Detroit Lions cut ex-Eagles backup QB that Doug Pederson made famous

Ryan OLeary

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Detroit Lions cut ex-Eagles backup QB that Doug Pederson made famous image

The Detroit Lions made a roster move Tuesday that should bring back hilarious memories for Eagles fans. 

Remember Nate Sudfeld? The former Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback is still kicking around the league. He was among the Lions’ slew of roster moves during NFL cut-down day, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Sudfeld was a household name for a while in Philadelphia after Doug Pederson famously screwed the NFC East rival New York Giants out of a potential playoff berth during the final game of 2020 regular season. 

Just to reset the stage, the Giants were attempting to win the NFC East with six wins that year. They had “taken care of business” against the Andy Dalton-led Dallas Cowboys earlier in the day. If the Eagles — who entered the game with a 4-10-1 record — could beat the 6-9 Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, the Giants would clinch the division title. With a 6-10 record. 

What happened next will go down in history for one of the NFL’s most bitter rivalries. 

Playing out the string with then-rookie QB Jalen Hurts, Pederson made a coaching decision that not only drew the ire of Giants fans, but ultimately contributed to his firing about a week later. With the Eagles trailing by a field goal, 17-14, with 12:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, Pederson made a mysterious change at quarterback — benching the franchise’s future for someone named Nate Sudfeld. 

Just watch Pederson try to explain the decision after the game without laughing. He could barely contain himself:

The rest is history. Sudfeld’s first series ended with an interception. His second series, which started at the Philadelphia 41 yard line following a Washington turnover, ended with a Sudfeld fumble. The career backup who still has never started an NFL game was also sacked twice and finished with a QB rating of 14.6. 

The Eagles lost the game, 20-14. Washington — not the Giants — clinched the NFC East division title with a 7-9 record. Pederson was fired as Eagles head coach eight days later, on Jan. 11, 2021.

The head coach who won Super Bowl LII, the first in Eagles history, will be remembered in a number of ways — especially when Sudfeld’s name shows up in the NFL’s transaction log.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.