10 greatest Philadelphia Eagles of all time

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Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame running back Steve Van Buren on a carry in a 14-0 win over the Los Angeles Rams in a League Championship game on December 18, 1949 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) /

6. RB Steve Van Buren

The Pro Football Hall of Famer is one of two running backs on this list, along with the aforementioned Brian Westbrook. And you could have made a case for talented Wilbert Montgomery as well. Of course, referring to Steve Van Buren as just a running back is somewhat inaccurate.

“I made a lot of long runs (via the Pro Football Hall of Fame). I ran from scrimmage and I ran back kicks and I played safety and ran back passes…I’d just love to run against these four-man lines they have nowadays.”

He was the fifth-overall pick in the 1944 NFL Draft by the Eagles. The former LSU product played eight years for the franchise and led the National Football League in rushing four times. He ran for 5,860 yards and 69 scores in just 83 regular-season outings. There were 45 catches, three for touchdowns. Van Buren also returned two punts and three kickoffs for TDs during his brief career.

There was also the other side of the ball. The talented performer picked off nine passes and recovered 14 fumbles. He was also pivotal during the team’s back-to-back NFL title years in 1948 and ’49. In the former, he scored the game’s only touchdown in a snowy 7-0 victory over the Chicago Cardinals. The following year, he ran over the Los Angeles Rams for 196 yards only 31 carries in Philadelphia 14-0 win.

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