Marty Horn’s Brief Stint as Eagles Quarterback During 1987 Strike
The article recounts the single NFL game played by Marty Horn as a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987 during the NFL players' strike. Horn, a former Lehigh quarterback, was brought in as a replacement player along with hundreds…
Philadelphia, PA, July 31, 2026 —
In the unusual landscape of the 1987 NFL season, marked by a players’ strike, Marty Horn experienced his sole NFL appearance as a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Horn, who previously played college football at Lehigh, was among a wave of hundreds of replacement players signed by teams when the NFL Players Association initiated a strike.
Horn’s NFL career culminated in a single game played on October 11, 1987, against the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles, fielding a roster of replacement players, ultimately lost the contest 41-22. Horn entered the game in the fourth quarter, marking his only participation in an official NFL match.
The era of strike-affected games also brought a noticeable shift in fan engagement in Philadelphia. Reports indicate a general sense of apathy among supporters during these replacement player games. The unique circumstances of the strike led to an unusual chapter in the Eagles’ history, with Horn being a temporary figure in the team’s quarterback rotation.
Following his brief time in the NFL, Marty Horn transitioned to a career outside of professional football. Details regarding his post-playing career were mentioned in the context of the article.
Story summarized from the original created by Ethan Kopelman on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
