By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The general manager who played a large role in constructing the Philadelphia Eagles teams that went to four straight NFC Championship games died Sunday night, at the age of 51 according to the Denver Broncos on Monday.
Heckert spent 10 years with the Eagles from 2001-2010, starting out as the Director of Pro Personnel under Andy Reid. In 2003, Heckert became the Vice President of Pro Personnel, eventually ascending to the GM role in 2006.
During Heckert's tenure as Eagles GM, Andy Reid made almost all of the player decisions, but the team went 38-25-1 during that period. The Eagles went to the playoffs three times with Heckert as general manager, advancing to the 2008 NFC Championship Game.
As Heckert was in the middle of his tenure with the Eagles, the team acquired 10 Pro Bowlers including All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters.
After 2009, Heckert moved over to the Cleveland Browns organization as their GM. From 2013-2016, Heckert served as the director of Pro Personnel for the Denver Broncos, eventually transitioning to a Senior Personnel Advisor in 2017.
Heckert was diagnosed with amyloidosis, which caused his death.
Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, and John Elway all offered their condolences and thoughts to Tom Heckert and his family.
Lurie: "We are saddened to learn of Tom Heckert's passing. Tom gave everything he had to this organization for nine seasons and played a major role in the construction and success of our team during that time. In addition to being a talented evaluator and respected voice, he was a mentor and friend to so many within our organization and around the league. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with him and our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time."
Roseman: "Tom came to Philly in 2001 and made an instant impact on and off the field. He hired great people and his legacy is seen throughout the league in high-ranking front office positions and how many people today are talking about him and telling Heckert stories. He took the time to help all of us get better and learn more about how to evaluate and build teams. His record as a GM was outstanding. When he worked here everyone wanted to be around him and listen to his stories about his time in the league and his experiences around the game. He was one of the first people to congratulate us all when we won the Super Bowl. Thoughts and prayers with his family, including his kids."
Elway: "Tom was an integral part of our organization and we're all incredibly saddened today. With his many years of experience and time as a GM, Tom was a tremendous resource and a key member of our team. He was a very good evaluator–He had an eye for talent, and we always trusted his voice. It's easy to see why Tom was widely respected and had so many great relationships across the league. I'll always be grateful for how he helped me transition into this position. My prayers go out to Tom's family, friends and everyone he worked with during his career."
