Nick Foles will start for the Eagles at quarterback Sunday with a Super Bowl MVP trophy back home, but he could have been wearing a Buccaneers jersey playing against the Eagles this weekend. Before signing with the Eagles in March 2017, Foles narrowed his options to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. His decision was not easy.
"It was close," Foles said. "We were in discussions. My wife, Tori, and I were weighing all options. She was pregnant at the time, so we were really thinking long and hard. You talk about the business side of it. You talk about the family side of it."
Family considerations led him to sign with the Eagles. It's not a stretch to say that Foles' daughter helped bring the Super Bowl to Philadelphia. Tori Foles was six months' pregnant, and Nick Foles thought the off-the-field familiarity from his first three NFL seasons would help the growing family. The Philly Special might never have happened if not for Lily Foles.
"Ultimately, we decided that Philly was our home once before, and we loved it. We loved the people here, we loved the city," Foles said. "What better place to be when we bring our daughter into the world? That was the big decision."
After Foles chose Philadelphia, the Buccaneers signed Ryan Fitzpatrick as their backup quarterback. Both Foles and Fitzpatrick returned to their teams this season. And with Carson Wentz injured for the Eagles and Jameis Winston suspended for the Buccaneers, the two backups will start against each other Sunday.
