Teams
- Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2009)
- Washington Redskins (2010)
- Minnesota Vikings (2011)
Accolades
- 6x Pro Bowl (2000-2004, 2009)
“I’m his biggest fan. I was there. I know he belongs [in the Pro Football Hall of Fame]. When you’re talking about the great players in the National Football League, five championship games, a Super Bowl, all those things. Good football player, man. Great football player.”
—Andy Reid, former Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles (source)
The NFL Draft Class of 1999 was initially compared to the famous Class of 1983 due to a heavy emphasis on quarterbacks with a tremendous amount of potential. But ’99 was very much a disappointment by comparison. Tim Couch, Akili Smith, and Cade McNown fell into obscurity in short order. Daunte Culpepper had a couple of tremendous years until a knee injury in 2005 significantly impacted the remainer of his career. Then there was Donovan McNabb, Chicago native, Syracuse star, who went #2 overall. I think people forget just how good this guy was, both on the ground and in the air. Although he never won any significant individual accolades, he was the primary reason Philadelphia was competing for a title, year-in and year-in, throughout the first decade of the 2000s.
Donovan McNabb came to a Philadelphia Eagles team that had fired Ray Rhodes after a 3-13 season in 1998. New Head Coach Andy Reid had come over to Philly in 1999 as an offensive guru who had spent seven years under Mike Holmgren, working with Brett Favre, in Green Bay. In Week 2, he let McNabb take snaps in the second half of a 19-5 loss to Tampa Bay. Sharing starts with Doug Pederson, McNabb would go 2-4 in six starts, contributing over 1,250 total yards and eight touchdowns.
Reid went with McNabb as his primary starter in 2000. The second-year man responded exceedingly well considering his limited experience, starting all 16 games and leading the Eagles to an 11-5 record. He finished one yard short of 4,000 total yards of offense, putting up nearly as many rushing yards (629) as his top two running backs, Duce Staley and Darnell Autry, combined. Perhaps most impressively, the sophomore pro showed surprising discipline, finishing sixth among QBs in interceptions per attempt (2.3%). In a Wild Card match-up against a Tampa Bay team that had fallen just short of the Super Bowl one year prior, McNabb would flummox one of the league’s best defenses with 193 total yards, three touchdowns, and only one interception in a 21-3 win. But in the Divisional Round against the Giants, McNabb would show that he still had learning to do. He would turn the ball over twice, despite 198 total yards and a late TD, in a 20-10 season-ending defeat.
Often times, teams adjust to burgeoning star quarterbacks the following year. Not McNabb. In 2001, he would have over 3,700 total yards in 16 games, scoring 27 TDs in guiding Philly to an NFC East crown at 11-5. Earning his second Pro Bowl nod, he would again shut down the Bucs in the Wild Card Round with 251 total yards, two touchdowns, and one pick in a 31-9 win. His next date was in Soldier Field to face the surprising 13-3 Chicago Bears. He was not impressed. Facing the league’s stingiest defense, he would put up 299 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to a lone interception in the 33-19 win. Only a game from the Super Bowl, the Eagles would face a dominant 14-2 Rams team led by Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk. But McNabb was able to get the Eagles to a 17-13 halftime lead before the Rams’ dynamite offense took over. Philly’s signal caller was admirable, if not prolific, in the 29-24 loss. McNabb would contribute 197 yards, two TDs, and two turnovers in the near-miss.
It seemed as if the road to the Super Bowl would be going through Philadelphia in 2002. Starting off 6-3, McNabb would lead the Eagles to a solid 38-24 win over Arizona, but in the effort, would break his ankle, although he played nearly the entire game on the injured body part. A.J. Feely and Koy Detmer would step in and push the Eagles to a 5-1 finish, helping the team to a 12-4 year and another NFC East crown. Apparently Donovan McNabb has no idea that a broken ankle is a serious problem, because he showed up in the Divisional Round to lead his team to a 20-6 victory over Atlanta. His 271 yards and fourth quarter touchdown helping ensure the win. But in the NFC Championship Game, on the cusp of getting Philadelphia within a score, he would be picked off by Ronde Barber. The Bucs’ defensive back would return it virtually the length of the field to reach the end zone, and send Tampa Bay (whom McNabb had vanquished the previous two years in the playoffs) to the Super Bowl with a 27-10 win. One could only wonder what McNabb might have done had he been healthy. As it was, his 260 total years were trumped by two lost fumbles and the game-ending pick. The Buccaneers would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVII.
So maybe 2003 would be the year for the Philadelphia Eagles? Number 5 would return to play a full 16-game slate. And while he “only” scored 19 TDs on the year, to 11 picks, his 3,500 total yards was plenty of offense to help his team to another NFC East crown at 12-4. Hosting Green Bay in the first playoff game at new Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles would find themselves down 14-0 after a quarter thanks to two Brett Favre to Robert Ferguson touchdowns. But McNabb would tie it up in the fourth quarter at 14 apiece after two unanswered TD passes. But down 17-14 with just over two minutes to play, he would lead his offense on a 61-yard drive for a game-tying field goal. In OT, a Brett Favre interception set up another David Akers field goal to put the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game for the third straight year. McNabb would finish with an incredibly balanced game with 248 yards passing, 107 yards rushing, two TDs, and one lost fumble. And yet, hosting Carolina for a spot in the Super Bowl, McNabb couldn’t solve the riddle of the Panthers’ D in a 14-3 shocker. He would be replaced by Koy Detmer after throwing three picks and having only 110 yards of total offense. Another incredible season, another surprising bust in the NFC Championship Game.
Donovan McNabb could have gotten McMad. Instead, he got McNasty. He would have a career year in 2004. Utilizing newly acquired receiver (and future Hall of Famer) Terrell Owens, he would get the Eagles off to a 13-1 start, before settling on a 13-3 season. McNabb would churn out over 4,000 yards of total offense, finishing second in the league in interception rate (1.7%) and fourth in passer rating (104.7). He would dismiss fellow Class of ’99 draftee Daunte Culpepper and the Minnesota Vikings 27-14 in the Divisional Round, throwing for a turnover-less 286 yards and two touchdowns. It was on to the NFC Championship Game where McNabb and the Eagles had failed the previous three years. Facing Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia’s signal caller was on point this time. Accumulating 212 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers, he would overcome the demons of previous years in the 27-10 victory. Finally over the hump, McNabb and the Eagles were headed to the franchise’s second ever Super Bowl.
Jacksonville, Florida was the site of Super Bowl XXXIX where the Eagles would have to face the New England Patriots, winners of two of the previous three Super Bowls. Despite being seven-point underdogs, Philadelphia would strike first on a six-yarder from McNabb to L.J. Smith early in the second quarter. But the Pats would exchange blows with them, leading to a tie game early in the final period, before New England pulled ahead 24-14. Under questionable clock management, the Eagles finally struck back with under two minutes to play, via McNabb connecting a 30-yarder to Greg Lewis. But after a failed onside kick, then New England milking the clock, Philly was left on their own four with under a minute to play. An interception three plays later would seal the Patriots’ third title in four years, 24-21. McNabb would finish with 357 yards in the air, three touchdowns, but three critical interceptions in the loss.
The loss may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. After a 4-6 start to the 2005 season, McNabb would go down with a season-ending injury. The Eagles would finish 6-10. Then, just one year later, McNabb’s season would again end early after tearing his ACL. Coming off the bench, veteran Jeff Garcia would rally Philadelphia to a 5-1 finish and a victory in the Wild Card Round. McNabb would face another difficult season in 2007, battling thumb and ankle injuries. Through this though, he would manage to start 14 games, helping Philly to an 8-6 mark. But two A.J. Feeley starts resulted in losses and an 8-8 final record.
After missing important chunks of three consecutive seasons, it looked like the Donovan McNabb era might be coming to an end. Instead, in 2008, he gave the Iggles faithful a reason to believe in him again. Starting all 16 games for the first time since 2003, he would again total more than 4,000 yards of offense and account for 25 touchdowns as the 9-6-1 Eagles snuck into the final Wild Card spot. In Philly’s return to the postseason, McNabb led his team over the Vikings 24-16 in Minneapolis. Now more committed to the pass, he would air it out for 300 yards and a TD, overcoming two turnovers. Then at the Meadlowlands, the Eagles would stun the division rival Giants 23-11. McNabb would match two picks with two TDs and provide 233 yards of a total offense.
With a chance to return to the Big Game, Philadelphia would visit the birds of a different feather, the Arizona Cardinals and their veteran QB Kurt Warner. Down 24-6 at the Half, McNabb would rally Philly for a 25-24 lead in the final quarter. But Warner would bring the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl with a late touchdown drive, ending Philadelphia’s Cinderella season. For his part, McNabb was excellent. In addition to 406 yards of offense, he threw for three touchdowns, but did have two turnovers in the battle as well.
Philadelphia fans held their breath at the start of 2009 as McNabb would go down after Week 1 with a broken rib. But after missing two games, and then a bye week, McNabb would return for Week 5 and be his usual terrific self. He would total nearly 3,700 yards of offense and 24 TDs on the season (in only 14 games), as the Eagles found themselves back in the playoffs at 11-5. With seemingly one more great chance to make it back to the Big Game, Philadelphia would fall apart in the Wild Card Round at Dallas, 34-14. McNabb would go 19-for-37 for 230 yards passing, a touchdown, but also two turnovers in the loss. A great season had quickly fallen by the wayside.
Although he showed that he still had good football left in him, Philadelphia traded McNabb to Washington prior to the 2010 season. Unfortunately, things in D.C. wouldn’t turn out well. Despite more than 3,500 yards of total offense, the ‘Skins would go 5-8 in their new quarterback’s starts in a 6-10 season. McNabb would play one final year in 2011, opening the season as Minnesota’s primary starter. But after a 1-5 start, Head Coach Leslie Frazier would look to the future in Christian Ponder, who would end up faring no better than McNabb in a 3-13 debacle of a year for the Vikes. Facing limited interest, but no commitments, McNabb would not play in 2012, officially retiring in July 2013.
Donovan McNabb was one of the truly great dual-threat quarterbacks the game has ever seen. Remembered by many as one who emphasized running, he would actually amass over 37,000 passing yards and 234 TD passes in his career. But he definitely could run too, accumulating 3,459 yards on the ground (sixth-most in NFL history among QBs when he retired) and adding another 29 touchdowns with his legs. He never got to hoist the Lombardi Trophy but he came mighty close. Unfortunately, with the exception of the 2004 season, over and over again he would fall short in the NFC Championship Game. But regardless, whether by statistics or his ability to win games, McNabb was not only the clear best signal caller from that famous Draft Class in 1999, but stands out as a great quarterback in his own right, whether moving the ball by ground or air.
Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 0.063 | 0.043 | 0.055 | 0.083 | 0.022 | -0.011 | 0.031 | 0.120 |
| Playoffs | 0.035 | 0.036 | 0.041 | -0.061 | -0.052 | -0.008 | -0.011 | 0.042 |
Longevity Bonus = 1.5 Title Bonus = 0.0
Index Score = 3.819 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 155)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 38th | 27th | 32nd | 44th | 59th | 108th | 56th | 8th |
| Playoffs | T-36th | 35th | 35th | 112th | 110th | 85th | 79th | 55th |
Why is he on the Top 50 list?
People forget that Donovan McNabb was a tremendously complete quarterback. He ranks in the Top 50 in five of eight regular categories, and in the Top 60 in seven of them. He’s a Top 10 QB all time in terms of interception rate deviation at #8. But he also thrived in terms of total yards per game (#27), total touchdowns per game (#32), win-loss percentage (#38), and fewest turnovers per game (#44). He also gets 1.5 bonus points for serving as his teams’ primary starter for 11 seasons.
Why isn’t he higher on the list?
The only area in which Donovan McNabb was below average during the regular season was completion percentage (#108). In the playoffs, he was still very good, just not as good. He falls outside the Top 100 in just two postseason categories: total turnovers per game (#112) and average of yards/completion + yards/attempt (#110).
The Quarterback Project 