Nick Foles

Nick Foles – Life, Career & Inspirational Journey

Explore the life and legacy of Nick Foles (born January 20, 1989) — the American football quarterback who led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl, won MVP honors, and parlayed resilience and faith into an inspirational life beyond the field.

Introduction

Nicholas Edward “Nick” Foles (born January 20, 1989) is an American former professional football quarterback, renowned for his clutch performances and journey from backup to Super Bowl hero. His most memorable moment came in Super Bowl LII, where he led the Philadelphia Eagles to a title and was named Super Bowl MVP.

Foles’s career has been marked by highs and setbacks—but also by perseverance, humility, and strong personal faith. His story resonates beyond sports: about embracing one’s role, staying ready, and letting character define you when opportunity arises.

Early Life & Family

Nick Foles was born in Austin, Texas, to Larry and Melissa Foles, who ran restaurants in the area. He attended Westlake High School in Austin, where he was a standout in multiple sports—football, basketball, and baseball.

In football, he threw for 5,658 yards and 56 touchdowns over his high school career, breaking many school records (some previously held by Drew Brees). His athletic versatility and work ethic earned him interest from various college programs.

Foles graduated in 2007 from Westlake.

College Career

Foles initially enrolled at Michigan State but transferred to the University of Arizona after one year.

At Arizona, he took over as the starting quarterback in 2009. Over the following seasons, he produced consistently strong numbers. In 2011, he completed 387 of 560 passes for 4,334 yards and 28 touchdowns.

He graduated with a degree in communications.

Professional Career & Milestones

NFL Entry & Early Years

In the 2012 NFL Draft, Foles was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, 88th overall.

He began as a backup, but in the 2013 season he had a breakout performance, setting the NFL record for best touchdown-to-interception ratio in a season, earning Pro Bowl honors. In one game that season, he threw seven touchdowns (with no interceptions), tying an NFL record.

Journeyman Period & Return

His career after that included stints with the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Indianapolis Colts.

But his most celebrated return came in 2017, when Foles rejoined the Eagles as a backup. After starting quarterback Carson Wentz was injured late in the season, Foles took over and led the Eagles’ playoff run to their first-ever Super Bowl victory.

In Super Bowl LII, Foles threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass on the now-legendary “Philly Special,” and was named Super Bowl MVP.

He continued to play in the following seasons, moving teams again, but his Super Bowl performance remains the defining highlight of his career.

Retirement

In August 2024, Foles officially announced his retirement from the NFL. He signed a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the Eagles and was honored by the team.

Personality, Faith & Off-Field Life

Foles has been open about his Christian faith, and he has pursued theological studies—at one point working toward a Master of Divinity. He has expressed his desire to become a pastor after his football career.

In 2014, he married Tori Moore (younger sister of former NFL tight end Evan Moore). They have children together—his daughter was born in 2017; son in June 2020.

His charitable work includes the Foles Believe Foundation and donating proceeds from his autobiography Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds.

Famous Quotes by Nick Foles

“I want to be a pastor… I took a leap of faith last year and signed up to take classes at seminary.”

“I believe it’s always easy to believe when life’s going good. But the real test is when life gets hard.” (paraphrase & theme from his book and interviews)

“I always want to make sure I leave everything better than when I found it.” (reflective of his outlook in interviews and public remarks)

Lessons from Nick Foles’s Journey

• Be ready when opportunity comes. Foles spent much of his career as a backup, but stayed prepared—and seized the moment when it arrived.

• Character matters. His composure, humility, leadership, and faith made him a model teammate and role model.

• Success is not a straight line. He experienced ups and downs, in form and in team changes, yet never lost commitment.

• Faith can anchor you. His open integration of belief and ambition provides a portrait of purpose beyond simply winning.

• Legacy transcends statistics. His Super Bowl heroics and life mission leave a mark beyond game stats.

Conclusion

Nick Foles’s story is more than a sports narrative—it is one of persistence, preparation, humility, and conviction. From Austin, Texas to the Super Bowl stage, he showed that greatness often lies not in consistent stardom, but in rising to the occasion when it matters most.