1953 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1953 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 21st in the league . The team improved on their previous output of 7 – 5 , going 7 – 4 – 1 . The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season . Off Season . At the end of the 1952 season , 2 year player Bud Grant is offered a pay raise in his contract . He chooses to play football in the CFL ( Canadian Football League ) instead . He would have a career worthy of being named to the CFL ' s Hall of Fame as a player . Later on he would make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings . The Eagles held training camp at Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey , PA for the 3rd strait year . Matt Guokas , Sr . is hire to be the PA announcer for the Eaagles . Guokas played basketball for Saint Joseph ' s Hawks in college and the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA . After losing his right leg in an automobile accident , Guokas turned to broadcasting , and he served as an announcer for the N Philadelphia Eagles for 32 yea , rs from 1953 to 1985 . NFL Draft . The 1953 NFL Draft was held on January 22 , 1953 . There was 30 rounds in the draft with 12 teams picking . The San Francisco 49ers received this years Lottery bonus pick . With this pick they chose Harry Babcock an End out of University of Georgia . The 1952 expansion team Dallas Texans ( NFL ) folded during the 1952 season and then became the Baltimore Colts on January 23 , 1953 . The Colts had the number 1 pick and choose Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels an Halfback out of University of Oklahoma . With a 7 – 5 record in 1952 the Eagles got the 7th , 8th or 9th pick in the 30 rounds . With trading away their 1st round pick the Eagles 1st selection was the 7th pick in the 2nd round , 20th overall , they chose Al Conway a Back out of Army and William Jewell College . He did not play due to injury and ended up as an official in the American Football League and an official in the NFL for 28 years . Player Selections . The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick . It is possible the Eagles ' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with . Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away . Game Recaps . Week 2 vs Washington . The Eagles inability to hold onto the ball allows the Washington Redskins to tie them at 21 – 21 . The Eagles allowed 4 interceptions and would loose 1 fumble as they allowed Washington to gain 182 yards on 9 completions . The Eagles also hurt their cause by having 10 penalties for 99 yards called against them . Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns . The Eagles give the Cleveland Browns their only loss of the regular season in the final week of the season . Cleveland would have 3 turn overs during the game . Playoffs . With a record of 7 – 4 - 1 the Eagles finish behind Cleveland and fail to make the playoffs . The Detroit Lions won the National Division and played the Cleveland Browns in the 1953 NFL Championship Game . 1953 Roster . " ( All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history ) " Post Season . Philadelphia finished second in last 2 seasons to the Cleveland Browns , with that Trimble is awarded a three - year contract after the team ' s second straight runnerup finish in 1953 . Awards and Honors . Pro Bowl The Eagles placed 6 players on the 1953 Pro Bowl team . Chuck Bednarik is named MVP of the Pro Bowl . League Leaders