Zach Ertz is a Philadelphia Eagles icon, that will be moving on from the only franchise he’s ever played for. The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for cornerback Tay Gowan and a 2022 firth-round pick, the team announced.
Ertz appeared to give his farewell to the Eagles after Thursday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what looked to be an emotional goodbye to the franchise that selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft. Ertz finished with four catches for 29 yards and a score in Thursday’s loss and has 18 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns through six games this season.
Ertz does want a new contract with Arizona, but has not discussed one with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Eagles legend also indicated his goodbye in a social media post hours before he was dealt. The Cardinals lost Maxx Williams for the season, making acquiring Ertz a high priority as the team lacked a pass-catching tight end.
Ertz is one of the best tight ends in Philadelphia history, catching 579 passes for 6,267 yards and 38 touchdowns in his nine seasons there. He’ll finish his Eagles tenure just 10 catches behind Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael (589) as the franchise’s all-time reception leader and is fifth on the franchise’s all-time list in receiving yards (second among tight ends).
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Ertz has the fourth-most catches for a tight end in NFL history after his first eight seasons along with the ninth-most receiving yards. The 30-year-old Ertz had his best season in 2018, catching 116 passes for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. Ertz is also a Super Bowl hero in Philadelphia, catching the go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the team’s Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots — capping a drive he kept alive with a first-down reception on fourth down earlier in the possession to help the Eagles retain the football.
“Zach Ertz built a special legacy in Philadelphia. Talented, tough, and passionate, he helped to establish our team’s culture and played a vital role in our success over the years,” Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement from the team. “Zach created so many memories that will live on forever, from setting numerous franchise and league records, to reaching across the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in our first-ever Super Bowl Championship.
“He will always be a member of the Eagles family, not only because of what he accomplished on the field, but also because of the wonderful person, dedicated leader, and exemplary role model that he was for nine seasons in Philadelphia. We wish Zach and Julie (wife Julie Ertz who plays for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team) nothing but the best.”
The Eagles legend wished to retire in Philadelphia, but the rebuilding Eagles had other plans as he entered the final year of his contract. Dallas Goedert will become the No. 1 tight end in Philadelphia going forward, while Ertz has another opportunity to win a championship with an ascending Arizona team.
