It was the kind of moment that can quietly shape the destiny of an entire franchise—a phone call between two former teammates, both seasoned, battle-tested veterans, each with a Super Bowl ring on their fingers, and both with the hunger to do it all over again. On the surface, it was a simple gesture of camaraderie, one player reaching out to another with a message of opportunity. But as Chris Long finally revealed years later on the “Exciting Mics” podcast, that call to LeGarrette Blount wasn’t just a casual nudge. It was a seismic shift in the trajectory of the Philadelphia Eagles. And now, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s impossible not to recognize that phone call as one of the defining sparks that lit the fire of Philadelphia’s unforgettable 2017 Super Bowl run.
Chris Long didn’t have to pick up the phone. After signing with the Eagles in the spring of 2017, the former Patriots defensive end could have quietly settled into his new locker room, gotten acquainted with his teammates, and prepared for another year of trench warfare. But Long had a vision, and more importantly, he had belief—belief in what Philadelphia was building, belief in the team culture taking root under head coach Doug Pederson, and belief that the Eagles were on the cusp of something special. And he knew exactly the kind of player who could help complete the picture.
So he dialed up LeGarrette Blount, his former teammate from New England and a fellow Super Bowl LI champion. The message was short, direct, and brimming with urgency. “Bro, it’s awesome here… you need to get down here.” It wasn’t just about X’s and O’s, or the money, or the starting job. It was about something deeper—a vibe, a brotherhood, an energy inside the locker room that Long felt could translate into greatness if the right pieces were put in place. And Blount, hearing the passion in Long’s voice, was intrigued.
Blount had options. After a monster 2016 season in New England where he led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, he was a coveted free agent. The Patriots had other plans, and while Bill Belichick’s system was known for squeezing out production from even the most unheralded backs, Blount was still a proven workhorse who could tilt the field in his team’s favor. The Eagles, meanwhile, were hungry for a reliable bruiser in the backfield—someone who could take the pressure off young quarterback Carson Wentz, control the clock, and provide leadership in a locker room that was learning how to win.
Chris Long’s call wasn’t the only factor, but it may have been the decisive one. Shortly after the conversation, Blount signed a one-year deal with the Eagles worth up to \$2.8 million, and the rest, as they say, is history.
It’s now common knowledge how instrumental both Long and Blount were to Philadelphia’s title run. Long became a fan favorite, not only for his high-motor play on the edge but for his off-field leadership and philanthropic spirit. He was a steadying voice, a locker room glue guy, and a relentless disruptor on passing downs. Blount, on the other hand, brought a physicality and swagger to the offense that set the tone each week. His playoff performances were particularly unforgettable, as he pounded defenses and ignited the crowd with each bruising run.
But it was the Super Bowl against the Patriots that made the story come full circle. Long and Blount weren’t just key contributors—they were architects of vengeance. Against their former team, in a game loaded with legacy implications and emotional weight, the two former Patriots helped carve out a new chapter of NFL history. Blount rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown, battering New England’s defense with his trademark downhill style. Long, working in tandem with Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, applied critical pressure on Tom Brady, contributing to a defensive performance that sealed the win in the game’s final moments.
And yet, for all the highlight plays and stat sheet glory, it’s the behind-the-scenes revelation that now resonates most. Because the truth is, championship teams aren’t just built on talent. They’re forged through trust, communication, belief, and a willingness to go above and beyond—sometimes with nothing more than a phone call. When Long shared the story on the podcast, he wasn’t boasting. He was pulling back the curtain on how much work goes into creating a culture where players believe in each other so deeply that they recruit one another out of pure conviction.
The Eagles’ 2017 team has since become the stuff of legend in Philadelphia. From the “underdog” masks to the electric energy of Lincoln Financial Field, from Nick Foles’ rise to Super Bowl MVP to the “Philly Special” becoming an eternal part of football folklore, the run was magical in every sense. But every epic has its lesser-known chapters, and now, the image of Chris Long dialing up Blount with a passionate sales pitch is etched into that origin story.
There’s a deeper lesson, too. It speaks to the importance of player-driven culture, where veteran voices shape the environment more powerfully than any coach or GM can. When players take ownership of the locker room, when they believe in the mission and go out of their way to bring in like-minded warriors, that’s when special things happen. That’s what Chris Long understood—and that’s why his phone call still echoes today.
It’s worth noting that Long and Blount weren’t just hired guns. They were veterans with rings, yes, but also with a chip on their shoulder and a desire to leave a lasting impact beyond their New England tenure. They brought experience, toughness, and an understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level. But they also brought humility and a willingness to buy into a new vision.
Blount, in particular, had something to prove. Despite his league-leading touchdown total the year prior, questions still surrounded his long-term value. He answered them emphatically. Whether it was his 68-yard touchdown rumble against the Chargers, his hard-nosed playoff performances, or the leadership he offered to a young running back room, Blount played his role to perfection. He was never flashy, but he was consistent, reliable, and ferocious when it mattered.
Long’s contributions extended beyond the field. In fact, he famously donated his entire 2017 salary to charity, establishing educational equity programs in multiple cities. He was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, and his impact on the Eagles organization went far beyond sacks and pressures. He became a symbol of what it means to lead by example, to invest in both your team and your community.
Looking back, it’s remarkable how one phone call helped unite those two forces in one city, for one magical run. Philadelphia doesn’t win that Super Bowl without Chris Long or LeGarrette Blount. And maybe, just maybe, neither of them ends up an Eagle if that conversation never takes place. It’s a powerful reminder that in sports, like in life, small actions can trigger massive ripple effects. The boldness of one player picking up the phone and saying, “You need to be here,” can change everything.
As the NFL continues to evolve, stories like this serve as inspiration. They show that while analytics, scouting, and cap space all matter, there’s still a human element to team building that no algorithm can capture. Chemistry isn’t found on a spreadsheet. It’s built in conversations, in shared belief, in moments like that Chris Long call to LeGarrette Blount.
Years from now, Eagles fans will still chant about the Philly Special. They’ll still remember Foles’ perfect spiral, Graham’s strip-sack, and the parade that brought millions to Broad Street. But thanks to Chris Long’s candid reflection, they’ll also remember the phone call—the one that helped tip the first domino in a run that ended in confetti. It’s one more reason why that 2017 team will forever hold a special place in NFL lore. Because their journey wasn’t just defined by plays—it was defined by people who believed.
