Zach Ertz
A clutch tight end whose reliable hands and Super Bowl-winning catch cemented him as a Philadelphia Eagles legend and a model of consistency.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Zach Ertz built a career on precision and trust. At Stanford, he evolved from a promising athlete into a complete tight end, a prototype of the modern pass-catching threat at the position. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, he quickly became quarterback Carson Wentz's—and later Nick Foles's—most dependable target in critical moments. Ertz operated with a surgeon's timing over the middle, mastering the art of the seam route and the back-shoulder catch. His apex came in Super Bowl LII, where his go-ahead touchdown reception with just over two minutes left became an immortal moment in Eagles folklore. Later, his 2018 season saw him shatter the single-season reception record for tight ends, a testament to his volume and durability. While his career later took him to other teams, his identity remains forged in Philadelphia, where he is remembered not for loud theatrics, but for the quiet certainty that when the game was on the line, the ball thrown his way would be caught.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Zach was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zach Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Zach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl LII, helping secure the Philadelphia Eagles' first-ever Super Bowl victory.
- Set the NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 116 in 2018, a record that stood for seven years.
- Selected to three Pro Bowls (2017, 2018, 2019) during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Won the John Mackey Award in 2012 as the nation's top collegiate tight end while at Stanford University.
Did You Know?
His wife, Julie Ertz, is a former World Cup-winning defender for the United States women's national soccer team.
He and his wife founded the Ertz Family Foundation, which focuses on sports opportunities and education for underserved youth.
He played high school basketball with NBA player Klay Thompson at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California.
“You play this game to win championships. That's the only thing that matters.”
