Ship Happens in NFC Championship
By: Robert MacRae January 26, 2025

“Ship Happened” on Sunday, as Will Shipley made his mark in the first half of the NFC Championship Game.

The Clemson rookie’s impact was felt on special teams as helped his Philadelphia Eagles to a 27-15 lead over the Washington Commanders at halftime of the NFC title game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Shipley kickstarted the Eagles’ first possession and showed his burst with an impressive 35-yard kickoff return to the 40-yard line. That return set up Saquon Barkley’s 60-yard touchdown run one play later, giving Philly a 7-3 lead midway through the opening quarter. Shipley later added a 25-yard kickoff return to finish the first half with 60 return yards.

Then, with less than two minutes remaining before halftime, Shipley came up big again by forcing a fumble on an Commanders kickoff return. Shipley knocked the ball loose from Jeremy McNichols, and the forced fumble eventually led to another Eagles touchdown that extended their lead to 27-12 with 39 seconds left in the second quarter.

Shipley was selected by Eagles in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft following his outstanding Clemson career from 2021-23, after which he exited in the Top 10 in school history in total touchdowns (33), rushing touchdowns (31), 100-yard rushing games (10), all-purpose yards (4,253) and kickoff return yards (904), while also finishing ranked 11th in rushing yards.

Check out his special teams takeaway in the first half of Sunday’s game below:

–Photo courtesy Bill Streicher-Imagn Images