The Eagles claimed Pete Retzlaff off waivers from Detroit in 1956. A fullback with the Lions, Philadelphia’s first-year head coach Hugh Devore moved Retzlaff out of the backfield and made him a receiver. Two seasons later, he was tied for the NFL lead with 56 receptions, and earned his first of five trips to the Pro Bowl.
Sometimes you get lucky. And other times you get a bushel basket full of four-leaf clovers lucky.
Retzlaff, who would become a tight end, feels that one of the keys to his gridiron success was the Eagles’ 1958 acquisition of veteran quarterback Norm Van Brocklin from the Los Angeles Rams.