Eagles Celebrate Past and Modern Greatness With Hall Of Fame Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Eagles made a momentous announcement Wednesday that will forever enshrine two champions in franchise history. Malcolm Jenkins, the beloved safety who helped deliver the city’s first Super Bowl championship, and the late Bucko Kilroy, a cornerstone of the franchise’s early title teams, will be inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame on Nov. 28, when Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bears.
Malcolm Jenkins represents everything Eagles fans love about their team. The three-time Pro Bowl safety didn’t just play for Philadelphia from 2014 to 2019, he embodied the city’s spirit and became the defensive heartbeat of the franchise’s first Super Bowl winning team.
His versatility on the field was matched only by his impact in the locker room, where teammates and coaches alike praised his thoughtful leadership and veteran presence. The numbers tell only part of Jenkins’ story. He started all 96 regular-season games during his six-year stint with the Eagles, totaling 515 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 58 pass breakups and 11 interceptions. During those six years, Jenkins was the only NFL safety to record 10-plus interceptions (11) and 10-plus forced fumbles (12). He also had four interceptions returned for touchdowns, the second most in franchise history.
Jenkins wasn’t just a champion on the field. He was chosen as the Eagles’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2019 and received the prestigious Byron “Whizzer” White Award from the NFLPA for his community outreach efforts in 2017.
The timing of the announcement was particularly poignant, as Jenkins was at the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday pursuing his new post-retirement hobby of photography, capturing images of the Eagles’ joint practice with the Cleveland Browns when he received the news personally from owner Jeffrey Lurie.
While Jenkins brought modern championship glory to Philadelphia, Bucko Kilroy helped establish the franchise’s title tradition in its early years. The Philadelphia native spent his entire 13-year NFL career (1943-55) with the Eagles, playing both offensive and defensive line in an era when two-way players were the norm. Kilroy was a member of the 1940s NFL All-Decade Team before earning all three of his Pro Bowl selections in consecutive years from 1952-54. His most significant contributions came as a key member of the Eagles’ first two NFL championships in 1948 and 1949.
Over those back-to-back championship seasons, the Eagles went 22-3-1 (.865) and won both championship games by shutout, a feat that has not been repeated since. The dominance of those teams was remarkable, with the 1948 Eagles ranking second in the league in both points scored and points allowed, while in 1949 they ranked first in both.
Kilroy’s impact on professional football extended far beyond his playing career. He is credited as one of the founders of the NFL Scouting Combine and helped shape the NFL Draft as fans know it today. His 64 seasons in the NFL as a player, coach or executive demonstrate a lifetime dedication to the game.
Kilroy passed away in 2007 at the age of 86, but his legacy lives on through this well-deserved honor.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.