This Eagles Super Bowl Champion To Play His Final NFL Game

When you ask most Philadelphia Eagles fans about the 2017 team that won Super Bowl LII, they will talk about Nick Foles' performance in the big game and the magical ride of the team coming together that season.

But what some fans forget is one of the most important units on the 2017 Eagles Super Bowl Championship Team was the defense. That season, Philadelphia's defense finished in the top five in the NFL in points allowed and total yards allowed, and it had the fourth most turnovers forced.

That defense was constructed over a period of years that culminated in a unit that was essential to the Eagles winning playoff games against the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. The foundation of the Defensive Line was drafting players such as Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham while the Eagles signed team leaders like Malcolm Jenkins three years earlier.

One of those key players for the 2017 Eagles Defense will be playing his final NFL game this weekend in a game that is a perfect example of what type of professional he is at heart.

Eagles Super Bowl Champion Playing His Final Game in NFL Week 18

Seven years after the 2017 Eagles magical season ended in a Super Bowl Championship, one of the few players still playing in the NFL will step on the field on more time to end his 13-year NFL career.

Three months before celebrating his 26th Birthday, Rodney McLeod signed with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2016 NFL Season. McLeod showcased during his first four years with the St. Louis Rams that he was a hard-hitting Safety who was an opportunist at forcing turnovers.

In McLeod's first game with the Eagles in 2016 he grabbed an Interception and over 6 seasons in Philadelphia, he would compile 11 Interceptions along with 4 Forced Fumbles and his 239 Solo Tackles in the top 30 in Eagles' Franchise History.

Rodney McLeod was a valuable locker room player, mentor for rookies, and important Defensive Player for the 2017 Eagles team that won the Super Bowl. He was also well-known for his community and charity activities in the Philadelphia Area, leading him to be awarded the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award in 2021.

For the last two seasons, McLeod has played for the Cleveland Browns with his former Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.  The Veteran Safety scored a Touchdown against the Eagles in the Browns game at Philadelphia in NFL Week 6.

Rodney McLeod gave the following statement to the Cleveland Media about his final week playing in the NFL before he retires:

“Just staying present, just living in the moment, to be honest, taking things one day at a time and really just cherishing every single day that I have left. So it’s hard for me to look ahead, but just looking forward to preparing one last week with my guys in order to walk away with a victory. I think that’s what’s most important to me right now is figuring out a way to win."

Aside from being a Super Bowl Champion with the Eagles, Rodney McLeod's legacy will be a player who was a great teammate and appreciated by the media who covered his teams.  McLeod was a positive force in the NFL and we wish him the best in his post-NFL endeavors.  His Cleveland Browns finish their season against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, January 4th.

McLeod played six seasons with two of the players who are on the list of the Top Ten Sack Artists in Eagles Franchise History: