Last week, the Indianapolis Colts announced that they would be releasing veteran quarterback and former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.

During his 11-year NFL career, Nick Foles talled 71 career games (58 starts) across six different teams, completing 1,302-of-2,087 passes for 14,227 yards with 82 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.

Nick Foles NFL Career

• Philadelphia Eagles: 2012-2014
• St. Louis Rams: 2015
• Kansas City Chiefs: 2016
• Philadelphia Eagles: 2017-2018
• Jacksonville Jaguars: 2019
• Chicago Bears: 2020-2021
• Indianapolis Colts: 2022

Over the weekend, the Philadelphia Eagles legend made an appearance at Mariners Church in Irvine, California, a day after his release from the Colts, and spoke about his NFL career coming to a close and what options are next. 

During the event, Foles told a story about a pickleball game he played recently, in which his opponent had no clue that the 6-foot-6, 242-pound Texas native he was playing was a Super Bowl MVP.

“I said [to the guy], ‘My name’s Nick.’ I had glasses on, backward hat,” Foles said. “[He said], ‘Man, you should have been like an NFL tight end with how big you are.’ … [I told him] I actually just finished my 11th year in the NFL. He asked what position, [I said], ‘I play quarterback,’ [and] told him I played for the Eagles. [He said], ‘Y’all almost won the Super Bowl.’ [I told him] I actually did win the Super Bowl, [he goes], ‘Oh, you didn’t play in the game though. You were backing up.’” via Philadelphia Inquirer

Obviously, the pinnacle of Nick Foles career was when he took over for an injured Carson Wentz here in Philadelphia and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots. 

Since then, Foles has jumped around the NFL making a few starts in Jacksonville, Chicago, and Indianapolis. The Colts releasing Foles was definitely not a surprise given the fact that they just drafted Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They also added another former Eagles’ quarterback in Gardner Minshew to their roster. 

“I was just released yesterday by the Colts, which is actually a good thing, so don’t cry for me. It’s OK,” Foles said. “The coach that I was there for, [former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich], was fired. Their GM and I had a good relationship. It’s all good. Everything’s fine.” via Philadelphia Inquirer

Foles also spoke on what the future holds for him in the NFL and if he’s considering retirement.

Nick Foles on Future in NFL, Possible Retirement

“Shoot, almost every year of my career I’ve almost retired,” Foles said. “Every offseason, I think, ‘Do I still want to play? Do I still want to keep going?’ Specifically this last year with everything, God’s really been testing my identity in the game because I was able to get rid of it many years ago, and it was just all about Christ. But [with the] Super Bowl and different experiences, it starts creeping back in. That’s sort of what you’re recognized for. But then people get to know me, and they’re like, ‘He’s just a goofball. He’s just like any one of us.’ I mean, maybe I played in the NFL, but definitely, I’m just a man. I’m just a human. I have the same faults.”

“When I find myself being fully present [with my children] and engaging in what they are doing, whether it’s building Legos or watching a show or playing soccer, when I find that child in my heart, time goes by and we have fun,” said Foles. “Finding that way of being present with them, realizing that wow, when they’re older this is going to matter. It’s not going to matter that I played in the NFL or won a Super Bowl.”

“At the end of the day, it’s been many years since the [Super Bowl win], and it doesn’t define me,” Foles said. “Like I was just signing an autograph, and I had to think … they wanted ‘Super Bowl LII MVP,’ but I said, ‘Wait, what Super Bowl was that again?’ Because I don’t really think about it … life goes on. And the most important thing for me right now is being the best father and the best husband I can be — not necessarily the best football player.

“Doing all these different things in my career the last couple of years hasn’t actually been how I would want it to go. But [I feel like] it’s how God needed it to go for me to learn. And I don’t know what that is right now, but I know someday He’ll point it out to me. And the big thing will be to make sure my identity’s in Christ.” via Philadelphia Inquirer

Whatever Nick Foles decides to do moving forward, one thing is for sure. In Philadelphia, he’s an absolute legend. 

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