Donovan McNabb on Hall of Fame chances: 'If it happens, it happens', JR SportBrief: Michael Vick is not getting into the Hall of Fame, Featured Image Photo Credit: (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). From 2000-2004, McNabb made five straight Pro Bowls, and the Eagles led the NFC in wins with 59. Its easy to Its as if a Super Bowl ring is the only thing holding back McNabb from being a HOF worthy player. May 24, 2019. >> https://t.co/tx6ulgv2Cw#PFHOF22 pic.twitter.com/LcEyiX4ux5. McNabb only threw over 30 touchdowns once in his whole career, but football was different 20 years ago. The 2021 NFL Hall-of-Fame class will be inducted into Canton, Ohio in a little under a month. He never made first-team All-Pro in a loaded pass-rush era, but he did make six Pro Bowls. The elite defense that led to the Bucs winning Super Bowl 37 is represented in Canton by outside linebacker Derrick Brooks and tackle Warren Sapp. Longevity, versatility, stats, and the legendary resume play he will forever be known for. But when you look at the full statistical picture painted by Donovan McNabb throughout his 13-year career, he certainly has a case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Two decades and a 13-year career later and McNabb possesses the title as I'm dredging up this old controversy now because it's easy to forget that just a few years ago there was a lot of pressure on Donovan McNabb to make it as a black quarterback. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll didn't let a day pass before responding to Jets DC Gregg Williams, who claimed Jamal Adams 'may get bored' in Seattle's defense. Center Jeff Bostic has a case, but Jacoby should be a slam-dunk for the Hall with four Pro Bowls and two first-team All Pro honors over 13 seasons. So would a lot of other people who saw him play. "I'm not hesitating on that. McNabb changed the entire culture of the Philadelphia Eagles, and that should not be overlooked. Gastineau went to five straight Pro Bowls, going first-team All-Pro thrice. Manning played 17 seasons for the Giants. Donovan McNabb is a Hall of Fame QB and Im tired of this narrative that he isnt. Only three quarterbacks in NFL history have passed for more than 35,000 yards and also rushed for more than 3,000, and McNabb is one of them. Donovan McNabb should be the second. The seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro honoree was synonymous with the Broncos great Orange Crush defense throughout the 1970s. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with veteran signal-caller Mike Glennon, the team announced. McNair twice had seasons of eight rushing touchdowns (1997, 1999), and he averaged 5.4 yards per carry in his career. His Super Bowl loss was a one possession game, and outside of the loss to Tampa, the Eagles had a chance late. The fact he was beating defenses like the vaunted Tampa Bay defense of the early 2000s, or the Bear defense with James Thrash and Duce Staley cannot be brushed aside. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for DONOVAN MCNABB 2007 BOWMAN CHROME REFRACTOR..HALL OF FAMER.EAGLES at the best online 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. So we turn to Carmichael, a four-time Pro Bowler who set a high standard for big-framed (6-8, 225 pounds) wideouts. McNair was an elite talent who wasn't into putting up numbers. ONeal had 105.5 of his 132.5 career sacks in his seven seasons with the Chargers. Refresh your browser window to try again. His incredible 2004 season was the first time a quarterback ever threw more than 30 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season. He was just the third Black quarterback to start in the Super Bowl when he was under center for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. He may not have been a first-team All-Pro. In the interest of further disclosure, I feel I sort of owe McNabb a little bit of a boost in his legacy campaign. The Hall of Many of the early 2000s greatest players will see themselves immortalized in the most distinguished halls of sports history. He may never have won a Super Bowl. Throughout his career, he was a top 10 QB in the game. If it doesn't, it doesn't.". Stroud, 4 Anthony Richardson @NFLResearch Aikman was great. On the important metrics of yards per throw and interception percentage, McNabb's career marks are excellent (7.0 and 2.2 percent, respectively). We don't think it's that crazy. WebDonovan McNabb was largely responsible for the rise of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of the 2000s. In 12 seasons, he racked up 52 interceptions and also was a good return specialist. Being voted and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a special honor. Jay Gorodetzer/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire. Free Injuries limited Bosellis career to seven seasons in Jacksonville, but he was one of the games best edge blockers for most of it, with five Pro Bowl nods and three first-team All-Pro selections. Most of these objections were summed up by Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News. A player must have been retired at least five years before he can be considered for the Hall of Fame. There, you'll find three Hall of Famers, two shoo-in future Hall of Famers and Donovan McNabb. However, when looking at a player's entire career, how can we leave out how much they meant to a franchise, or even to an entire city? I don't know of a football writer who didn't regard the dearth of black NFL quarterbacks as one of the most important issues in the late '80s and early '90s. There isnot enough room in Canton to give everyone who qualifies as"very good"a call. Three in complete and utter blowouts. Kelly had the luxury of throwing to some of the greatest players in league history. The Falcons also have candidates from the 1970s (Jeff Van Note),1980s (Mike Kenn) and 1990s (Jessie Tuggle), but none were as dominant as Nobis was in relation to the rest of the league at the time. He made only four Pro Bowls with only three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, but in just eight seasons with San Francisco, Craig also had 508 receptions, 11,506 yards from scrimmage and 66 total TDs. How many Super Bowl opportunities?'" From 2000-2004, Donovan McNabb was a top-five player in the National Football League. Hall of Fame quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Dan Marino each scored a 15 and still ended up becoming one of the top quarterbacks of their era. He also was a dominant tackler who stuffed the stat sheet all over the field. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb says he deserves to be wearing a gold jacket and be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall Derrick Mason was an All-Pro wideout in Tennessee, Eddie George is one of the greatest power backs of All-Time. This years Hall of Fame celebration dinner will be held at 6 p.m. June 22 at the Bakersfield College Renegade Event Center at 1801 Panorama Drive. Who won the 2023 NFL Draft? McNabb has always been a favorite of mine. McNabb was excellent. You can also keep future spots warm for Dwight Freeney and Chandler Jones as well, meaning theres a plausible future in the next 15 years where Syracuse has more Hall-of-Famers than all but two or three schools. Barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances, Mahomes, Hurts and others in this generation of star Black signal-callers wont be hanging up their cleats anytime soon. Alexander played only eight seasons in Seattle before his knees slowed him down, but he made those years count. Buccaneers fans have been screaming until theyve been blue (or pewter) in the face trying to get Barber in the Hall of Fame, and he more than deserves to be the fourth member of that legendary defense of the late 1990s-early 2000s to be enshrined. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! Donovan McNabb believes he's a Hall of Famer Around the League Presented By Donovan McNabb believes he's a Hall of Famer Published: Apr 18, 2012 He completely turned the franchise around, and it has not looked back since. In the minds of some people, losing as many conference title games as he did, no matter how lacking the talent was around him, makes it impossible to get in the Hall. He took over a team that had gone 3-13 and had won 2 playoff games in 19 years, Steve McNair won an NFL MVP Award in 2003, The fact McNabb went to five Conference Championship Games in his 10 years as a starter. When passing wasnt so rampant and receiving numbers werent so gaudy in the 1970s and 80s, Carmichael was hard to cover in the red zone. 3. In 2004 he threw 31 touchdown passes against just eight interceptions, and ran for seven more TDs. His 37,276 passing yards ranks #25 on the all time list with names like Dave Krieg and Kerry Collins ahead of him. Hilgenberg made seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams, serving much of his career as a blocking anchor for the late, great Walter Payton. The Bears didn't pick up Mitch Trubisky's fifth-year option, but the team hasn't lost faith. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! "You know what, I don't know. James is No. McNabb said he'd "absolutely" vote for himself to be in the Hall of Fame, which is a comment that will be mocked in Philadelphia. ", -- "Aikman gave up numbers to win rings and hand the ball to @EmmittSmith22", -- "He had T.O. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. For starters, fellow wide receiver Isaac Bruce also should be in the Hall of Fame for the 942 catches for 14,109 yards and 84 TDs he had in 14 seasons with theRams. Obviously, the NFL is still reeling from McNair's untimely death, and hearts and prayers are with his friends and family as they try to somehow cope with his passing. Barbers incredible resume not being enough in the eyes of the voters is one thing. He may never have been the best quarterback in the Manning has a pair of rings, yet in the other four years he made the playoffs, he ended up losing without winning a playoff game. McNair and Hall of Fame rs Young and Fran Tarkenton are the only three quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 30,000 or more yards and rush for 3,000 or more The just-retired Eagles quarterback's lack of a Super Bowl victory and a few mediocre years shouldn't overshadow his overall impressive record. If he had had the Patriots' defense instead of the Eagles', Philly probably would have won. A good deal of attention is focused on the three Hall of Fame quarterbacks that the Buccaneers defense had to face, but to bring home the title, Tampa Bays The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. At 5-11, 228 pounds, he should be standing taller as a Hall of Famer. He may never have been the best quarterback in the league. Quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb have interesting cases, but neither is strong enough. This is not the first time either player has been eligible for the Hall of Fame, but their inclusion here is notable nonetheless. He won league MVP in 2005 while pounding out 1,880 yards and 27 TDs and carrying the Seahawks offense to Super Bowl 40. The others: Its time for McNabb to get his props and be in the Hall of Fame. Forgive me for cherry picking stats, but the list of quarterbacks that have accomplished what he's totaled is pretty impressive. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. His team lost that game 24-21, but that was hardly a disgrace:McNabb had a pretty good Super Bowl, passing for 357 yards and three touchdowns. During his 10 seasons with the Steelers, he was recognized with seven Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro nods. The one thing I will never be able to truly understand is the hatred McNabb receives for his play and lack of Super Bowl rings. He was strong against the run, and he blew up plenty of plays in the backfield with 39 sacks and 64 total tackles for loss. McNabb originally did not receive a warm welcome to Philadelphia and was booed after he was drafted. Something went wrong. Although theres a case for quarterback Jim Hart and perhaps some sentimental push for the late Pat Tillman, Wilson is thechoice. He also was prolific against the run and getting to the quarterback. The 2021 NFL Hall-of-Fame class will be inducted into Canton, Ohio in a little under a month. Some might go with Joe Klecko, who was Gastineaus devastating defensive line-mate from the same era. Don't miss a story! Heres another defensive crime committed by the Hall. Again, those aren't gaudy stats, but they provide plenty of reasons to explain why McNair won so much in a league defined by parity. The three-time Pro Bowler rushed for 9,429 yards and 100 TDs. At least it was that way through the 2002 season and the first few games in 2003. Following some thoughts about retirement, LeSean McCoy's quest for the right situation on the right team continues two weeks ahead of clubs reporting for training camp. Had it not been for Atlantas early struggles as a team, he would be in the Hall. Gambling Problem? "There's a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he didn't deserve. Donovan McNabb is the only quarterback in Eagles history to win a playoff game before his 28th birthday. He was drafted second overall and should be at least partly credited with the turnaround of the Eagles franchise. He threw for 37,276 yards throughout his career, which is more than by current Hall of Famers Aikman, Terry Bradshaw and Jim Kelly. "When they look at my numbers, yeah, but then they always want to add other stuff into it. And his 234 career touchdowns is #29 with Tony Romo and, again, Dave Krieg ahead of him. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. "If it doesn't, it's no sweat on my back because, again, I'm trying to help push and present something to the youth so that they'll have an opportunity to achieve their goal. Howley actually has a case as the biggest Hall of Fame snub from any team, period. After nabbing both QB C.J. Not only did Lynch make the Pro Bowl in five of 11 seasons in Tampa as ball-hawk and hard-hitter, but he also made four more with the Broncos in his 30s to close his career. McNabb had an 85.6 QB rating, versus 81.6 for Aikman. "To pretend that many of us didn't want McNabb to be the best quarterback in the NFL because he's black is absurd. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. As with every Hall of Fame player, context is key. Nobis was the first-ever Falcons draft pick in 1966, and he won rookie of the year while immediately establishing himself a feared, ferocious tackler. He won nearly 60 percent of his starts (.595 winning percentage). Six Pro Bowls, four All-Pro nods and a league championship further boost his resume. Gardner Minshew has a new backup QB. 1999: 1 Tim Couch, 2 Donovan McNabb, 3 Akili Smith 2021: 1 Trevor Lawrence, 2 Zach Wilson, 3 Trey Lance 2023: 1 Bryce Young, 2 C.J. The five-time Pro Bowler was an underrated, venerable playmaker through a 12-year career all with Arizona. "I'm not hesitating on that. So how does one make the argument that Jim Kelly should be in the Hall while McNabb doesnt? Although not as flattering a stay in Washington as hoped for, Donovan McNabb is a future Hall of Famer. The list is comprised of 122 players. 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Howley was ahead of his time as a terrific athlete for the position, which gave him a modern-like edge in covering backs and receivers. And it's numbers like these that have made several fans McNabb included confident that he belongs in Canton. The Eagles Should Make Jalen Hurts Their QB of the Future -- It's Time To Pay the Man. AP / Michael Perez. MORE: NFL uniform rankings;why Cowboys are No. Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb thinks he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he says his caseis solid. Eligibility restrictions apply. Not considering retired players who are not yet eligible, here is every team's most notable Hall of Fame snub. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Its time for McNabb to get his props and be in the Hall of Fame. When you look at McNair's era of quarterbacks -- I'm talking about guys who rose to prominence while the days of Joe Montana, John Elway, Steve Young and Jim Kelly wound down -- I consider him to be one of eight standouts. If he makes it in, McNabb needs to wear this hat. McNabb was a top-five quarterback for much of his career. McNabb lost four conference titles. 5 retired by the Eagles in 2013. It is an absolutely solid class, with long-time nominees Cliff Branch and Dick Vermeil finally getting in amongst others. He never quite made it to that level, which is to say that I don't think there was a time when he was ever the best quarterback in the National Football League. Their career stats are almost identical (Brunell has played three more seasons, but he has seen little action since 2006): McNair: 60.1 completion percentage, 31,304 passing yards, 174 touchdown passes, 119 interceptions, 82.8 passer rating, 5.4 yards per carry, 37 rushing TDs. The 2021 NFL Hall-of-Fame class will be inducted into Canton, Ohio in a little under a month. However, it seems like he may have changed his mindset over the past couple of years. Competition will be fierce once again for both players to make the cut. That cant be an accidental coincidence. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Web1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1987 1977 Pro Football QB Hall of Fame Monitor The Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor (HOFm) is a metric designed to estimate a player's chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame using AV, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships, and various stat milestones. The fact McNabb went to five Conference Championship Games in his 10 years as a starter in Philadelphia makes him Hall-of-Fame worthy. McNabb has been eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2016, but has never been a finalist. How about the fact that Manning led the league in interceptions three different times when McNabb never had a dubious distinction like that? I played the game because I love it. The Eagles went 5-11 in McNabb's first year, and he only threw eight touchdowns in his first 12 NFL games. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. But McNabb quickly changed people's opinions about him, including owner Jeffrey Lurie, who signed him to a 12-year contract in 2002. McNabb has never even been one of the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame, so its safe to say the majority of Hall of Fame voters dont agree with Reid. The average audience was 6.0 million viewers (TV plus digital) over three days, which was up 12% from 2022. While that is the norm -- and many would argue is the right way to go about this -- it still leaves room for great players to slip through the cracks because their teams did not win it all. Cherry was more spectacular than solid in 11 seasons all with Kansas City. Making it into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor in every sport. All year. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. For a short stretch in his 20s, he was the NFLs best all-around back. At 34, Russell Wilson is the dean of the group. He helped inspire another generation of African-American quarterbacks, he was a mentor to many, and he showed, once more, that great quarterbacks come in all shapes and sizes, with McNair's sturdy frame a challenge for defenders to corral. Gonzalez decided to forgo his senior year of school, beginning his Hall of Fame football career after getting selected 13th overall by the Chiefs in 1997. Enough is enough, McNab deserves his place in Canton. It was on May 10, 1969 that the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to join the AFL to form the 13-team American Football Conference. You may recall when 10 years ago, Rush Limbaugh, who had been inexplicably hired by ESPN as a football commentator, stirred up a huge fuss when he remarked that he "never thought McNabb was that good a quarterback" and that McNabb had been "overrated What we have here is a little social concern in the NFL. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). The Eagles famously selected McNabb second overall instead of star running back Ricky Williams in 1999, much to the chagrin of fans in attendance that night in New York. Multiple Super Bowl rings should not be a reason to put someone in the Hall of Fame, nor should it hold back a player who was unable to reach that plateau in the first place. Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). Donovan McNabb is a prime example of one of those players. Before drafting McNabb second overall, Philadelphia had only advanced past the divisional round once, in 1980. "My numbers speak for themselves.". 1. McNabb told TMZ in 2019. Here's an interesting comparison. As for stats, most importantly, the guy was a winner. First up in the discussion: Donovan McNabb. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hes also third in games played (353), fourth in extra points made (820), and third in career field goals (538). So between the two, if you were voting who would you pick for the Hall of Fame? But the case for, I'd argue, is more persuasive. Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson are the only two backs who rank in the top 15 and are not in the Hall, and thats because theyre still in the league. I am a Hall of Famer," McNabb told TMZ. Hall of famers Fran Tarkenton and Jim Kelly, for example, lost eight Super Bowls between the two of them. Despite a great playoff His Hall talk shouldnt be so faded. Donovan McNabb. There are several great quarterbacks who never won a Super Bowl. I found myself in the improbable position of defending Limbaugh at Slate. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Not only was he an incredible player, but he was also an incredible leader, and exactly the guy the Eagles needed at that point in time. While all of the incoming inductees are more than deserving, and many more from that decade soon to follow, its time to bring up one former Philadelphia Eagle who was a top five player in the NFL during that time, and has not received the credit, nor the popularity of others. The Texans will soon be represented by Andre Johnson and, in a few more years, J.J. Watt, but they have been limited in terms of eligible, worthy candidates in their 17 seasons of existence. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is close, but lets go with Walls, who made five Pro Bowls in his 30s as one of the NFLs best receiving tight ends in the late 1990s. In other words, through most of his career, McNabb was a more effective quarterback than Eliexcept for those two Super Bowl wins. Good enoughfor the Hall of Fame. Ty Law just got his Hall of Fame due as a key member of Bill Belichicks defense.