father (wish this was extrapolated on to a greater degree) and the story of that Super Bowl play immortalized in a statue outside the Eagles' home, Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly Special traces the lineage of the magical and gutsy Super Bowl XLII fourth down play call of the same name by backup quarterback-turned-starter Nick Foles and his faithful coach. That play -- a gadgetty direct-snap to a running back, reverse pitch to a tight end and soft toss to Foles for a stunning, all-too-easy touchdown and a 10-point halftime lead, propelled the Eagles to amazing championship glory, after they played underdog the entire postseason due to a devastating ACL injury suffered by franchise quarterback Carson Wentz late in the regular season. Those circumstances made the crowning so unexpected. But the championship was all the sweeter coming against the perennial champion New England Patriots, their icon quarterback Tom Brady and their hated coach Bill Belichick, who defeated a previous incarnation of the Eagles in a Super Bowl more than a decade before.
This book is a must for any Eagles fan, offering a delightful retelling of a supremely magical year. Nevertheless, it lacks the depth, overarching themes or visceral descriptions necessary to compel the common reader, or even the average football fan. It's fodder for the insatiable appetites of fans in a long-starved football city. And for the Philadelphia Eagles fans, that's just perfect.
The memories "Sal Pal" recaps are sweet for any Eagles fan, but lack detailed dissection. While some deeper explorations of player development emerge, this is not a tell-all and falls far short in terms of offering enticing personality profiles or profound analysis.
Some golden nuggets are intermingled, however, including the influence of Pederson's late father (wish this was extrapolated on to a greater degree) and the story of that Super Bowl play immortalized in a statue outside the Eagles' home, Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly Special traces the lineage of the magical and gutsy Super Bowl XLII fourth down play call of the same name by backup quarterback-turned-starter Nick Foles and his faithful coach. That play -- a gadgetty direct-snap to a running back, reverse pitch to a tight end and soft toss to Foles for a stunning, all-too-easy touchdown and a 10-point halftime lead, propelled the Eagles to amazing championship glory, after they played underdog the entire postseason due to a devastating ACL injury suffered by franchise quarterback Carson Wentz late in the regular season. Those circumstances made the crowning so unexpected. But the championship was all the sweeter coming against the perennial champion New England Patriots, their icon quarterback Tom Brady and their hated coach Bill Belichick, who defeated a previous incarnation of the Eagles in a Super Bowl more than a decade before.
This book is a must for any Eagles fan, offering a delightful retelling of a supremely magical year. Nevertheless, it lacks the depth, overarching themes or visceral descriptions necessary to compel the common reader, or even the average football fan. It's fodder for the insatiable appetites of fans in a long-starved football city. And for the Philadelphia Eagles fans, that's just perfect.
March 3, 2021
Broadcast-journalist Sal Paolantonio hunted down and studied the heck out of the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles so he could write this book, and more importantly capture a historical season for a franchise that was seriously overdue for a Super Bowl title.
Everyone who follows football knows about the Philly Special play that was ran near the end of the first half of Super Bowl LII. But this book was about more than that epic and gutsy play. The book explained how the 2017 Eagles pulled themselves together after losing their leader to a season ending injury in Week 14 of the season; how that team used a nothing special but effective offense and a very good defense to get them to Super Bowl LII glory; and more.
When you write a book that chronicles a football season, you must give background on the major players on that team and Paolantonio did that in Philly Special. Mind you, Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles as well as head coach Doug Pederson got most of the ink in this book. But there was also a solid amount of ink spilled in this book on secondary players like running backs LaGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, defensive Chris Long, and others.
At the end of the day, Paolantonio and his publisher knew what sells books when it comes to chronicling a team for a full season. And that is to put the main protagonist on the front cover of the book (Nick Foles), write a lot about that main protagonist in the book, and discuss the main moments that led the Eagles to the Super Bowl LII title.
In conclusion, Philly Special did its job in discussing how the 2017 Eagles won Super Bowl LII. It also did its job in discussing how easy it wasn't for that team to win that championship. That '17 team wasn't super talented, it won a so-so NFC East division, and it wasn't supposed to go as far as it did after Wentz went down near the end of the regular season. But that team believed in itself when no one else did and that's all that mattered.
Everyone who follows football knows about the Philly Special play that was ran near the end of the first half of Super Bowl LII. But this book was about more than that epic and gutsy play. The book explained how the 2017 Eagles pulled themselves together after losing their leader to a season ending injury in Week 14 of the season; how that team used a nothing special but effective offense and a very good defense to get them to Super Bowl LII glory; and more.
When you write a book that chronicles a football season, you must give background on the major players on that team and Paolantonio did that in Philly Special. Mind you, Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles as well as head coach Doug Pederson got most of the ink in this book. But there was also a solid amount of ink spilled in this book on secondary players like running backs LaGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, defensive Chris Long, and others.
At the end of the day, Paolantonio and his publisher knew what sells books when it comes to chronicling a team for a full season. And that is to put the main protagonist on the front cover of the book (Nick Foles), write a lot about that main protagonist in the book, and discuss the main moments that led the Eagles to the Super Bowl LII title.
In conclusion, Philly Special did its job in discussing how the 2017 Eagles won Super Bowl LII. It also did its job in discussing how easy it wasn't for that team to win that championship. That '17 team wasn't super talented, it won a so-so NFC East division, and it wasn't supposed to go as far as it did after Wentz went down near the end of the regular season. But that team believed in itself when no one else did and that's all that mattered.
December 28, 2023
Disappointing. Perfect example of why I don’t waste time listening to national sports media announcers or “reporters”.
A lack of knowledge of local teams and especially fans.
Even though Paolantonio covers the Eagles, he lacks the intimacy of being local.
He claims the famous photo shows Chuck Bednarek celebrating his hit on Frank Gifford when any Eagle fan will tell you he was celebrating his teammate, Chuck Weber, recovering the ensuing fumble, effectively ending the game.
Also, he claimed the Phillies were the only sports team to lose their 10,000th game in the 20th century.
2007 is the 21st century.
These a just two examples of poor research and blatant ignorance that puts into question the rest of the book.
If you want to read about a local sports team, from any locale, go with a local sports guy. No national “correspondent” has the necessary knowledge to write or report accurately on a local team.
So glad I borrowed this from the library and didn’t waste a dime on it.
A lack of knowledge of local teams and especially fans.
Even though Paolantonio covers the Eagles, he lacks the intimacy of being local.
He claims the famous photo shows Chuck Bednarek celebrating his hit on Frank Gifford when any Eagle fan will tell you he was celebrating his teammate, Chuck Weber, recovering the ensuing fumble, effectively ending the game.
Also, he claimed the Phillies were the only sports team to lose their 10,000th game in the 20th century.
2007 is the 21st century.
These a just two examples of poor research and blatant ignorance that puts into question the rest of the book.
If you want to read about a local sports team, from any locale, go with a local sports guy. No national “correspondent” has the necessary knowledge to write or report accurately on a local team.
So glad I borrowed this from the library and didn’t waste a dime on it.
February 8, 2025
I could see this book being monotonous if you read it right after the 2017 season. But reading it in 2025, it gives a whole new perspective to the great story that is the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles. It has aged tremendously well. Each chapter gives a little insight to what went on behind the scenes that year. The exclusives may not be much, but it’s better than nothing. And after reading this book I can say without a doubt, I love Nick Foles. I love Doug Pederson.
Postscript: You can’t help but compare where some of these individuals were in 2017 and where they are now. The downfall of Carson Wentz. The early exit for Doug. Big Dom becomes a national star. Do I need to mention Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Steve Spagnulo etc.
Go Birds
Postscript: You can’t help but compare where some of these individuals were in 2017 and where they are now. The downfall of Carson Wentz. The early exit for Doug. Big Dom becomes a national star. Do I need to mention Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Steve Spagnulo etc.
Go Birds
November 9, 2020
While the writing in this book isn’t going to blow any one away, the nostalgia of it was awesome. Sal Pal takes readers week by week through the Eagles Super Bowl season, providing details in each chapter that only someone with special access to the team could. In particular he highlights the scrutiny that coach Doug Pederson and GM Howie Roseman faced from the fierce Philly media and Eagles fans. Above all else they both remained extremely aggressive throughout the run (Pederson on the field, Roseman with moves like picking up Jay Ajayi mid-season). Overall, any Eagles fan will enjoy this book about the most memorable season in Birds history.
November 24, 2018
Phantastic
I chose the highest rating because Sal delivered a great story of the 2017 Eagles journey to the pinnacle of the NFL. He explains what it means to us lifelong fans that had to wait scores of years for this special team. The backstories of the players and specifically the Philly Special play is illuminating. I recommend this book for all those who love football and the story of underdogs.
I chose the highest rating because Sal delivered a great story of the 2017 Eagles journey to the pinnacle of the NFL. He explains what it means to us lifelong fans that had to wait scores of years for this special team. The backstories of the players and specifically the Philly Special play is illuminating. I recommend this book for all those who love football and the story of underdogs.
February 18, 2019
Life long Eagles fan who never thought they would ever win a Super Bowl. This is by far the best book on the Eagles 2017 season and eventual championship, breaking down each game during the season, and offering background information on various coaches and players (even the designer of the Philly Special). Despite Sal's ego seeping into these pages, this is a well-written and researched book, and a must-read for any Eagles fan.
August 19, 2018
Enjoy the ride
Terrific week by week account of the championship season. Good inside stuff all wrapped up nicely. Tends to interject himself too frequently which is a little annoying but also leads credence to his exposure of the access he was afforded. Enjoyable reliving of a great season.
Terrific week by week account of the championship season. Good inside stuff all wrapped up nicely. Tends to interject himself too frequently which is a little annoying but also leads credence to his exposure of the access he was afforded. Enjoyable reliving of a great season.
August 25, 2018
Being a eagles fan I had to get this and I enjoyed it...the book doesn’t go into huge detail and I didn’t really expect them too because it would be a huge book then but it covers enough and Sal Pal’s work friendship won’t Doug Pederson really helps the book...a couple of errors in the book that I noticed but nothing major
January 30, 2020
If you are an Eagles fan, this is obviously for you. Sal Paolantonio does his usual great job of digging in beyond the surface to reveal previously unknown items. Did you know that the "Philly Special" play originated in the mind of a South Carolina high school football coach? I didn't but I do now.
May 3, 2020
It told the story but it didn't go as in depth or behind the scenes as I wanted it to. Plus, don't censor the curses. We're big boys. We drive Big Boys Buses.
In any event, it did the job. If you're an Eagles fan you've probably soaked up most other methods of reliving the season. This is a well enough written recap.
In any event, it did the job. If you're an Eagles fan you've probably soaked up most other methods of reliving the season. This is a well enough written recap.
May 21, 2021
A must read for Eagles fans, if nothing else to take the time to savor and relive the glory days. Sal does a great job of mixing in historical information about the players with his game-by-game narrative of the championship season. I’m guessing this would only be a 3 or 4 star book for a non-Eagles fan, but as for me, I read and finished it with a smile on my face.
January 2, 2023
Fairly interesting recounting of the Philadelphia Eagles improbable run to the Super Bowl and subsequent victory with backup quarterback Nick Foles. There was noting very earth shattering about this book, but it didn’t bore the reader. An interesting history on the famous “Philly Special” play and it’s high school origins was a highlight.
September 19, 2023
After the painful loss in the Super Bowl this year (2023) it was great to relive the 2017 season and winning the Super Bowl. I truly never thought I’d get to witness the Eagles winning a Super Bowl but it actually happened and I’m still in a state of shock.
Great book, very well written and a must read for all Eagles fans.
E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!
Great book, very well written and a must read for all Eagles fans.
E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!
March 29, 2019
A basic recap of the Eagles Super Bowl season in 2017. Wanted more insight, but filled with public quotes and not too much behind the scenes info. Good book for football junkies, but left wanting more. Love Sal Pal though
December 22, 2024
An incredible re-telling of the magical Eagles Super Bowl season. I can't wait to one day be able to share this with my future kids so they can understand how amazing that moment truly was. Go Birds always!
December 1, 2018
Entertaining and well written.
January 28, 2019
Enjoyed reliving the season from an insider perspective!
June 2, 2019
If Sal Pal doesn’t win the Pulitzer for this then I’ll be shocked...amazing book
August 20, 2019
A great way to get excited about a new football season!
September 27, 2020
I’m an Eagles fan, and I got this as a gift. Of course it’s the greatest book ever written!
August 4, 2021
Must read for any Eagles fan! This a deep dive of the Philly Special and the preparation needed to pull of one of the greatest plays in the Super Bowl era!
October 22, 2021
A must read for Eagles fans. Relive the championship season week by week with added insight and perspective . E A G L ES EAGLES!
April 19, 2022
Exactly the type of nostalgia that I needed to remind me about one of the best parts of being a Pennsylvania native. Fly Eagles Fly.
February 15, 2023
Excellent
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews