The Eagles quarterback who will face Tom Brady in the Super Bowl nearly retired 3 years ago — and his career path is one of the wildest in recent memory

Nick Foles had a wild journey from benchwarmer on three teams to Super Bowl starter.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

• Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is squaring off against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII on Sunday.
• Foles has had an up-and-down career — after getting benched in 2015, he contemplated retirement from the NFL.
• His journey from benchwarmer to Super Bowl starter is one of the wildest in recent memory.

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Sunday’s Super Bowl LII matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots will pit arguably the most accomplished quarterback of all time — Tom Brady — against the Eagles’ unheralded quarterback Nick Foles.

While most of the talk leading up to the game centers on Brady’s quest for a record sixth Super Bowl ring, Foles has a compelling narrative of his own. The 29-year-old journeyman looked to be the Eagles’ franchise quarterback five years ago, before an injury, a trade, and a disappointing season had him contemplating retirement from the NFL.

Back with the Eagles, Foles was thrust into the spotlight after star quarterback Carson Wentz was sidelined with a torn ACL, forcing Foles back into the starting role with the hopes of an entire franchise on his shoulders.

Read on for Foles’ wild journey from benchwarmer to Super Bowl starter.