Broncos’ Alex Singleton expects return to Philadelphia to be ‘super emotional’
ENGLEWOOD – Alex Singleton’s dream to make the NFL took four years to fulfill. He was cut by three teams, gained dual citizenship in Canada to help him play in the Canadian Football League and finally took his first NFL snap at 25.
The team that tossed him a life preserver was Philadelphia in 2019.
The linebacker, who left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos in 2022, will face his former team for the first time Sunday at Philadelphia.
“I’m really excited,’’ Singleton, 31, said after a practice Thursday at Broncos Park. “I’ve been looking forward to playing the Eagles for four years and obviously really excited to go back there.”
Singleton’s odyssey began after he was undrafted out of Montana State in 2015. He spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings but couldn’t land on a 53-man roster. He was able to get Canadian citizenship due to his mother having been born in Toronto, which helped him land a roster spot with Calgary. He then became a star with the Stampeders from 2016-18.
The NFL finally came calling when Singleton signed with the Eagles. His first regular-season game was Oct. 20, 2019 at Dallas.
“It was awesome,’’ Singleton said. “That’s obviously the dream, the goal, something that I wanted to do my whole life (to play in the NFL). I’ll never forget we were on Sunday Night Football in Dallas and I got to start on the center of the (kickoff return team) being in Philly green. … Those memories are there forever but, obviously, this weekend, throw it all away and let’s go beat the Eagles.”
Perhaps it will be hard to throw everything away Sunday for Singleton.
“It’s going to be super emotional,’’ he said. “My wife (Sam) is from there and I have a lot of family there, so it’s exciting. … I guess I made it in the NFL there, so going back you want to play really good.”
With the Eagles, Singleton didn’t play much as a rookie before working his way up to becoming a part-time starter in 2020 and 2021. Then he went to Denver, where he has become a fixture.
Singleton led the Broncos in tackles in 2022 and 2023, was lost for the season in Week 3 of 2024 with a torn ACL but is back this season again leading the Broncos (2-2) in tackles with 38. He is a captain for the second straight year.
Singleton knows it will be a big challenge for Denver against the Eagles, who are the defending Super Bowl champions and off to a 4-0 start.
“They were the best in the world (in 2024),’’ Singleton said. “If we want to be that, say that we can be that, this is the game to go prove that.”
Singleton said he and his wife return to Philadelphia every year and he usually is greeted warmly but, “obviously, probably I won’t this weekend.”
Nevertheless, Singleton expressed his appreciation for Eagles fans.
“I love the Philly fans,’’ he said. “I had a great time. I love the city. … It’s a passionate fan base. It’s what Philly is based off. If they win, it’s sunny. If they lose, it’s cloudy and so it’s how Philadelphia is.”
The Broncos of the AFC usually play Philadelphia of the NFC every four years, and their last meeting was when the Eagles defeated the Broncos, 30-13, on Nov. 14, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High. Singleton played 10 defensive snaps in that game as a reserve and 22 on special teams.
Singleton then went to Denver in 2022, and the waiting game began for him to face his former team.
“Oh, man, I’m excited for him for what he’s about to do,’’ said outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who joined the Broncos in 2021. “It’s going to be a fun game.”
It’s one Singleton said has been four years in the making.
