Back-to-back 10-loss seasons usually dictates change. That was certainly the case for the Eagles in 1964. New head coach Joe Kuharich shook up the roster by adding four rookies and 13 veterans, including halfback Ollie Matson, center Jim Ringo and three-year veteran quarterback Norm Snead.

In a trade that opened more than a few eyes around the league, Snead, who was coming off his first of three Pro Bowl appearances, and defensive back Claude Crabb were acquired from the rival Redskins for seven-year veteran quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, who had led the NFL in passing yards two of the previous three seasons, along with defensive back Jimmy Carr.

"I was happy in Washington and my family was close to there," said Snead, a Virginia native who was a starter for the Redskins since his rookie season. "When you're traded you have to make the adjustment, you have to accept it. And then you have to fit in and all of the things that go with team sports.

QB Norm Snead

"The players that were there, there was a natural period of adjustment for them to see if I did fit in. There's always that period. You do that anytime you have a new teammate, a new rookie. They draft a guy No. 1, you want him to fit in. You want him to help. When that happens, somebody else has to go, so the evolution is always taking place."

Snead passed for 4,252 yards and 29 touchdowns during his first two seasons, which includes four games in which he totaled more than 300 yards in the air. In 1966, he helped the Eagles return to the post-season for the first time in five years.

"They didn't have the system that they have in place now. They called it the Playoff Bowl," Snead recalled. "The two teams that finished second in each conference played a game in Miami.

"It was like kissing your sister," he laughed. "Because if you win, you didn't go anywhere. But players will play. Tiddlywinks or gin rummy. When the whistle blows, you play."

The following year, with a career-high 3,399 yards, a team-record 240 completions and 29 touchdown passes, it's fair to say that Snead played very well. However, Philadelphia struggled to a 6-7-1 record.

"We had receivers named Harold Jackson and Ben Hawkins (who led the NFL and set a team record with 1,265 receiving yards). They were exceptional players. And Pete Retzlaff had a great season. So we were able to throw the ball. We scored a lot of points, but we didn't stop anybody. We had a lot of people hurt. That sort of thing happens in football."

During seven campaigns with Philadelphia, Snead played in 85 regular season games for two head coaches, Kuharich and Jerry Williams. He concluded his career after playing six more seasons with the Vikings, Giants and 49ers.

Retiring from the game in '77, he passed for 30,797 yards, 15,672 as an Eagle; 196 touchdowns, 111 as an Eagle; 257 interceptions, 124 as an Eagle; and rushed for 23 touchdowns, 13 while with Philadelphia.

So what is he most proud of during his 16-year NFL career?

"I played. I played whether I was hurt or whether I was expected to play or whatever the reason, I played," Snead said. "I enjoyed all the cities that I played in and the people I played with. That's what I'm most proud of -- that relationship.

"I didn't win any Super Bowls rings and all that sort of things. That's what you play for and that was everybody's goal, but there's been a lot of great players that never got there."

Following his gridiron career, Snead returned to his hometown and worked in the human resources department at Newport News (VA) Shipbuilding. He also coached football for 10 seasons at the Apprentice School. Now working as a realtor at Naples Reality Services, Snead and his wife, Susan, live in Naples, FL. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.

Be sure to visit our History section for a look at the team's all-time roster, stats, record holders and much more.