Donovan McNabb

The dual-threat quarterback who led the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and set franchise records in every major passing category.

Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American former professional quarterback who played 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. Born on November 25, 1976, he was selected second overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by Philadelphia, where he spent 11 seasons before stints with Washington and Minnesota. A product of Syracuse University, McNabb led the Orange to an Orange Bowl berth and earned three Big East Offensive Player of the Year awards. He became a franchise icon, leading the Eagles to eight playoff appearances, five division titles, and one Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX. He was the fourth NFL quarterback to reach 30,000 passing yards, 200 touchdown passes, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.

Quick Facts

Position

Quarterback

Born

25 November 1976

Birthplace

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

High school

Mount Carmel (Chicago)

College

Syracuse (1994–1998)

Draft year

1999

Draft round

Former teams

Philadelphia Eagles (1999, 2009)
Washington Redskins (2010)
Minnesota Vikings (2011)

Lore & Background

McNabb's journey began at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he won a state championship alongside future NFL players Simeon Rice and Matt Cushing. Though recruited heavily by Nebraska, he chose Syracuse to prove himself as a pocket passer while studying broadcast journalism. There, he started every game of his college career, compiling a 35–14 record and setting school records for total offense and touchdown passes. He even walked on to the basketball team under Jim Boeheim, playing reserve minutes alongside Antoine Walker on the 1996 squad that lost in the National Championship game. At Syracuse, he hosted future NFL star Michael Vick during a recruiting visit, cementing a lifelong friendship. McNabb was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year three times from 1996 to 1998 and was a finalist for the 1998 Heisman Trophy.

Reader's Guide

To play effectively as McNabb, utilize his unique dual-threat capabilities. His stats show he is an elite rusher for a quarterback, having rushed for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career. In franchise modes, leverage his high passing volume; he broke the Eagles' single-season records for attempts and completions in 2000. His ability to lead fourth-quarter comebacks is historic, notably engineering wins against the New York Giants in 2001 to clinch a division title. Focus on maintaining accuracy while using his mobility to avoid sacks, as he ranks ninth all-time in quarterback rushing yards.

Did You Know?

McNabb was the second of five quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks of the 1999 NFL Draft, a class considered the best since 1983.
In his junior year at Syracuse, he completed a 96-yard touchdown pass against West Virginia, the longest in school history.
He was a reserve on the Syracuse basketball team for two years under Jim Boeheim, including the 1996 squad that lost to Kentucky in the National Championship game.