1981 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1981 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 49th in the National Football League (NFL). They made the postseason for the fourth straight season (the first time in franchise history the Eagles made the postseason four straight times). The team was coming off a loss to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV the previous season. Because they made the Super Bowl in 1980, the Eagles were picked by many not only to reach the Super Bowl, but to win it as well. The Eagles began the 1981 season with 6 straight wins, their best ever start to a season at the time. They won 3 of their next 5 games for a record of 9–2. Then they lost their next 4 games in a row to slip to 9–6, but clinched a playoff spot for the fourth straight season prior to the final week of the regular season due to owning a tiebreaker with the Packers and not finishing last had the Eagles, Giants, and Packers finished 9–7. The next week, they hammered the St. Louis Cardinals 38–0 to clinch the Wild Card Game would be held in Philadelphia. In the playoffs, they met their arch rivals the New York Giants. It was New York's first playoff appearance in 18 years. The Giants stunned the Eagles 27–21, ending the Eagles' season as well as hopes for a second straight Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles would not make the playoffs again until 1988. They wouldn't reach the Super Bowl again until 2004.

1981 Philadelphia Eagles season
OwnerLeonard Tose
General managerJim Murray
Head coachDick Vermeil
Home fieldVeterans Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd NFC East
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Giants) 21–27

Offseason

NFL Draft

After going 12–4, winning the NFC title and losing in Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 season, the Eagles were slotted to pick next to last in the 12 rounds of the 1981 NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981. ESPN covered all 12 rounds live for the first time. ESPN then showed a replay later that night. This was over a period of two days.

The Eagles had the 27th pick in each of the 12 rounds of the draft except for the 5th, 6th, and 8th rounds; they had no picks for these rounds because of draft-day trades. Instead, they had two picks in the 7th round: the 8th and 27th picks. The Eagles drafted a total of 10 players.

1981 Philadelphia Eagles Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
127 Leonard MitchellDE Houston
255 Dean MiraldiGUtah
383 Greg LaFleurTELSU
4110 Calvin MurrayRBOhio State
6165 Traded to NY Giants
7 174 Alan DuncanKTennessee
192 Doak FieldLBBaylor
8220 Traded to Baltimore
9247 Chuck CommiskeyOLOle Miss
10275 Hubert OliverRBArizona
11303 Gail DavisDTVirginia Union
12331 Ray EllisDBOhio State

Personnel

Staff

1981 Philadelphia Eagles staff

Front office

  • Owner – Leonard Tose
  • General manager – Jim Murray
  • Director of player personnel – Carl Peterson

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Running backs – John Becker
  • Receivers – Dick Coury
  • Tight ends – Lynn Stiles
  • Offensive line – Ken Iman
  • Offensive line – Jerry Wampfler
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Marion Campbell
  • Defensive line – Chuck Clausen
  • Linebackers – George Hill
  • Defensive backs – Fred Bruney

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Lynn Stiles


Roster

1981 Philadelphia Eagles roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 37 Billy Campfield KR
  • 25 Zachary Dixon
  • 33 Louie Giammona
  • 35 Perry Harrington FB
  • 31 Wilbert Montgomery
  • 34 Hubie Oliver FB
  • 32 Booker Russell

Wide receivers

Tight ends

  • 86 Steve Folsom
  • 84 Keith Krepfle
  • 88 John Spagnola
Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

  • 98 Greg Brown DE
  • 71 Ken Clarke NT
  • 78 Carl Hairston DE
  • 68 Dennis Harrison DE
  • 87 Claude Humphrey DE
  • 65 Charlie Johnson NT
  • 99 Leonard Mitchell DE
Linebackers
  • 95 John Bunting OLB
  • 59 Al Chesley ILB
  • 55 Frank LeMaster ILB
  • 52 Ray Phillips OLB
  • 56 Jerry Robinson OLB
  • 51 Reggie Wilkes OLB

Defensive backs

  • 27 Richard Blackmore CB
  • 46 Herman Edwards CB
  • 24 Ray Ellis FS
  • 29 Jo Jo Heath
  • 41 Randy Logan SS
  • 21 John Sciarra DB/PR
  • 22 Brenard Wilson FS
  • 43 Roynell Young CB

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

The 1981 season schedule was set by how the Eagles finished in 1980, 1st in NFC East. The way it was laid out, 4 of the 5 teams in the same 5 team division could end up having 10 to 14 common opponents during the 1981 season. Also, when the last regular season game is over you know who you play the following year.

  • A home and away series vs Dallas, New York Giants, St. Louis and Washington = 8 games
  • The top four teams in the NFC East play the top four teams in the AFC East from the 1980 season = 4 games
  • The 1st and 4th place teams in NFC Central and NFC West in the 1980 season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 6, 1981 at New York Giants W 24–10 72,459
2 September 13, 1981 New England Patriots W 13–3 71,089
3 September 17, 1981 at Buffalo Bills W 20–14 78,331
4 September 27, 1981 Washington Redskins W 36–13 70,664
5 October 5, 1981 Atlanta Falcons W 16–13 71,488
6 October 11, 1981 at New Orleans Saints W 31–14 52,728
7 October 18, 1981 at Minnesota Vikings L 35–23 45,459
8 October 25, 1981 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–10 70,714
9 November 1, 1981 Dallas Cowboys L 17–14 72,111
10 November 8, 1981 at St. Louis Cardinals W 52–10 48,421
11 November 15, 1981 Baltimore Colts W 38–13 68,618
12 November 22, 1981 New York Giants L 20–10 66,827
13 November 30, 1981 at Miami Dolphins L 13–10 67,797
14 December 6, 1981 at Washington Redskins L 15–13 52,206
15 December 13, 1981 at Dallas Cowboys L 21–10 64,955
16 December 20, 1981 St. Louis Cardinals W 38–0 56,656

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

Sunday, September 6, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at The Meadowlands on an AstroTurf playing surface at 70 °F (21 °C) with an 11 mph (18 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (1–0)0107724
New York Giants (0–1)300710
SCORING PLAYSNYGPHITIME
1stGiantsJoe Danelo 27-yard field goal03
2ndEaglesPerry Harrington 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)73
EaglesTony Franklin 47-yard field goal103
3rdEaglesRodney Parker 55-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)173
4thEaglesWilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)243
GiantsLeon Perry 19-yard pass from Phil Simms (Joe Danelo kick)2410

Week 2

Sunday, September 13, 1981 Kickoff 4:00 PM Eastern

TV Broadcast: NBC Announcers: Dick Enberg and John Brodie

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 74 °F (23 °C) (Sunny)

1234Total
New England Patriots (2–0)30003
Philadelphia Eagles (2–0)0310013
SCORING PLAYSNEPHITIME
1stPatriotsJohn Smith 22-yard field goal30
2ndEaglesTony Franklin 46-yard field goal33
3rdEaglesTony Franklin 22-yard field goal36
EaglesPerry Harrington 6-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)313

Week 3

Thursday, September 17, 1981 Kickoff 8:30 PM Eastern

Played at Rich Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface at 55 °F (13 °C) with an 8 mph (13 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (3–0)737320
Buffalo Bills (2–1)0140014
SCORING PLAYSPHIBUFTIME
1stEaglesKeith Krepfle 1-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)70
2ndBillsJoe Cribbs 4-yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)77
EaglesTony Franklin 29-yard field goal107
BillsFrank Lewis 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)1014
3rdEaglesHarold Carmichael 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)1714
4thEaglesTony Franklin 46-yard field goal2014

Week 4

Sunday, September 27, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 68 °F (20 °C) (Sunny)

1234Total
Washington Redskins (0–4)060713
Philadelphia Eagles (4–0)0772236
SCORING PLAYSWASPHITIME
2ndEaglesLouie Giammona 13-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)07
RedskinsMark Moseley 19-yard field goal37
RedskinsMark Moseley 22-yard field goal67
3rdEaglesLouie Giammona 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)614
4thRedskinsJohn Riggins 3-yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)1314
EaglesCharlie A. Smith 29-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)1321
EaglesTony Franklin 28-yard field goal1324
EaglesSafety, Clarke tackled Theismann in end zone1326
EaglesTony Franklin 36-yard field goal1329
EaglesGreg Brown 7-yard fumble return (Tony Franklin kick)1336

Week 5

Monday, October 5, 1981 Kickoff 9:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 62 °F (17 °C) (Clear)

1234Total
Atlanta Falcons (3–2)0010313
Philadelphia Eagles (5–0)670316
SCORING PLAYSATLPHITIME
1stEaglesTony Franklin 36-yard field goal03
EaglesTony Franklin 34-yard field goal06
2ndEaglesCharlie A. Smith 30-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)013
3rdFalconsMick Luckhurst 35-yard field goal313
FalconsKenny Johnson 20-yard fumble return (Mick Luckhurst kick)1013
4thEaglesTony Franklin 43-yard field goal1016
FalconsMick Luckhurst 43-yard field goal1316

Week 6

Sunday, October 11, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Louisiana Superdome on an AstroTurf playing surface at 72 °F (22 °C) indoors

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (6–0)14107031
New Orleans Saints (1–5)700714
SCORING PLAYSPHINOTIME
1stSaintsGeorge Rogers 5-yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)07
EaglesKeith Krepfle 11-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)77
EaglesBooker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)147
2ndEaglesBooker Russell 1-yard rush (Reggie Wilkes pass from Ron Jaworski)217
EaglesTony Franklin 22-yard field goal247
3rdEaglesFrank LeMaster 47-yard fumble return (Tony Franklin kick)317
4thSaintsGeorge Rogers 3-yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick)3114

Week 7

Sunday, October 18, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Metropolitan Stadium on a grass playing surface at 44 °F (7 °C) with a 27 mph (43 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (6–1)6301423
Minnesota Vikings (5–2)0217735
SCORING PLAYSPHIMINTIME
1stEaglesWilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (kick failed)60
2ndVikingsJoe Senser 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)67
EaglesTony Franklin 30-yard field goal97
VikingsSammy White 50-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)914
VikingsBob Bruer 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)921
3rdVikingsAhmad Rashad 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)928
4thEaglesWilbert Montgomery 25-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)1628
VikingsTed Brown 1-yard rush (Rick Danmeier kick)1635
EaglesHarold Carmichael 21-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)2335

Week 8

Sunday, October 25, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 55 °F (13 °C) (Rain)

1234Total
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4–4)700310
Philadelphia Eagles (7–1)0701320
SCORING PLAYSTBPHI
1stBuccaneersDoug Williams 1-yard rush (Bill Capece kick)70
2ndEaglesKeith Krepfle 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)77
4thEaglesTony Franklin 44-yard field goal710
BuccaneersBill Capece 29-yard field goal1010
EaglesTony Franklin 32-yard field goal1013
EaglesWilbert Montgomery 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)1020

Week 9

Sunday, November 1, 1981 Kickoff 4:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 60 °F (16 °C) (Cloudy)

1234Total
Dallas Cowboys (8–1)0301417
Philadelphia Eagles (7–2)077014
SCORING PLAYSDALPHITIME
2ndCowboysRafael Septien 21-yard field goal30
EaglesWilbert Montgomery 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)37
3rdEaglesHarold Carmichael 85-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)314
4thCowboysDoug Cosbie 17-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)1014
CowboysTony Dorsett 9-yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)1714

Week 10

Sunday, November 8, 1981 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at the Busch Memorial Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface at 57 °F (14 °C) with an 8 mph (13 km/h) wind.

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (8–2)710142152
St. Louis Cardinals (3–7)730010
SCORING PLAYSPHISTLTIME
1stEaglesWilbert Montgomery 19-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)70
CardinalsMel Gray 42-yard pass from Jim Hart (Neil O'Donoghue kick)77
2ndCardinalsNeil O'Donoghue 21-yard field goal710
EaglesRodney Parker 33-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)1410
EaglesTony Franklin 32-yard field goal1710
3rdEaglesHarold Carmichael 14-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)2410
EaglesHarold Carmichael 38-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)3110
4thEaglesBilly Campfield 2-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)3810
EaglesWally Henry 20-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Tony Franklin kick)4510
EaglesBooker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)5210

Week 11

Sunday, November 15, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf weather= 54 °F (12 °C) (Light rain)

1234Total
Baltimore Colts (1–10)600713
Philadelphia Eagles (9–2)71410738
SCORING PLAYSBALPHITEAM
1stEaglesKeith Krepfle 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)07
2ndColtsCurtis Dickey 1-yard rush (kick failed)67
EaglesWilbert Montgomery 5-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)614
EaglesWilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)621
EaglesTony Franklin 32-yard field goal624
EaglesCharlie A. Smith 30-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)631
4thColtsZachary Dixon 17-yard pass from Bert Jones (Mike Wood kick)1331
EaglesWally Henry 44-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Tony Franklin kick)1338

Week 12

Sunday, November 22, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface weather= 46 °F (8 °C) (Cloudy)

1234Total
New York Giants (8–4)3701020
Philadelphia Eagles (9–3)730010
SCORING PLAYSOAKPHITIME
1stGiantsJoe Danelo 39-yard field goal30
EaglesKeith Krepfle 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)37
2ndGiantsLeon Bright 1-yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)107
EaglesTony Franklin 27-yard field goal1010
4thGiantsJoe Danelo 30-yard field goal1310
GiantsTerry Jackson 32-yard interception return (Joe Danelo kick)2010

Week 13

Monday, November 30, 1981 Kickoff 9:00 PM Pacific

Played at Orange Bowl on grass playing surface at 73 °F (23 °C) with an 8 mph (13 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–4)703010
Miami Dolphins (8–4–1)0301013
SCORING PLAYSPHIMIATIME
1stEaglesWilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)70
2ndDolphinsUwe von Schamann 42-yard field goal73
3rdEaglesTony Franklin 42-yard field goal103
4thDolphinsDuriel Harris 17-yard pass from Don Strock (Uwe von Schamann kick)1010
DolphinsUwe von Schamann 27-yard field goal1013

Week 14

Sunday, December 6, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on a grass playing surface at 43 °F (6 °C) with a 21 mph (34 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–5)0130013
Washington Redskins (6–8)600915
SCORING PLAYSPHIWASTIME
1stRedskinsJoe Washington 6-yard rush (kick failed)06
2ndEaglesBilly Campfield 25-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)76
EaglesBilly Campfield 5-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (kick failed)136
4thRedskinsMark Moseley 45-yard field goal139
RedskinsMonte Coleman 52-yard interception return (kick failed)1315

Week 15

Sunday, December 13, 1981 Kickoff 3:00 PM Central

Played at Texas Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface at 44 °F (7 °C) with a 9 mph (14 km/h) wind

1234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (9–6)370010
Dallas Cowboys (12–3)077721
SCORING PLAYSPHIDALTIME
1stEaglesTony Franklin 50-yard field goal30
2ndEaglesBooker Russell 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)100
CowboysTony Hill 8-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)107
3rdCowboysButch Johnson 36-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)1014
4thCowboysRon Springs 12-yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)1021

Week 16

Sunday, December 21, 1981 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 29 °F (−2 °C) (Sunny)

1234Total
St. Louis Cardinals (7–9)00000
Philadelphia Eagles (10–6)72110038
SCORING PLAYSSTLPHITIME
1stEaglesCharlie A. Smith 4-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)07
2ndEaglesWilbert Montgomery 9-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)014
EaglesHubie Oliver 13-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)021
EaglesHarold Carmichael 6-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)028
3rdEaglesBilly Campfield 29-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)035
EaglesTony Franklin 44-yard field goal038

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys(2) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 8–4 367 277 L1
Philadelphia Eagles(4) 10 6 0 .625 4–4 7–5 368 221 W1
New York Giants(5) 9 7 0 .563 5–3 8–6 295 257 W3
Washington Redskins 8 8 0 .500 3–5 6–6 347 349 W3
St. Louis Cardinals 7 9 0 .438 2–6 4–8 315 408 L2

Postseason

Schedule

Round Date Opponent Result Attendance
Wildcard December 27, 1981 New York Giants L 27–21 71,611

NFC Wildcard Game

Sunday, December 27, 1981 Kickoff 3:30 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on AstroTurf playing surface weather= 38 °F (3 °C) (Light drizzle)

1234Total
New York Giants (10–7)2070027
Philadelphia Eagles (10–7)077721
SCORING PLAYSNYGPHITIME
1stGiantsLeon Bright 9-yard pass from Scott Brunner (kick failed)60
GiantsJohn Mistler 10-yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick)130
GiantsMark Haynes 0-yard fumble return (Joe Danelo kick)200
2ndEaglesHarold Carmichael 15-yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)207
GiantsTom Mullady 22-yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick)277
3rdEaglesWilbert Montgomery 6-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)2714
4thEaglesWilbert Montgomery 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)2721

References

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