Former Eagles running back Miles Sanders has found his next home, agreeing to a four-year deal to join the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports.
In Carolina, Sanders will reunite with former Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, who Sanders says is like a father figure to him. Staley joined Frank Reich’s staff earlier this offseason as an assistant head coach/running backs coach.
Although Sanders never played for Reich in Philadelphia — Reich left in 2018 and Sanders was drafted in 2019 — the Staley connection was likely a driving force in bringing Sanders to Carolina. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report the news.
Sanders, 25, is coming off the best season of his career and his first Pro Bowl nod.
But it was obvious the Eagles weren’t going to bring him back. After agreeing to terms with former Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, Sanders tweeted a farewell to the City of Philadelphia on Tuesday:
Sanders in 2022 has finally remained healthy after various injuries that have plagued recent seasons. He played in all 20 games last year (regular season and playoffs) and finished the regular season with 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. But his production dwindled over time and in the playoffs and he dealt with a lingering injury and sophomore running back Kenny Gainwell played a bigger role.
The Eagles drafted Sanders in the second round (No. 53 overall) in 2019 at Penn State. During his Eagles career, he rushed for 3,708 yards, which ranks him eighth in Eagles franchise history behind only LeSean McCoy, Wilbert Montgomery, Brian Westbrook, Steve Van Buren, Staley, Randall Cunningham and Ricky Watters.
Sanders’ average of 5.0 yards per carry during his Eagles career is higher than any player listed above except Cunningham (6.6).