Eagles acquire Andy Dalton to be their backup quarterback

Andy Dalton (Google Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles have found their backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts for the 2026 National Football League season. According to Bobby Kownack of nfl.com on Wednesday, the Eagles acquired Andy Dalton of Katy, Texas for a seventh round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Dalton at age 38, will be the backup quarterback in Philadelphia to Jalen Hurts.

The Eagles are the sixth NFL team Dalton has played for. He previously played nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2011 to 2019, one season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, one season with the Chicago Bears in 2021, one season with the New Orleans Saints in 2022, and three seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2023 to 2025.

This past season, Dalton was the primary backup to Bryce Young of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania in Carolina. He completed 25 of 37 passes for 293 passing yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Dalton was the second round pick, 35th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was the fifth quarterback taken in the NFL Draft. Dalton was selected behind Cam Newton of College Park, Georgia (first overall by the Carolina Panthers), Jake Locker of Ferndale, Washington (eighth overall by the Tennessee Titans), Blaine Gabbert of Ballwin, Missouri (10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars), and Christian Ponder of Dallas, Texas (12th overall by the Minnesota Vikings). However, it is interesting that Dalton is the only active quarterback left among the five.

In his career, Dalton has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times. He was honoured while with the Bengals in his rookie season of 2011, and again in 2014 and 2016.