Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has overcome adversity to become great. The 31 (32 next week) quarterback is an amazing scrambler, has a better arm, and has even been to a Super Bowl. But few know how he landed there.
Donovan Jamal McNabb was born on November 25, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents gave birth to Donovan and he would end up being their last child. The McNabb's lived in the intimidating South Side Chicago projects.
But, they were an up-and-coming family and were destined for success. His father, Sam, was an electrical engineer and motivated Donovan by preaching hard work and honesty. His mother, Wilma, was a nurse who was always there for her children and always lent a helping hand to her kids.
Tired of the distraction of the ghetto, the McNabbs moved to Dolton—a suburb in Chicago, and a much, much safer neighborhood. So, luckily for Donovan, he never had to experience the hardships of the ghetto as a teen—as the family moved there in 1984, when he was just eight. Of course, the McNabbs would have to get used to race relations. They were the only African American family on the block.
Donovan was not very popular in school. In order to get attention, he became a class clown. He was involved in sports, but did not take it very seriously. He started in his teenage years. Originally, his mother was against it. Donovan, unlike now, was very small, and his mother was afraid he would get torn a new one.
As a seventh grader, McNabb played for a Pee Wee team as a quarterback (like you'd imagine). McNabb has never played another position but quarterback! At 14, he enrolled at Mount Carmel High, a Catholic school. McNabb became quickly involved in sports.
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He played basketball and football, alongside his brother and future NBA player Antoine Walker. As a senior, he had an amazing year on the football field. He caught attention from Tom Osborne's Nebraska Cornhuskers. However, he wanted to play for a lesser-known program, so he enrolled at Syracuse University.
As a freshman, alongside wide receiver Marvin Harrison, McNabb won Big East Rookie of the Year, passing for 2,300 yards, throwing 19 touchdowns, rushing for 526 yards, and compiling a 162.3 quarterback rating. McNabb topped it the next year, throwing for 2,488 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 2,982 total yards set a school record, and he was named Big East Player of the Year.
The next year, he won his third Big East Player of the Year Award in as many seasons, passing for 2,134 yards and 22 touchdowns. He figured he made his mark in college, so he entered the NFL Draft. When he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, he was actually booed. Why?
The Eagles badly wanted Ricky Williams. I know he's not right now, but Andy Reid was right then.
In 1999, the Eagles were 5-11. McNabb didn't start and was good for a rookie, but Philly fans were questioning Reid. McNabb was 2-4 as a starter, had a 49.1 completion percentage, and had a very average TD-INT ratio at 8-7.
He responded in 2000. He led the Eagles to 11-5 and had over 3,000 yards and threw 21 touchdown passes. He also ran for 629 yards and scored six touchdowns. Philadelphia also made the playoffs that year. McNabb led them to a 21-3 win over Tampa Bay in the first round, but lost to the Giants 20-10 in the Divisional Round.
"D-Nabb" led them to an 11-5 finish the next year, as he threw for 3,233 yards, 25 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He led Philly to the NFC Championship, but they fell to St. Louis, 29-24.
Can you imagine St. Louis and Philly in the NFC Championship this year?
In 2002, he played just ten games, and went 7-3 as a starter. He was 211-of-361 with 2,289 yards, 17 touchdowns and just six interceptions. AJ Feeley and Koy Detmer did just as well though, going a combined 5-1. However, the Eagles lost to Atlanta 27-10 in the playoffs.
He led the Eagles to a 12-4 record the next year and another Conference Championship Game loss. It was his last 16 game season. It was also a good one, as he had 3,216 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The next two years, the Eagles were 13-3 and 13-2 when Donovan started. I'm noticing that when he plays, the Eagles win. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost to New England in the Super Bowl, 24-21.
In the game, McNabb was 30-for-51 with 357 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. McNabb had his best year, throwing for 3,875 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
2005 was an incredibly disappointing year for the Eagles, and especially for McNabb. They were just 4-5 with McNabb and a very unsatisfying 6-10. McNabb had 2,507 yards and nine picks.
2006, 2007, and this year have been very unsatisfying years. The Eagles have gone 18-15-1 with McNabb under center and 23-18-1 overall.
But this is the stuff of legend.
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about 1 month ago
You know the Eagles did have McNabb in the playoffs in 2002 right? We beat the Falcons with him (20-6). Then the Bucs beat us 27-10.
In 2004, he would have played 16 games but we didn't need him. He went 13-1 when he started. I wouldn't count the 15th game. He played one drive, led us to a touchdown, and then sat out because we rested out starters for the final two games.
I wouldn't call McNabb iffy in 1999. This team went 3-13 in 1998. Going 2-4 as a starter in 1999 is not that bad. 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions is good, especially with what we were used to before (Bobby Hoying in 1998 threw 0 touchdowns and 9 interceptions).
from about 1 month ago
I edited it. stupid wikipedia.
about 1 month ago
Nice recap of McNabbs life and career.. dont forget he hooped at cuse too
about 1 month ago
very nice. a welcome change-up to the mcnabb bashing.
from about 1 month ago
yeah before people bash him, they need to just think what hes done for them.
about 1 month ago
I live in Philly and there's been a lot of McNabb bashing of late for his classic "I didn't know there was no double overtime" comment, but people need to realize that the team's struggles right now are mostly Andy Reid's fault. I mean, calling eighteen pass plays on eighteen first downs and converting only THREE of them against a 1-8 team?! Nine out of ten times it is not even him trying to convert in short yardage situations, it is either B-West or a nonexistent FB -- which has been the Eagles' greatest trouble so far this year. Even though D-Mac hasn't had the greatest year himself, it is only the personnel that beleaguered Eagles fans should be blaming.
Great article! I myself didn't know a lot of this info...
about 1 month ago
I love this article Issac. When I was in Cincinnati this past weekend, I was actually talking to a Bengals fan at a local bar about the upcoming game and he had a lot of great things to say about McNabb. He kept talking about how McNabb's been one of those quarterbacks who everybody thought would of had a Superbowl by now and if there is anybody in the league he wants to win one, McNabb would be his guy. McNabb's been ripped on by the critics his whole career, yet he still seems to put up solid numbers. You touch on a lot of great things about McNabb's life that not many people know about. POTD for sure!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah thanks Dan. I'm gonna write one about Terrell Owens, you might wanna avoid that one, being an Eagles fan lol.
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