Nick Foles, Trey Burton relive the Philly Special ahead of ESPN documentary
Foles and Burton discuss the moment and season that turned them into sports icons in Philadelphia.
Inside U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018, Nick Foles leisurely jogged to the Eagles' sideline.
Leading the Patriots by three in Super Bowl LII, the Eagles faced a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line right before halftime. Head Coach Doug Pederson had just called a timeout, giving Eagles fans all over the world an extra two minutes for their stomachs to churn and hearts to race.
But Foles' body had no such reaction. He was stone cold.
When he finally reached Pederson, Foles quickly looked at the coach and uttered the most infamous words in franchise history: "You want Philly, Philly?" Pederson paused for a brief moment before saying, "Yeah, let's do it."
What ensued was one of the most memorable plays of all time: Foles motioning to his right, Corey Clement taking the direct snap and pitching it to Trey Burton, who floated a perfect pass to a wide-open Foles.
That play, officially known as the Philly Special, became iconic in Philadelphia and the sports world. It led to a statue outside Lincoln Financial Field, helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl, and is now being turned into a documentary.
On Friday, ESPN will release the latest installment of its 30-for-30 series on the Philly Special. The film takes a deep dive into the play as its five key members — Foles, Pederson, Trey Burton, Corey Clement, and Jason Kelce — recount the moment and season.
It was a medium for them to relive the day that they became legends. Each member sat down for multi-hour exclusive interviews, and they came together for a day of filming in Philadelphia.
Ahead of the documentary's release, PhiladelphiaEagles.com caught up with Nick Foles and Trey Burton, two key cogs of the play.
Making the call and the play
When Foles arrived at the sideline, he said the play call just popped into his head, something that happened from time to time.
The Eagles had repped the Philly Special in practice throughout the year with ample success, including during a walkthrough in the ballroom of the team hotel before the Super Bowl. Foles suggested the play, but he's adamant that Peterson deserves credit for actually making the call.
"Big risk, big reward," Foles said on Thursday, the eight-year anniversary of the play and the victory over the Patriots. "It just felt like the right play. At the time, I was more in the mindset of peace. I wasn't anxious, I wasn't fearful, I was just calm, in the moment, feeling good. It's almost like I was playing backyard football. It's like, 'Man, this would be a sweet backyard football play that would work.'"
Once the play was in, the Eagles didn't have much time in the huddle. Plus, wide receiver Torrey Smith didn't hear the call initially, so it had to be repeated. "All of those small, little distractions helped me mentally not sail it or throw it in the dirt," Burton said.
The biggest thing Burton learned in the filming of the documentary was that the most difficult part of the play was probably Kelce's snap to Clement. Foles is listed at 6-foot-6, while Clement is 5-foot-10, not to mention Kelce is known for having a fastball.
The snap was perfect, though, and Clement secured it before tossing it to Burton. Foles found out during the 30-for-30 that Burton was told to run the ball in if Foles was covered, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
Burton, who played quarterback in high school and early college, said he remembers Peterson coaching him on how to make the throw. "I remember Doug talking about throwing the ball like a butterfly with sore feet. Throw it soft. It's kind of a crazy analogy," he said with a laugh.
Burton made the throw, Foles made the catch, and the rest was history.
'Wow, that play was a lot bigger than I thought'
For both Foles and Burton, it took some time to understand the broader impact of the play. There was still a lot of football to be played, and Burton said even during the extended halftime, he doesn't remember the Philly Special being a big deal.
He does, however, recall tight end Brent Celek violently shaking him and yelling, "Dude, you just threw a touchdown in the Super Bowl!"
It wasn't until following the game, when Burton was put on the podium for a press conference, that he realized how big a deal it was.
"You just never really understand how grand and how important the play is going to be during the time," he said.
Foles said he started to get a gauge of its significance during interviews after the game. He noted that the ensuing days were a blur, and he doesn't remember much because it was "such a whirlwind."
He said once the game ended, he blinked and he was back at the NovaCare Complex playing pickleball with assistant coach Spencer Phillips the day before the parade.
That's when everything really set in.
"I think in those moments the days following the game you realize, 'Wow, that play was a lot bigger than I thought it was,'" he said. "When you really break it down years later, fourth-and-1 in the Super Bowl against the Patriots, a lot can go wrong. I didn't feel that weight in the moment, but when you think back about it, it makes sense why everyone's like, 'Yeah, there's a reason this play is a legendary play.'"
The game and play cemented Foles' legacy in Philadelphia. He became the first Super Bowl MVP in team history and an instant icon.
Burton went from being a backup tight end with one catch in the postseason to someone who will be remembered forever in Philadelphia.
"I'm just happy I was able to contribute in a way that was meaningful, and I'm glad we were able to win," Burton said. "I was just so happy for the city. It was so crazy, it's hard to even put into words what it meant to so many people in that Philadelphia area.
"I didn't grow up there, I didn't follow the Eagles growing up, but you kind of become family with the fans. I guess my lasting memory would just be how special it was to be the first team to win. Obviously, having a play that was meaningful and unique is really cool. It means a lot."
