Every Star on the Eagles and Their Batman Counterpart
Earlier this season the Eagles adopted the mantra that every player on the team is Batman. What that means is that everyone is the alpha of their position and there are no Robins. AKA: No one is a sidekick or a role-player. Everyone is equally contributing to the machine that is the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles.
And now that the Eagles are about to host the 2022 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, I want to take a look at what version of Batman I think meshes best which each key Eagle player.
Batman the character needs no introduction. He was created for the comics in 1939 by Bob Kane (but his comic book associate Bill Finger did all the work lets say Batman was created by both Kane and Finger.) Throughout the decades Batman saw countless interpretations through comics, movies, TV shows, animation and video games. While he spent his early years as the 2nd most popular superhero behind Superman, I think it’s safe to say that he’s surpassed him as the world’s popular comic book character today.
And with that here’s every star on the Eagles and their Batman counterpart. Feel free to let us know which Batman you think matches an Eagle player the best as well.
NO ROBINS ON THIS TEAM@JasonKelce | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/XvWan73mHR
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 30, 2022
Brandon Graham – Adam West
Brandon Graham is the longest tenured Philadelphia Eagle, and Adam West is the earliest incarnation of Batman on the big screen (not counting those Batman serials from the 1940s.) Adam West’s Batman may have been mocked for being corny and cartoonish at one time, but today that era of Batman is getting recognition as one of the most entertaining iterations of the character.
Brandon Graham used to be mocked early in his career for blocking haters on Twitter and not being Earl Thomas, but today he’s recognized as an absolute Eagles legend. Graham’s strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl 52 is the Eagles equivalent of Batman stopping the Joker in the climax of a Hollywood movie.
Fletcher Cox – George Clooney
While Batman & Robin is universally considered the worst Batman movie and one of the worst superhero movies ever, it wasn’t George Clooney’s fault in his only film appearance as the Cape Crusader. After that movie flopped Clooney went on to become the iconic lead actor he is today and could have gone down in history as a good Batman if he got another chance.
Fletcher Cox arrived in Philly in 2012, which is probably the worst and most depressing Eagles season of the 21st century (though the 2020 season was sure awful too.) The Eagles problems had nothing to do with Cox, and as the franchise built towards the 2017 Super Bowl he was often one of the best parts of the team. Both Cox and Clooney maybe past their peak, but they are still around and greatly appreciated by their fans. Also, who doesn’t love seeing Fletcher’s nipples just like Clooney’s Batman?
Lane Johnson – Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck’s Batman was considered the best part of the disappointing DC cinematic universe that kicked off in 2013, and Lane Johnson is now considered the best part of the ill-fated 2013 NFL draft class.
Also remember when Affleck’s Batman did crossfit in Batman Vs. Superman? You can totally tell Lane has done some too.
DeVonta Smith – Batman Beyond
Anyone who watched the Batman Beyond cartoon can picture DeVonta Smith wearing that slick new age Batman outfit. In a dystopian future where Bruce Wayne is too old to put on the costume, he recruits a young successor named Terry McGinnis who picks up where the original Batman left off.
DeVonta isn’t called the “Slim Reaper” for nothing, he’s a young receiver who makes spectacular and futuristic catches on opposing cornerbacks. And he’d look cool as hell if he wore a Batman Beyond costume next Halloween.
AJ Brown – Christian Bale
Christian Bale was casted as Batman with a lot of hype for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Bale was coming off remarkable performances in films like American Psycho and The Machinist before stepping up to the plate as Batman. Bale exceeded the hype with the iconic Dark Knight trilogy which changed the way comic book adaptations are made today.
AJ Brown arrived in Philly with plenty of hype after 3 impressive seasons as a breakout star in Tennessee. He’s all but answered the call as the Eagles best wide receiver in decades, just as Bale was for the Batman on the big screen.
Dallas Goedert – Dick Grayson
Okay, so referring to a player as “Dick Grayson” means calling them “Robin” since Dick Grayson was Batman’s original Robin. But in the comics Dick Grayson did graduate from Robin to Nightwing, and then became Batman when Bruce Wayne appeared to be dead (its comic books so of course Bruce wasn’t dead after all.)
But early in his career Dallas Goedert was the Robin to Zach Ertz’s Batman, waiting in the wings to take over the Bird’s top tight end. Ertz was traded to the Arizona Cardinals last season which now seems like a place where veterans go to retire, and Goedert has since stepped up as one of the best tight ends in football. Though it could only be a matter of time before Ertz makes his shocking return . . .
Miles Sanders – Michael Keaton
It seems crazy to think about today, but when Michael Keaton was casted as Batman for the 1989 blockbuster film it was met with fan backlash. Keaton was known for comedies at the time like Mr. Mom as opposed to the gothic and moody superhero, but once they saw his performance fans were impressed by how he nailed the character.
Miles Sanders arrived in Philly with high expectations as Saquon Barkley’s backup at Penn State, but some injuries to him and the offensive line along with a change at quarterback and coach lowered them. Going into 2022 fans didn’t expect a lot out of Sanders, but he defied that with a career year. Just as rumors persist that Keaton will don the cape in one more Batman movie, fans hope they get to see Sanders return as the RB1 next year.
Darius Slay – Frank Miller’s Batman
This is one version of Batman that isn’t played by an actor or another character in the comics, but a reinterpretation done by an artist. Frank Miller is one of the most celebrated comic book writers of all-time and his graphic novels The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One are arguably the two most celebrated Batman comics in history.
In the mid 1980s Batman needed a reboot and Miller provided the perfect story about an older Batman coming out of retirement in The Dark Knight Returns, followed by a retelling of his origin in Year One. In 2020 Darius Slay needed a reboot in his career after 7 seasons with the lowly Detroit Lions, and he got just that in 2020 when he was traded to the Eagles. Playing for a contending team has rejuvenated Slay’s career and could redefine his place in history as one of the better corners of his era.
Jordan Malaita – Val Kilmer
Everyone loves Val Kilmer many memorable performances in the 1990s and 2000s, and his scene in Top Gun: Maverick may have been the best movie moment of 2022. But it’s almost easy to forget that Kilmer had a crack at Batman in the film Batman Forever, which is best known today for having Seal’s masterpiece “Kiss From a Rose” on the soundtrack.
Everyone loves Jordan Malaita, but when talking about the great Eagles offensive line he’s not the first name that comes up since Kelce and Lane are in it too. We also have proof that Malaita is an amazing singer on the Eagles Christmas album, and Val Kilmer’s singing as Jim Morrison in The Doors movie was nothing short of perfect.
Hasson Redick – Lego Batman
Voiced by the great Will Arnett, Lego Batman was a recent edition to the franchise and a welcome one at that. The Lego version of the Dark Knight was one of the highlights of The Lego Movie, so much so that it inspired a spin-off which drew great acclaim from critics and audiences.
Hasson Redick was a recent edition to the Eagles and became one of the best Eagles on the team in 2022. He was selected to 2nd team All-Pro with 16 sacks and 5 forced fumbles.
Landon Dickerson – David Mazouz
Remember that Fox TV show Gotham? No? Well it was pretty much Batman’s version of Smallville which showed younger versions of all those famous comic book characters before they actually donned the suits and gained the abilities they are best known for.
Actor David Mazouz played the young Bruce Wayne before finally getting to wear the costume in the series final episode. Landon Dickerson maybe young and got lost in the shuffle of some great offensive linemen, but he did earn a Pro Bowl nod this year as a Guard. Maybe we’ll be noticing both Dickerson and Mazouz more in the future.
Jalen Hurts – Robert Pattinson
When Robert Pattinson was casted as the latest live action Batman there was some skepticism from fans. Pattinson was known best as Edward Cullen from the Twilight movies, but he rebuilt his image in some critically acclaimed indie films.
Everyone was skeptical about Jalen Hurts when he was shockingly drafted by the Birds in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft and suddenly became the new starter. Both Pattinson and Hurts stood up to the challenge and have delivered extremely well as leaders of a new version of a beloved franchise.
And if you watch Pattinson in The Batman, you see that he does not have a Bruce Wayne public persona, he’s all-business all the time. That’s what Jalen Hurts is. No matter what the situation is, Hurts is all-business all the time, not putting up a personality to cater to the media. They’re both on a mission and putting all of their focus into it.
Jason Kelce – Kevin Conroy
Why is Kelce’s Batman equivalent the actor who voiced the Cape Crusader in the Animated Series and Video Games? Because Conroy is universally considered by fans as the best Batman ever. Even though he didn’t put on the costume, Conroy’s performance as the Dark Knight through his voice captured Batman’s essence better than any iteration has before or since.
Jason Kelce is the one member of the roster who seems like a lock for the Hall of Fame. While he might not have surpassed Chuck Bednarik or Reggie White as the greatest Eagle ever, it could be argued he belongs on Eagles Mount Rushmore. Whether you would put him on or Brian Dawkins, or Steve Van Buren next to Chuck and Reggie, the fact that he’s in the conversation says it all.
Rest in Peace Kevin Conroy, your legacy will live on forever.
