The Eagles incredible Super Bowl LII win over the Patriots will live long in the memory. One of the best games in NFL history, with the most yards in a single game in history (1151) and a quarterback duel for the ages.
The fact that Tom Brady was a part of the greatest offensive game of all time is no surprise. That Nick Foles was his opponent in such a matchup, is bizarre to say the least.
Largely because Foles' appearance in the game to begin with is both unlikely and amazing. He wouldn't have been on the field had starting quarterback Carson Wentz not gone down with a season ending injury. Nor would he have even been playing football in 2017 if it weren't for a certain former Eagles coach.
The 29-year-old, now a Super Bowl MVP and a legend in Philadelphia for as he long he lives, retired in 2016. At least briefly.
Foles was on holiday in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California following the 2015 season. A season which had been a career low point for him personally.
He went in to the year as the Rams starter after being traded by the Eagles for Sam Bradford. He started 11 games, going 3-8 before being benched for Case Keenum after a humiliating 3-27 home loss to the Cardinals.
He completed just 56.4% of his passes, tossing only seven touchdown passes to a career high 10 picks in his 11 games. The offseason was even worse for Foles after the Rams drafted Jared Goff with the first pick in the draft, signalling their intentions for the position going forward.
He was disgruntled and was finally released a day before training camp was due to start in late July.
This prompted his trip into the mountains, one he took to gain clarity over his next move in life for he had decided to hang up his cleats and walk away from football.
Foles had played just four seasons in the NFL after being selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by the Eagles, out of Arizona. He'd climbed to dizzy heights in Philadelphia in 2013, posting one of the most efficient seasons by a QB in history.
He threw 27 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions in Chip Kelly's innovative offense and his stock seemed to be on the rise. But a coaching change in Philly, his subsequent trade to the Rams and his release from that organisation left him in limbo.
He decided to call it a day and had sent out a text to a selection of family, friends and former colleagues. Foles had told his brother in law that he no longer had a passion for football and he planned to become a pastor.
After spending a few days with no phone signal in the mountains with friends, and at peace with his decision, Foles' saw a text from his former coach Andy Reid upon regaining service.
“You have a lot of great football left in you,” Reid wrote.
A conversation with Reid led Foles to do a proverbial 180 degree turn. When he called his father Larry later in the day he told him: “Dad, I’m going to Kansas City...I’m going to play for Andy.”
The next day, Foles and his two brother-in-laws found a field to thrown on, something Foles hadn't done in nearly six months. He left for Chiefs training Camp just two days later.
After a year in KC backing up Alex Smith, Foles took a two-year deal to rejoin the Eagles this offseason.
Little did he, or anyone else, know what that decision would lead to. Foles put on a show in Minneapolis on Sunday evening.
He threw for 373 yards, enough to place him in the top five all time for Super Bowl quarterbacks, three touchdowns and even caught a touchdown pass on one of the most incredible plays you'll ever see on such a stage.
The improbable success story of Nick Foles is a feel good story that will never get old. His name will live on forever in Philadelphia, something that the team and the city might have to thank their old coach for.
In essence, a simple text message from Andy Reid help lay a foundation for one of the league's great historical franchises to finally realise their dreams of a Super Bowl win.