A field guide to thrifted sport
Secondhand Archive
Vol. 80s · Philadelphia Eagles · #12 Cunningham

Vintage 1980s Eagles

jerseys.

Vintage 1980s Philadelphia Eagles jerseys, from the Buddy Ball years (1980–1989). Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season, then Buddy Ryan, Reggie White, and Randall Cunningham scrambling out of everything.

What dates a piece to the 1980s: Starter satin and pullover jackets, Champion and Russell jerseys, mostly USA-made, LA Raiders and Indianapolis Colts city names. Kelly green means 1995 or earlier. Midnight green and the eagle-head logo mean 1996 or later. We don't keep a market snapshot for this collection, so check listings against the list below and ask the seller for photos of the tag and the measurements.

NO. · · 1980S EAGLES JERSEYS, BY THE NUMBERS
Years
1980–89
Garment
jersey
Rough value
$87+
12
Cunningham · #12
12
80s · Jerseys
vol. 80s
NO. 01 · ON EBAY NOW

We don't keep a market snapshot for this collection. The live eBay search shows everything listed right now; use the checklist below to judge what you find.

Search eBay →
LOW · $87
TYPICAL · $194
HIGH · $485

rough guide, not an appraisal

price check

a fair price for a fair shirt

NO. 02 · WHAT TO LOOK FOR
  • Starter jackets: satin team jackets and pullover jackets with Starter's logo embroidered on the sleeve.
  • Made in USA tags are expected. Offshore-made labels became common from the mid-1990s.
  • City names: Los Angeles Raiders (1982-94), Indianapolis Colts (from 1984) and Phoenix Cardinals (1988-93). Baltimore Colts and St. Louis Cardinals gear predates those moves.
  • Match the maker to the years. A Reebok jersey dates to 2001 or later, while Starter, Russell and Champion NFL jerseys are generally 2000 or earlier.
  • Confirm the player's years with that team. A jersey for a season he never played there is a later product or a custom.
the 80s eagles
12
worn by · Cunningham
the

Buddy Ball

era, 1980–1989

Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season, then Buddy Ryan, Reggie White, and Randall Cunningham scrambling out of everything.

NO. 03 · IN THE DESIGN ARCHIVE

Looking for one specific design? The archive files every Eagles design we found on eBay, one page each, with all its past examples.

Philadelphia Eagles · 46 designs →

NO. 04 · RELATED COLLECTIONS
NO. 05 · FIELD NOTES

How can I tell a 1980s Eagles jersey is original and not a modern reissue?

Start with the tag: the maker and the country of manufacture should fit the 1980s, and a licensed piece usually names the NFL or the team on a label. Then check that the logo, wordmark and colors match what the Eagles used in those years. Modern retro and throwback lines copy old graphics but use current tags, so a tag photo settles most questions.

Why does this page mention Cunningham?

Cunningham wore #12 in the Buddy Ball years (1980–1989). Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season, then Buddy Ryan, Reggie White, and Randall Cunningham scrambling out of everything. Player numbers and names from a team's best-known years are the ones most often printed and sewn on fan gear, so they turn up most in secondhand listings.

How does a vintage jersey fit?

Jersey cuts changed over the decades and sizing varies by maker; some jerseys, including many throwbacks, use numeric sizes (such as 44 or 48) rather than S to XL. Ignore the tag and compare the seller's pit-to-pit and length measurements with a jersey you own.

Read the full buying guide →