Carson Wentz will mostly watch from the sidelines during another Super Bowl appearance for the Philadelphia Eagles, just like he did seven years ago. Back then, he watched his backup Nick Foles lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title. Now, Wentz is a backup quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, preparing to face his old team and his former backup, Jalen Hurts.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Wentz said. “It’s been a journey for sure. Feels like a couple of lifetimes ago. Grateful for all the stops along the way. It definitely didn’t go exactly as planned when I first got drafted, but I’m thankful to still be playing the game I love.”
Wentz was drafted second overall by the Eagles in 2016 to be the quarterback who would lead the team to greatness. He quickly made an impact, helping the Eagles become contenders in his second season. He was an MVP candidate until he suffered a knee injury in Week 14, after leading the team to an 11-2 record and NFC East championship.
After Wentz got injured, Nick Foles took over. Foles led the team to one of the greatest postseason runs, including a Super Bowl victory where he threw for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and even caught a touchdown pass. Wentz could only watch from the sidelines.
“It definitely was bittersweet without a doubt,” Wentz said. “It’s something you dream of as a kid. You dream of being on that stage and playing that game. Then life unfolds and you get that opportunity and you’re in street clothes.”
Wentz continued with the Eagles after that, but he never reached the same level of success. In 2018, he was shut down with a back injury and missed the playoffs. In 2019, he got a chance in the playoffs but left a wild-card game against Seattle with a concussion.
After the Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts in 2020, the team traded Wentz to Indianapolis in 2021. Despite the changes, Wentz still looks back on his time with the Eagles with fondness.
“A lot of good times,” Wentz said. “Winning the Super Bowl was amazing. A lot of memories and friendships that I’ll have the rest of my life. There are definitely no hard feelings. You wish it would have went a different way, all those things. But you can’t really kind of have any regrets on that front.”
Since leaving Philadelphia, Wentz has played for Indianapolis, Washington, and the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, he joined the Chiefs as Mahomes’ backup and started one game in Week 18 when the team rested most of its starters.
Though he’s no longer with the Eagles, Wentz still follows the team and isn’t surprised by Jalen Hurts’ success.
“Everybody knew coming in he was an athlete, but I was impressed by how accurate he was,” Wentz said. “He threw the ball well, he spun it well, he was accurate from the start. He seemed sharp and had a good head on his shoulders, so kudos to him.”
