PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles have became an institution in 1933 when a syndicate led by Bert Bell and Lud Wray purchased the Frankford Yellowjackets franchise for $2,500. Bell wanted his new team's nickname to reflect Philadelphia, so he chose an eagle symbol as its emblem - in this instance, from National Recovery Administration symbolism.
Charles T. Coiner, a Philadelphia graphic artist employed at N. W. Ayer & Son advertising firm. Coiner was sent to Washington to present his designs, sketching an eagle logo while traveling by airplane.
Bell chose the name Eagles to honor his hometown and country, with the bird serving as an appropriate mascot for a championship-minded team. Their popularity increased substantially during the 1940s under Hall-of-Famer coach Greasy Neale as they won three consecutive NFL Championship Games under his guidance.
As America entered World War II, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers united temporarily for one season as "Phil-Pitt Eagles" to help keep the NFL viable during wartime. Through an innovative ownership swap arranged between their owners, Alexis Thompson (Eagles) and Art Rooney (Steelers), Bell became part of Art Rooney's ownership group alongside Thompson as Eagles owner; Alexis Thompson took control over both teams' ownership while Bell became co-owner with Art Rooney of both.
1960 remained one of the most significant years in Eagles history when an untiring team led by Buck Shaw, Chuck Bednarik, and Dick Vermeil used sheer determination rather than talent to defeat Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers and win their only Championship Game during that decade - they achieved victory!
