Will Shipley, backup running back of the Philadelphia Eagles, talks to DraftKings at Opening Night of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 3.
Credit: Lydia TongNEW ORLEANS — Will Shipley, a former lacrosse star and current backup running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, has gotten drunk at Smokey Joe’s — just like you.
Shipley — a newly emerging household name in Philadelphia — had a breakout game in the 2025 NFC Championship. He caused a game-changing fumble on a kick return in the game that sent the Eagles to the Super Bowl. One fact that most may not know is that the Clemson alumnus has spent many days on Penn’s campus. Why? His brother.
A 2024 Wharton graduate and two-time second team All-Ivy lacrosse player, James Shipley played four years with the Red and Blue. A consistent contributor and standout in his own right, James Shipley often found his brother in the stands watching his games.
“I tried to make as many games as I could, ending up attending four or five [games] just because it was during football season,” Will Shipley said. “It was always pretty hectic getting up there just for a day or even a couple of hours. ... Little did I know I was going to get drafted by Philly and that [visiting] gave me a little precursor.”
In a breakout game against the Eagles’ division rivals the Washington Commanders, the most important matchup of the year for the Eagles, Will Shipley not only forced a crucial fumble but also capped off the game with a 57-yard run during a drive that ended in a victory-sealing touchdown.
Filling in for whatever role is asked of him, Will Shipley understood that his past as a dual-sport athlete helped him become the all-around competitor he is today.
“I would give some credit to my success in football [to] being a multi-sport athlete and having to learn different things and [the] eye-hand coordination that comes with it,” Will Shipley said. “Cutting, playing defense, you know, physicality — [it] definitely played a pivotal role in my success in football.”
When asked about possible escapades at Smokes’, a popular campus bar, Will Shipley shared that he would join the Penn lacrosse team at Smokes’ and that his family often reflected on the time they spent inside of the “Pennstitution.”
“Like I said, those lacrosse guys like to party,” Will Shipley said. “You know, Smokes’ was a frequent conversation in our family group chats, and [we] always had a good time there.”
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