By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff
A lengthy era of Eagles football has come to an end.
Jon Dorenbos, the team's longsnapper and longest-tenured player, was dealt to the New Orleans Saints for a 2019 seventh-round pick, the team announced Monday.
Dorenbos, 37, joined the Eagles in the middle of the 2006 season, after a career-ending injury to Mike Bartrum. He had appeared in 163 consecutive games as an Eagle — breaking Harold Carmichael's franchise record that stood for 33 years — before a broken wrist in a 27-22 Week 14 loss to Washington ended that streak.
The two-time Pro Bowler had been universally beloved not just by fans, but in the locker room and front office as well. Owner Jeffrey Lurie lauded him and his service in a statement:
“Jon is one of the most inspiring people I have ever known. He gave everything that he had to this organization for more than a decade, but his legacy in Philadelphia goes far beyond his performance on the field, his Pro Bowl selections or the consecutive games streak. His true impact is measured by the number of people in this city that he connected with, the lives he has been able to change and the courage he displays every day after battling such tremendous adversity as a child. Jon’s enthusiasm and positive outlook are contagious; he’s one of the most genuine, caring people you could ever meet. I speak on behalf of the entire organization when I say we are incredibly proud to have called him an Eagle and our doors are always open to him in the future.”
In addition to his love of football, Dorenbos was also well-renowned for his skill as a magician, which earned him a third-place in front of a national audience on NBC's America's Got Talent last year.
Rick Lovato, who the team picked up after Dorenbos' injury, will likely take over as the team's starting snapper. Depending on how the conditional pick from Denver for Allan Barbre works out, the Eagles could have as many as three picks in that round.
The Birds are preparing to close out their preseason on Thursday, when they head up to North Jersey for a matchup with the New York Jets — a team that, coincidentally, acquired a longsnapper in a deal with Indianapolis.
UPDATE: The Eagles have thanked Dorenbos with a video tribute.
