year. Due to past trades by the Eagles, Vermeil's teams did not have a first-round draft pick until 1979. After suffering through two losing seasons under Vermeil, the Eagles made the playoffs for the first time in 18 seasons in 1978. That 1978 season featured breakthrough years by NFL stars Ron Jaworski, Wilbert Montgomery, and one of the greatest games in Eagles history—the seminal Miracle at the Meadowlands. The Eagles were losing to the New York Giants with seconds to play but when the Giants fumbled the ball, Eagles' cornerback Herman Edwards recovered it and ran it back for a touchdown and a miraculous 19–17 victory. In the 1979 season, Vermeil's Eagles went 11–5 and won their first playoff game since the 1960 NFL Championship Game. In the 1980 season, Vermeil led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV after defeating the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC championship. The Eagles lost the Super Bowl to Oakland, 27–10. Philadelphia recorded a 10–6 record in 1981, but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by a 9–7 New York Giants team that was playing with their starting quarterback (Phil Simms) and middle linebacker (Brad Van Pelt) out with injuries. After the Eagles ended the 1982 season with a dismal 3–6 record in a 9-game season shortened by a players' strike, Vermeil retired for the first time on January 10, 1983, citing occupational burnout. Vermeil's time with the Eagles is featured in the 2006 movie Invincible in which the movie depicts open tryouts and how 30-year Philadelphia native Vince Papale made the team. In actuality, Vermeil had seen tape of Papale playing semi-pro ball in Philadelphia and invited him to a workout and a subsequent tryout. Hiatus from coaching (1983–1996) For the next 15 years, Vermeil spent time working as a sports announcer for CBS and ABC. Following the 1994 season, the Eagles fired Rich Kotite and owner Jeffrey Lurie inquired about bringing back Vermeil as coach. However, the Eagles and Vermeil could not come to a contractual agreement. The Eagles would eventually hire Ray Rhodes to be their head coach. Vermeil issued a statement saying, "I'm not going to beg Jeffrey Lurie to coach this football team." St. Louis Rams (1997–1999) Vermeil returned to coaching with the St. Louis Rams in 1997. His first two years with the Rams were abysmal: the Rams won 5 and lost 11 games in 1997,