Who is Howie Roseman?
Howie Roseman: The Architect Behind the Eagles' Super Bowl Glory
The Philadelphia Eagles are your Super Bowl 59 Champions, and at the heart of their success stands Howie Roseman, the team's EVP and GM. As the mastermind behind their roster construction, Roseman now shifts his focus to the NFL Draft, a time Eagles fans fondly call “Howie Season.” But how did this front-office wizard rise to iconic status?
Early Years and the Path to the NFL
Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1975, and raised in Marlboro Township, NJ, Howie Roseman didn’t waste any time setting his sights on the NFL. As a high schooler, he started sending letters to every NFL team, hoping to break into the league. His tenacity didn’t stop there—while pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and later attending Fordham University School of Law, Roseman kept working the phones and networking in the industry.
His big break came when he connected with Mike Tannenbaum, then the pro personnel director of the New York Jets. In 1999, Roseman interviewed for a player personnel intern position with the Jets—but he didn’t land the job. Unfazed, Roseman persisted, and in 2000, he was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as an intern to work on salary cap issues.
By 2003, Roseman was promoted to director of football administration, and in 2006, he moved up again to vice president of football administration. But that wasn’t the end of his climb. In 2007, he was named the Eagles’ vice president of player personnel. In 2010, after Tom Heckert left to become GM of the Cleveland Browns, Roseman took the reins as GM of the Eagles.
The Rise to GM and the Early Years
Although he officially became GM in 2010, Roseman’s role was initially more of an advisor to head coach Andy Reid, who retained final say on personnel decisions. In his first year as GM, Roseman built one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, and the Eagles went on to win the NFC East.
In 2013, with Chip Kelly taking over as head coach, Roseman again assumed a more behind-the-scenes role as Kelly had final say over the roster. But things were about to change.
The Comeback: Howie Takes Control
In 2015, Roseman’s influence was temporarily reduced when he was promoted to EVP of football operations while Chip Kelly assumed GM duties. That experiment didn’t last long, though—Kelly was fired after the 2015 season, and Roseman reclaimed the GM position in 2016. Since then, the Eagles have become perennial contenders, appearing in three Super Bowls and winning two.
Howie’s Impact on the Draft
While Roseman hasn’t always made popular picks, his work since regaining the GM role in 2016 speaks for itself. Here's a breakdown of his draft performance over the years:
2016: The Carson Wentz draft. Despite the way things ended with Wentz, his 11-2 record in 2017 before injury was a strong start. The third-round pick of Isaac Seumalo proved fruitful, with Seumalo becoming a steady 6-year starter when healthy. Halapoulivaati Vaitai, selected in the 5th round, started at left tackle during the Eagles' Super Bowl win.
2017: Not a banner year. While the Eagles made some solid selections, many of the players have failed to live up to expectations.
2018: This is when Howie hit his stride. The Eagles landed Dallas Goedert, Josh Sweat, Avonte Maddox, and Jordan Mailata—each one playing a key role on the team. Mailata, a former rugby player, emerged as a rock-solid left tackle.
2019: This draft didn’t have much impact on the team, but it does make 2018’s draft look even better. The lone standout was second-round pick Miles Sanders, who became a feature back.
2020: A mixed bag. The first-round selection of wide receiver Jalen Reagor instead of Justin Jefferson raised eyebrows, especially after Jefferson’s breakout with the Vikings. However, Roseman redeemed himself by selecting Jalen Hurts in the second round, who went on to be named Super Bowl 59 MVP. Additionally, Roseman traded for cornerback Darius Slay, a move that paid off handsomely.
2021: A draft filled with impact players. DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Milton Williams are already contributors, and Kenny Gainwell (fifth round) showed promise. In a big move, Roseman traded for star wide receiver AJ Brown, making the Eagles' offense even more potent.
2022: More excellent picks in Jordan Davis, Cam Juergens, Nakobe Dean, and Grant Calcaterra, strengthening the team's future.
2023: The Eagles hit a home run with first-round picks Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith—both players who can make an immediate impact.
2024: In the most recent draft, Roseman further bolstered the roster with promising talents like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Jalyx Hunt, Will Shipley, and Jeremiah Trotter, Jr.
Howie’s Financial Wizardry
One of Roseman’s signature moves is his ability to manage the salary cap, allowing the Eagles to sign top-tier players while maintaining flexibility. Here’s a breakdown of how he works his cap magic:
Heavy on the back end: The Eagles often structure contracts with lower cap hits in the early years and higher ones later in the deal. This allows them to load up on talent while staying under the cap in the short term.
Voided years: By adding void years to contracts, the Eagles can spread out a player’s cap hit over the life of the deal. If a player isn’t re-signed before the void years kick in, the remaining cap space is accelerated into “dead money.”
Restructured deals: Roseman frequently converts a player’s base salary into a signing bonus, giving the player immediate cash while freeing up cap space for other moves. This allows the Eagles to sign more players while maintaining financial flexibility.
In 2024, Roseman pulled off a major move by signing Saquon Barkley, who went on to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. It’s a move that bolsters an already potent offense and shows that Howie has no plans of slowing down.
What's Next for Howie?
As we look ahead to 2025, Howie Roseman’s ability to build a Super Bowl-caliber roster year after year ensures that the Eagles will remain in championship contention. Whether it’s through the draft, trades, or cap maneuvers, the Eagles’ future looks bright under Roseman’s leadership.
