In the late 1960, 70s, 80s and beyond, the Raiders were known as football’s “bad boys” and drew the attention of players late in their careers who wanted the experience.

When the Cowboys emerged as “America’s Team,” there were players who gravitated to Dallas.

In recent years, players who filled specific roles found their way to New England and Kansas City.

With their recent Super Bowl victory and rising success, will the Eagles be the next hub for players who want to make a Super Bowl run? Initially, they lost some key components from last year’s team, but they have managed to fill in the gaps.

Like any Super Bowl champion, the Eagles are faced with retooling, notably on their defense. Fortunately, they have an array of young talent that should make the transition smooth.

It looks again like general manager Howie Roseman worked his magic, as his pickups are under 30. Roseman didn’t get any of the big names, but he apparently restocked their shelves.

In case you missed something in the flurry along the way, I’ll recap the Eagles’ offseason and take a look at what’s going on at South Bend, as well as some interesting pro and local sidebars.

Who’s out? ... It was inevitable, and the Eagles took a hit in free agency, especially on defense when they lost edge rusher Josh Sweat to Arizona, and defensive tackle Milton Williams to the Patriots. Both of them were expected to test the free-agent waters, and the Eagles loomed as a long shot to keep them.

Veteran defensive lineman Brandon Graham retired as expected, and linebacker Oren Burks moved to Cincinnati.

Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry — lost early in the season with an injury — both were due to be salary cap hits, and safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson surprisingly was shipped to Houston for guard Kenyon Green. Slay recently inked a deal with the Steelers.

On the other side of the ball, guard Mekhi Becton, who had a rebirth in Philly, was highly valued on the offensive lineman market and got a two-year, $20 million deal from the Chargers. Fellow guard Fred Johnson bolted for Jacksonville.

In a surprise move, the Eagles let longtime long-snapper Rick Lovato walk and replaced him with veteran Charley Hughlett.

Reserve running back Kenneth Gainwell moved across the state to Pittsburgh and reserve corner Isaiah Rodgers went to Detroit. Wide receiver Parris Campbell signed with Dallas.

Down the Turnpike ... With the loss of Sweat, the Birds have added ex-Giant edge rusher Azeez Oljulari, who hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year of 2021 when he had eight sacks. Last year, he had six sacks in 11 games. But at age 24, Oljulari always has had a huge upside, and he could reach his potential with the Eagles if he can stay healthy.

Another ex-Giant is veteran cornerback Adorre Jackson, an eight-year vet who had been with the Giants also since 2021. Jackson never quite filled expectations with New York, and he could also flourish in Philly as a veteran presence with the Eagles’ young corners.

Linebacker Patrick Johnson spent last season with the Giants after he was with the Eagles the previous three. Johnson primarily was a special-teamer, but he does provide depth and has potential.

Tight Fit ... There is still plenty of chatter about the Eagles dealing tight end Dallas Goedert, who signed a four-year, $57 million deal in 2021. Philly is looking to shed more capital.

The Birds signed ex-Colt Kylan Granson and ex-Brown Harrison Bryant to compete with returnee Grant Calcaterra if Goedert is dealt.

End Game ... One of the Eagles’ first moves this offseason was to resign edge rusher/linebacker Zack Baun, who had a banner year with 151 stops and 5.5 sacks.

One intriguing signing was ex-Patriot Joshua Uche, who had a monster year in 2022 with 11.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits. However, he only had nine overall sacks in his other four seasons in New England. This is a change of scenery move that the Eagles feel confident will help him revert to his old form.

Up Front ... Green could be the key off-season acquisition, as he has been penciled in as the team’s starting left guard. As a rookie in 2022, Green started 14 games, and he missed all of 2023 with injuries. He returned last year, but he missed five games because of injuries.

Green’s 6-4, 325-pound stature is a perfect fit for the Bird’s O-line.

The Eagles also brought back Matt Pryor, a 2018 draftee who was traded to the Colts in 2022 and spent last season with Chicago. Pryor can play guard or tackle, and his 6-7, 322-pound frame fits in nicely with his peers.

Gimme A Break ... Another key acquisition was former Packers’ running back A.J. Dillon, who missed all of 2024 with a neck injury. In his second year in 2021, Dillon ran for 803 yards and caught 34 balls, and he ran for 770 and caught 28 the following year. Two seasons ago, Dillon had 613 yards with 22 catches before another neck injury ended the year.

He may turn out to be a steal, and the 6-0, 247-pound grinder appears to be a perfect sub for Saquon Barkley. However, Dillon’s previous neck injury is a concern.

Still Out There ... Two players who could be good fits are defensive end Calais Campbell and wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Campbell, 38, played with Miami last season, and was in all 17 games with 5.5 sacks. He is a former six-time Pro Bowler and Defensive Player of the Year, who played for only $2 million last year. Yes, his age can be a factor, but he hasn’t slowed down, and the Chargers are after him.

Lockett, 32, had been a mainstay in Seattle before the Seahawks revamped their offense. He caught 49 balls last season with two touchdowns, but he caught more than 55 passes for each of the six previous seasons. Lockett would be a good complement to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Ex-Nazareth and Penn State product Jahan Dotson likely secured his spot last season.

On Golden Field ... Notre Dame’s 94th annual Blue-Gold spring game will be held April 12.

Besides beginning the year as the runner-up in the national championship game, the Irish will have some questions heading into this season.

Probably the biggest one is at quarterback where junior Steve Angeli, freshman C.J. Carr, and redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey will compete.

Angeli had a spot in the national championship game when Riley Leonard had to temporarily leave the game, and he looms as the favorite. Carr is the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, and reportedly has been impressive. Minchey also should be in the mix, as the staff likes his overall skills.

The offense likely will be centered around junior tailback Jeremiyah Love, who had 1,362 total yards and 19 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Irish should have a different look with new defensive coordinator Chris Ash.

Notre Dame did lose a number of players up front, but junior Donovan Hirsch and Bryce Young — son of Hall of Famer Bryant Young — will help set the pace. Sophomore Leonard Moore emerged last season, and he is expected to be a force.

Scrapbook: Local Scrapbook ... Periodically, I’ll look back at a former local standout player or team.

Gene Snisky was a standout lineman and punter at Panther Valley. In his senior year in 1987, the 6-7, 235-pound Snisky was an all-state selection — first team as a senior — for the third consecutive year, recording 62 tackles, 12 deflected passes, 13 sacks, five blocked punts and four fumble recoveries.

Snisky received a full scholarship to the University of Missouri where his line coach was future Eagles and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He was with the CFL Birmingham Barracudas and then signed with the Chargers in 1995, but a recurring shoulder injury ended his career.

He then embarked on a pro wrestling career in 1997, Snisky changed his name to Snitsky, and was in the WWE from 2004-08. He is still active today.

Matriculating Down The Field ... Each week, I’ll recall a former player, team, game or situation from the gridiron.

Speaking of the Raiders, there were plenty of “bad boys” or players looking to be part of Al Davis’ “Just Win Baby” stage. Some of them were Lyle Alzado, John Matusek, Rich Gannon, ex-Eagle Charlie Garner, Ted Hendricks, Charles Woodson, Richard Seymour, Willie Hall and the legendary Bubba Smith.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com