Eddie Khayat, the legendary head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and a six-time Hall of Fame inductee, has sadly passed away at the age of 89, according to a statement from the team. He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their sons, Edward Jr. and Bill.
Born on September 14, 1935, in Moss Point, Mississippi, Khayat enjoyed an impressive career as both an athlete and coach. His college career began at Millsaps College in 1953, where he excelled in both football and basketball. He also won the Mississippi Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship in the novice class. Khayat transferred to Perkinston Junior College (now Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College) to continue his athletic pursuits before earning a scholarship to Tulane University in 1955. At Tulane, he played football for two years and also lettered in baseball. His outstanding college career led to his inclusion in several prestigious teams, including the All-Time Tulane Green Wave Football Team (1979), the Tulane Green Wave Football All-Century Team (1993), and his induction into the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.
Khayat began his professional football career in 1957 as a free agent with the Washington Redskins but made his greatest impact with the Philadelphia Eagles. After joining the Eagles in 1958, he started as a backup center on the practice squad. However, once moved to defensive tackle—the position he played at Tulane—he became a key starter. Khayat was an essential part of the Eagles’ defense during their 1960 World Championship victory, helping the team defeat Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship Game, marking the only playoff loss of Lombardi’s legendary career. That victory would be the Packers’ last playoff defeat for many years, as they went on to dominate the 1960s, winning five NFL titles, including the first two Super Bowls.
Reflecting on the 1960 championship, Khayat said, “We could feel it coming… We finished second in ’59 and we knew we had a good ballclub… When you’ve got (Norm) Van Brocklin and (Sonny) Jurgensen as your quarterbacks, you’re way ahead of the rest of them.” He also recalled a key preseason victory against the defending champion Colts, which helped build the team’s confidence for the championship run.
After retiring from playing in 1966, Khayat transitioned to coaching. He began his coaching career with the New Orleans Saints in 1967 before returning to the Eagles as their head coach in 1971. Although his time as head coach in Philadelphia was short and his record in 1972 was a disappointing 2-11-1, Khayat’s bond with the city remained strong. He had played for the Eagles for six seasons (1958–1961, 1964–1965) and was one of only four players in team history to later become head coach. After taking over mid-season in 1971, Khayat guided the team to a 6-4-1 finish for the remainder of the year.
Throughout his 10-year playing career and 25 years as a coach, Khayat was inducted into six Hall of Fames, including the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1960 NFL Championship Team.
Khayat’s legacy as both a player and coach has left an indelible mark on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL at large.
