STEVE VAN BUREN

Van Buren is one of the best NFL players of all time. When he retired at the end of the 1951 season, he was the league's all-time leading rusher and had helped the Eagles win a pair of NFL titles. Besides being a great running back, Van Buren was a dangerous kickoff and punt returner. He ran back two punts for touchdowns and averaged 13.9 yards per punt return for his career. That would be the highest average of all time if he had enough returns to qualify. Van Buren returned three kickoffs for scores and averaged 27 yards per return for his career, the 14th-highest average of all time.

We generally think of returners as small, quick, shifty players. Van Buren was 6-0 and just over 200 pounds. He was big and used that size to his advantage. He didn't make defenders miss so much as he ran through arm tackles and then used his speed once he got into the open field. The Eagles used the fifth overall pick to draft Van Buren in 1944 and he changed the franchise forever. He was a dynamic runner and returner. And he was a champion.

TIMMY BROWN

Not all stars are high draft picks. Brown was taken by Green Bay in the 27th round of the 1959 NFL Draft (fewer teams meant more rounds than today's draft). Luckily, things didn't work out for Brown in Green Bay and the Eagles got him in 1960. He was a backup running back and return specialist for the 1960 NFL Championship team. Brown returned one punt for a touchdown in his career but really stood out as a kickoff returner. He led the league in kickoff returns, yards, and touchdowns multiple times. He was a slashing runner, with the ability to get into space and go all the way.

Brown's signature moment came in 1966 when he ran back a pair of kickoffs to help the Eagles upset the Dallas Cowboys, 24-23. The teams had met once already that year, with Dallas winning 56-7. Brown set an NFL record with the two scores and his 247 return yards helped the Eagles beat the 'Boys in the rematch.

VAI SIKAHEMA

Sikahema was a gifted punt returner who spent most of his career with the Cardinals. The Eagles signed him in 1992 to give their lagging special teams units a boost. Sikahema was the prototypical returner. He was listed at 5-9 and 181 pounds. He was more quick than fast. Sikahema was elusive and used good vision to know where the holes were going to be.

The signature moment for Sikahema came in a game at The Meadowlands in 1992. He fielded a booming punt at his own 13-yard line. Sikahema headed to the right and got by the first free defender. The Eagles blocked well and only punter Sean Landeta was left to beat. Sikahema put a move on him along the right sideline and Landeta fell to the ground, injured on the play. Sikahema then had an open road to the end zone. His celebration was even more memorable than the return. Sikahema dropped the ball and then began punching the padding around the base of the goal post, doing his best Rocky impression. That was a great moment in the blowout win over the rival Giants.

BRIAN MITCHELL

One of the most underrated free agent moves in franchise history is the signing of Mitchell prior to the 2000 season. He brought leadership and talent to the Eagles' special teams and helped coach John Harbaugh develop the unit into one of the league's best. Mitchell was a tad under 5-10 but had a thick, powerful build at 215 pounds. Most returners are elusive. Not Mitchell. He was a freight train. Mitchell got his hands on the ball and then took off upfield at full speed. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Aim for the end zone and make the defenders tackle you. Mitchell is one of the few returners you could say ran "angry."