It appeared time stopped for a split second as Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith dropped to one knee. Smith had just caught a miraculous flea flicker touchdown pass from Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.

After all of the trials and tribulations that Smith has gone through in recent years, this was finally his moment. The doubt surrounding Smith was thrown right out of the window. Lincoln Financial Field went into an all-out frenzy as the Eagles took an improbable 31-7 lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter of the NFC championship game.

Improbable — that’s exactly the journey that Smith has taken back to the Super Bowl with the Eagles. As a 22-year-old wide receiver in his second season in the NFL, Smith helped propel the Baltimore Ravens to a victory in Super Bowl XLVII, catching two passes for 35 yards. He quickly learned over the following five years that success was hard to come by in the NFL.

After his successful tenure with the Ravens, Smith signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, his payday after all of his hard work. Yet the money didn’t lead to happiness in San Francisco.

Smith struggled during his time with the 49ers, yet always remained professional and blocked the outside noise. Heading into the trade deadline during the 2016 regular season, Smith was linked to the Eagles as a target, but a deal was never completed.

In 2017, Smith was released by the 49ers and was free to sign with any team, ultimately choosing the Eagles. It all made sense, Philadelphia was eager to add a deep threat, and Smith would quickly fill that void. His wife is from the Philadelphia suburb of Conshohocken, which made his decision even more natural.

“Folks are going crazy in Conshohocken. To come and play for her home team, that’s pretty cool,” Smith said after practice on Thursday.

Smith finished the 2017 regular season with just 36 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, certainly a disappointing season. However, it didn’t seem to bother him. All he cared about was the team’s success, and the Eagles were headed to the playoffs. Finding a place where he could successfully be a part of a winning team was his goal.

“I had a few other deals with other places and for more money. For me, I took money out of it,” Smith said. “I felt like this was the place where I’d be in the best position to win. I trust Joe Douglas and Andy a lot. I know for them to leave an organization like Baltimore and come here, that says a lot about this place.”

After a miserable two seasons in San Francisco, in which the 49ers went 7-25, Smith was eager to experience the NFL’s biggest stage once again. Luckily for the Eagles, Smith stepped up in the playoffs. In two games against two of the NFL’s hottest defenses, Smith has totaled eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout his career, Smith has lived both the ups and downs of life in the NFL. He’s celebrated a Super Bowl victory in Baltimore and felt the disappointment of a two-win season in San Francisco.

Both Smith and the Eagles have been doubted all season long. He summed up the team’s victory over the Vikings and where they are now.

“It means the world. That’s why you play the game, to be in this position. For us, that was our goal from day one – to be in this position. We believed since day one, when no one else believed in us and obviously everyone just kind of jumped on board when we were hot and when we were rolling,” Smith said.

Now the Eagles are getting set for their first Super Bowl appearance since February 2005. Smith will be in the starting lineup and hopes to have a key role in bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia.