Eagles' Chris Maragos Is A Great Philly Fit
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — There is a certain every-man quality to Eagles' special teams demon Chris Maragos. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound, five-year reserve safety made one of the bigger plays in the Eagles' comeback 34-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, racing down the field on the ensuing kickoff following Darren Sproles' 49-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Maragos was a numbers victim with the world champions Seattle Seahawks after last season. The Eagles are his third team in five years, beginning his rookie year in San Francisco, followed by three in Seattle.
He's pleased to have landed in Philadelphia.
"This team was built to make a run and have success, so when I looked at what happened in Seattle, and the salary cap thing, to have some guarantees here, this was the right move to make," Maragos said. "I want to do whatever it takes for this team to win."
His bouncing around has included transferring from Western Michigan, where he played wide receiver, to taking a chance and walking on at Wisconsin, where he began playing defense. And each stop Maragos has been met with doubt—and each time he's answered that doubt.
He went undrafted and he didn't get a scholarship until his fifth year in college.
It's why he plays the way he does as one of those run-through-a-brick-wall kamikazes that will do anything it takes to make a tackle on special teams. He knows his role and is grateful for any chance he gets to produce—as he did on Sunday.
"There's definitely a chip on my shoulder for sure, I walked on in college, I went undrafted, and I think it is why I play the way I do," Maragos said. "Everyone who's doubted me or overlooked me, I go out there every day to prove everybody wrong and to show that I do belong. I'm trying to help the team win. I'm looking to find my niche, find my role and do something to spark us. I'm a cog in the wheel to help these guys win."
Maragos also seems to be a locker room favorite among his teammates. He carries a quasi Rudy-Rocky underdog quality that you can't help but rally around. It's probably why he was swarmed by his teammates after making the special teams tackle at the Jacksonville 18 after the Sproles' TD—one big play followed by another.
"I think for me I feel blessed to have the abilities that I have and to be in this position, and I look at my teammates and all of the hard work they put in and I want to be accountable for them," Maragos said. "I see someone like Jason Peters staying after practice and the work Nick Foles is doing, and Connor Barwin. I want to hold up my end of the bargain, because I know how hard they all work on their end."
Check Out These Sports Stories:
