Five years after leaving Philadelphia as one of the most decorated tight ends in franchise history, Zach Ertz returns to the Eagles.
The team signed Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl Champion, on Tuesday. He will wear No. 86.
About to turn 36 years old in November, Ertz was unsigned this offseason as he recovered from a season-ending knee injury last December. There have been some notable reunions in Eagles history since the turn of the century – defensive ends Vinny Curry and Hugh Douglas, quarterback Nick Foles, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. are some that come to mind.
Regardless of the impact Ertz makes in his second stint as an Eagle, he will be remembered as one of the greatest players in franchise history. He is the author of the first Super Bowl-winning reception, an 11-yard catch and dive into the end zone to help the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. His three Pro Bowl selections are tied for third among tight ends in team history. His 579 career regular-season receptions are second to only Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael (589) in the Eagles' record book. Ertz is fifth all time among Eagles players in receiving yards (6,267) and touchdowns (38). In 2018, Ertz's 116 catches set the team's all-time single-season record (regardless of position) and the NFL's top mark among tight ends (since surpassed).
Off the field, Ertz is a champion as well. He and his wife, soccer superstar Julie Ertz, started the Ertz Family Foundation, which focuses on providing opportunities for youth to realize the benefits of exercise, proper nutrition, and improved quality of education. Ertz has hosted several events in the Philadelphia area since leaving the team.
Ertz, the team's second-round pick in 2013, played six games for Head Coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles in the 2021 season before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.
Since leaving Philadelphia, Ertz has remained productive, with 246 receptions for 2,325 yards and 19 touchdowns in 58 games with the Cardinals (2021-23) and Washington Commanders (2024-25).
