Donovan McNabb Bio
February 1, 2009
Growing up.
Donovan McNabb was born November 25, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois. He had four brother, and didn’t really ever get to spend much time with his parents. His dad was an engineer, and tried to help the family with whatever happened. He did not make much money, so the family struggled at times. His mom was a nurse, and could help keep the family safe and healthy. Every time they got hurt, she could help without having to take them to a doctor. Where the family lived was not safe at times. Many people got killed in there area, and it did not help the family at all. The parents spent countless hours trying to find a new place to live that was safer, and would be better for the family. The finally moved about thirty minuts south of where they lived. McNabb was only eight, and was having to move. The McNabb’s were the first black family on the block, and it seemed kind of wierd to them. Once the neighbors got to know the McNabbs, the fear factor dissipated and life in Dolton returned to something like normal. Donovan, who had a special talent for making friends, had much to do with this. Smart, funny, and extremely personable, he was the life of the party. He could never get enough attention, and in school he became the class clown. Becoming the class clown did not help McNabb around his coaches. Despite his obvious ability, the guys in charge did not think Donovan was serious about sports. They were much more enthusiastic about Sean. Donovan’s big brother was strong and well coordinated, and instantly became a star in football and basketball. Donovan idolized Sean. He hung out at his practices, watched all his games, and even served as manager of one of his basketball teams. Finally when McNabb got old enough, he asked his parents if he could play tackle football. His mother was against the idea. Donovan was not as big and muscled as his older brother, and his mother thought he might get killed. Donovan’s coach had a talk with his mother. He told her that it would be fine for him to play, and that he was well big enough. After talking to his mother, McNabb got to play. His first position was quarterback, and he hasn’t played another position since. Donovan had grown into his body by ninth grade, and like Sean was a standout in both football and basketball. He was surrounded by great talent during his years at Mt. Carmel, including basketball star Antoine Walker. Donovan played point guard and was an excellent defender. As a senior he led Mt. Carmel to a 25-4 record and was an all-area selection by the Chicago Sun-Times. Donovan McNabb made a big impression on his coaches, having the vision and speed of a halfback, but having the arm and accuracy of a quarterback. His coaches were amazed by his ability. McNabb finally got named the starter his juniour year. He led his team to average 35.3 points a game, during his first year as starter. The second highest for the school ever. His juniour year sparked the coaches, and they new he was going to be a star when he got older.
Going to College
Though McNabb was approached by recruiters from numerous colleges, only two schools—Syracuse University and the University of Nebraska—offered him scholarships to play as quarterback. He initially leaned toward attending Nebraska, as he relished the idea of being coached by Tom Osborne. Eventually, however, he decided to attend Syracuse, principally because he wanted to prove he was a competent “pocket passer”, but also for academic reasons. After redshirting in 1994, his first year at Syracuse, McNabb went on to start every game during his college career, compiling a 35–14 record. As a freshman, he completed the longest touchdown pass in Syracuse’s history—a 96-yard throw against West Virginia University—in a game where he accounted for 354 total yards of offense; he was named the Big East Conference’s rookie of the year at the end of the season. McNabb amassed 2,892 yards of total offense in his junior season to set a school record. As a senior, he led Syracuse to a berth in the Orange Bowl against Florida as he completed 157 of 251 passes (62.5%) for 2,134 yards; he also pushed the eventual champions, the 1998 Tennessee Volunteers , to the limit in a very close game. His 22 touchdown passes tied the school’s single season record, set by former Eagle Don McPherson in 1987. McNabb also rushed 135 times for 438 yards and 8 touchdowns. He ranked sixth in the nation with a 158.9 passing efficiency rating and 22nd in total offense, with 233.8 yards per game. He tied a school record with 4 touchdown passes against Cincinnati, and scored 5 touchdowns against Miami (3 rushing and 2 passing). McNabb was named the Big East’s offensive player of the decade for the 1990s, and offensive player of the year an unprecedented three times from 1996-98, as well as the first-team all-conference vote earner in each of his four seasons. Later, he was named to the Syracuse All-Century Football team. He also spent two years as a reserve on the school’s nationally ranked basketball team.
NFL Career
In the spring before the 1999 NFL Draft, Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell had a message for the Eagles organization: “If you don’t draft Ricky Williams, we’ll all meet at city hall and burn the Vet down.” Williams, a running back out of the University of Texas, was among the best college football players in the nation and highly sought after by many NFL teams. Tom Modrak, the Eagles general manager at the time, had a different player in mind for his ball club, however, and selected Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb. When McNabb’s name was called, the Eagles faithful booed the young man like he was a menacing villain in a movie. Needless to say, McNabb was not a very popular figure in Philadelphia for his first couple of years. Oh, how cruel Eagles fans can be. By ‘00, his first full year in the league, McNabb was selected to the Pro Bowl. He also finished second in MVP voting behind St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk. He has been the backbone of the Eagles organization since ’00 and has carried the franchise to four NFC title games and one Super Bowl. McNabb has played with a broken ankle, bruised ribs and various other injuries for the Eagles, while Williams has spent more time being tested for marijuana than actually playing. McNabb has been to every Pro Bowl since ‘00, except for injury-riddled seasons that kept him out of Honolulu in ’05 and ‘06. In ‘01, he led Philadelphia to their first NFC Championship game since 1980, but lost to the heavily favored Rams 29-24. Unfortunately for McNabb and the Eagles, the loss to the Rams wouldn’t be the first time they would suffer defeat in the NFC title game. In ‘02, the cocky Tampa Bay Buccaneers trumped Philadelphia on their way to a Super Bowl victory and in ‘03, the Eagles fell again on their home turf to the Carolina Panthers. In ‘04, however, the Eagles added controversial but very talented Terrell Owens to their receiving corps. Owens and McNabb connected for 14 touchdowns and a franchise best 13-3 season on their way to yet another NFC Championship game. The Eagles finally got over their NFC Championship Game jinx by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 27-10. The win sent Philadelphia to their first Super Bowl since 1980. The win, however, was the last time that Owens and McNabb would be smiling together. Super Bowl XXXIX turned out to be a disaster in more ways than one. Not only did the Eagles lose to the Patriots 24-21, but there also were reports after the game that McNabb could not call the plays for the final offensive drive due to sickness. He denied the rumors, but the writing was on the wall for the Eagles. Shortly into the ’05 offseason, Owens started demanding a new contract, sighting that he was vastly underpaid and under appreciated by the organization. Owens then targeted McNabb in his rampage for a new contact, leaving the two to have several off the field sparing matches through the media. The eventual outcome was a catastrophe. On the opening night of Monday Night Football in ‘05, the Falcons would get their revenge on the Eagles, handing Philadelphia a 14-10 loss and a serious bruise injury to McNabb in the first quarter. He never seemed right after the injury, and sat out most of the season. The Eagles finished last in their division and Owens was eventually booted from the team. McNabb suffered another serious injury in ’06, giving way to 36-yeard old Jeff Garcia to take the Eagles back into the postseason. The city of Philadelphia seemed to embrace Garcia, giving way to speculation that McNabb’s days as an Eagle were down. Garcia signed with Tampa Bay in the ’07 offseason, however, ending the speculation. McNabb is currently rehabbing and should be completely healthy for the start of the regular season.
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