Free He also recorded two of the most prolific consecutive seasons in league history with 19 and 22 sacks in 1983 and 84, respectively. Peyton No, not at all.". A stronger argument still is that McNabb was a winner. A ninth would tie the Orange with Miami and Pitt for No. Roob's Observations: Why it's nearly a lock Hurts will be Eagles' The Bears didn't pick up Mitch Trubisky's fifth-year option, but the team hasn't lost faith. Syracuse alums Donovan McNabb, Gary Anderson among Pro The top 18 players in all-time sacks are either in the Hall of Fame or will be soon except for ONeal, who ranks No. As for stats, most importantly, the guy was a winner. Should he be in the Hall because of his rings alone? My numbers are better than Troy Aikman," McNabb told TMZ Sports. Donovan McNabb started his own campaign for the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week on the day the Eagles retired his number. Gastineau went to five straight Pro Bowls, going first-team All-Pro thrice. That remains to be seen. 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. He is also the New York Rangers beat reporter for AM New York. 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? The other two are John Elway and Fran Tarkenton, and that's pretty good company. McNabb told TMZ in 2019. 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. All year. Plenty of former NFL players believe they should be in the Hall of Fame, and whatever you think of McNabb's case, his willingness to compare his statisticsto the former Cowboys starsparked debateon Twitter. McNair's best statistical twin might be Mark Brunell, as they played in the same era for rebuilding/expansion clubs and were dual threats in terms of passing and running. Lets hope they go in together at some point. Its as if a Super Bowl ring is the only thing holding back McNabb from being a HOF worthy player. 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. Nov 29, 2009 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Eagles QB DONOVAN MCNABB talks to the media after the game during the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles game in Philadelphia. While players do so many different things in each sport, the easiest way to compare and judge all of them is by success. I believe McNair warrants consideration for the Hall of Fame, most certainly, when assessing his worth to his teammates and what was at the time a transient franchise, and when one looks beyond the numbers. Ben Roethlisberger's agent Ryan Tollner told NFL Newtork's Aditi Kinkhabwala that the Steelers "want Ben back and will contact me soon to address his cap situation.". I won't go into all statistical reasons for why McNabb was a top-tier QB, but here are a few. Theres A Football Life documentaries for almost each of those players. "I'm not hesitating on that. He was the first prized pupil of late offensive guru Bill Walsh, and he showed it with super-efficient play for his era. when is donovan mcnabb eligible for hall of fame Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and coach Marv Levy represent the Bills well for their 1990s heyday. 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 won league MVP in 2005 while pounding out 1,880 yards and 27 TDs and carrying the Seahawks offense to Super Bowl 40. Basically, I still think hewas right when he said that McNabb got the credit for the performance of the team, particularly Philadelphia's defense. From 2000-2004, Donovan McNabb was a top-five player in the National Football League. Staying with Barbers Canton resume, he was a five-time Pro Bowler and was named All-Pro on three occasions. Don't miss a story! 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. As with every Hall of Fame player, context is key. Alexander played only eight seasons in Seattle before his knees slowed him down, but he made those years count. He has one of the best touchdowns-to-interceptions ratios of any modern passer (234 TDs to 117 interceptions, exactly 2-to-1). Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images). Some might go with Joe Klecko, who was Gastineaus devastating defensive line-mate from the same era. So between the two, if you were voting who would you pick for the Hall of Fame? Refresh your browser window to try again. But many in the football press who disagree. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. In other words, through most of his career, McNabb was a more effective quarterback than Eliexcept for those two Super Bowl wins. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 13. 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. "Well, Peyton never won the big game until he won the Super Bowl. Donovan McNabb has quickly fallen from an upper-tier NFL quarterback to a man without a job discussing his legacy. But they should be joined by another core player in seven-time Pro Bowler Tasker. He even lost a playoff game to McNabb in 2008 as a #1 seed! McNabb won nine playoff games. Allen Iverson, Eric Lindros and Donovan McNabb: Hall of Famers? Lewis was named to the Pro Bowl and selected All-Pro in only one season, his 2,066-yard rushing explosion of 2003. Enough is enough, McNab deserves his place in Canton. BREAKING: The Modern-Era nominees for the Class of 2022 have been unveiled. So how does one make the argument that Jim Kelly should be in the Hall, His Super Bowl loss was a one possession game. I'm only including quarterbacks who have played more than five seasons to this point (guys such as Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers don't yet qualify). Its time for McNabb to get his props and be in the Hall of Fame. Over the course of his 13-year career, McNabb compiled 37,276 passing yards (25th all-time) and 234 passing TDs (31st), while collecting over 3,400 rushing yards and another 29 TDs on the ground. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. This is hypocrisy. He should be in with his brother Shannon. 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 Although McNabb never won the Super Bowl, he played like a champion, and he should not ever be forgotten. Things have eased up a lot with the coming of Washington D.C.'s Robert GriffinIII and Seattle's Russell Wilson. Eligibility restrictions apply. Throughout his career, he was a top 10 QB in the game. McNabb became eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame in 2017 and has been nominated each year since then. Donovan McNabb is the only quarterback in Eagles history to win a playoff game before his 28th birthday. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. McNabbs career passer rating is 85.6 and ranks #34 all time. Cherry was more spectacular than solid in 11 seasons all with Kansas City. Cornerback Ronde Barber and end Simeon Rice also deserve to join them, but Lynch gets the first golden ticket. "To pretend that many of us didn't want McNabb to be the best quarterback in the NFL because he's black is absurd. Jim Kellys career and McNabbs career are very similar except for two major differences. 3. He won't be eligible for four years, but it doesn't hurt to start early. Barbers incredible resume not being enough in the eyes of the voters is one thing. Marshall is known for one of the biggest on-field blunders in NFL history, a wrong-way defensive TD run that turned into a 49ers safety during a Vikings regular-season victory in 1964. Thomas went to seven Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro five times in his 12 years with Miami. Donovan McNabb on Hall of Fame: If it happens, it happens At least, that's what Ryan Pace wants you to believe in the months between now and the start of the regular season. McNair was an elite talent who wasn't into putting up numbers. Odds and lines subject to change. But McNair was the old-school, gritty emotional leader of a defensive-minded, physical team that won a lot of games under Jeff Fisher. 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 has never made it onto the actual ballot -- and now, in 2023, it looks as if he never will. Among the group are 10 first-year eligible players. He may never have been the best quarterback in the league. Longevity, versatility, stats, and the legendary resume play he will forever be known for. Eli had Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, and Jeremy Shockey for the early parts of his career. 'Was he an All-Pro? Jay Gorodetzer/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire. Donovan McNabb. Plus, you can't be frail and be great. Ty Law just got his Hall of Fame due as a key member of Bill Belichicks defense. There is some sentimentality here after McNairs tragic death 10 years ago, but he would be a fine representative fromthe Titans transition from the Oilers. Donovan McNabb NFL Hall of Fame: Why is He Not in Canton? Donovan McNabb was born on November 25, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois. 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). 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. Donovan McNabb Anderson was in the league from 1982 to 2004, and the kicker is third on the career points list with 2,434. Ranking the top 10 Eagles first-round draft picks in franchise history 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. Each NFL team's biggest Hall of Fame snub Ronde Barber is a legend in not only Tampa Bay football, but the game of football itself, and while the competition looks strong, its past the time the NFL enshrines him into the Hall of Fame. He was retro-credited with 127 sacks, and he should have made more than two Pro Bowls. 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. 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. Since 2016, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has been eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but has never been elected. This is not the first time either player has been eligible for the Hall of Fame, but their inclusion here is notable nonetheless. And from 2004 to the end of his career in 2011, he turned in a truly outstanding TD-to-interception ratio of 147-to-68. Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. followed after. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! WebThe eye test just said no. McNabb had an 85.6 QB rating, versus 81.6 for Aikman. Kelly lost four Super Bowls in a row. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He passed an average of 8.3 yards/throw. 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. File him under the Terrell Davis ethereal cases. He completed 61 percent of his passes in that stretch for 25,760 yards and a solid, if unspectacular, 84.4 passer rating. 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. Hilgenberg gets the honor over fellow Bears center Olin Kreutz, who made six Pro Bowls in the 2000s and helped Chicago get to Super Bowl 41. The three-time Pro Bowler rushed for 9,429 yards and 100 TDs. There is not a Hall-of-Fame QB in Canton right now that was able to succeed without a true #1 wideout. The runner-up for Pittsburgh is Steel Curtain defensive end L.C. DONOVAN MCNABB 2007 BOWMAN CHROME REFRACTOR.. cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab, - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, Report this item - opens in new window or tab. McNabb lost four conference titles. McNabb, who turned 35 in November, has not won a Super Bowl ring and says fans don't look at him as a Hall of Fame-caliber player for that reason. " "But, people don't realize how hard it is to get to the NFC Championship and to get there five times, and then make it to a Super Bowl? 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. This is not the first time either player has been eligible for the Hall of Fame, but their inclusion here is notable nonetheless. College career [ edit] ", -- "It appears NFL writers dont understand how the salary caps influence on roster building works. Donovan McNabb should be the second. Marshall played 18 of his 19 seasons with Minnesota, through age 42. Fresh off the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach's checklist has plenty of to-dos and one high atop the agenda is working out a new deal with defensive lineman extraordinaire Chris Jones. Void in ONT. Hall of Fame During his 10 seasons with the Steelers, he was recognized with seven Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro nods. WOLVERINE 1995 MARVEL VS DC COMICS IMPACT LIMITED EDITION ..18 of 18.EMBOSSED (#256037656592), 1991 Topps Archives The Ultimate 1953 Topps Series - You PickHall of Famers (#256032172074), michael jordan 1998-99 ULTRA PSA 7 NM.HALL OF FAMER..BULLS (#256037652102). McNair got it done with his arms and his legs, and he helped bring stability and an identity to the Houston Oilers franchise as it relocated to Tennessee and became the Titans. He threw for 37,276 yards throughout his career, which is more than by current Hall of Famers Aikman, Terry Bradshaw and Jim Kelly. Does that mean his career is a failure? While it's true that McNabb had better career numbers in terms of passing yards, touchdowns, QB rating and some other metrics, they played in different eras; Aikman retired in 2000, McNabb in 2011. Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician homepage, Syracuse alums Donovan McNabb, Gary Anderson among Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees, Syracuse football: Justin Lamson reported to be entering transfer portal, Syracuse football: undrafted free agent signings tracker, Weve got the camp invites and will update as needed, Syracuse football: RB Sean Tucker signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers as undrafted free agent, Buy Official TNIAAM Gear In The TNIAAM Shoppe, Disloyal Idiots Podcast: NFL Draft Recap and whats wrong with lacrosse, Syracuse football: LB Mikel Jones signs with Los Angeles Chargers as undrafted free agent. Schafrath was an elite blocking guard and tackle in the 1960s for several prolific rushing teams, including the short-but-brilliant career of Jim Brown, the best running back in NFL history. 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. Hes also the only eligible QB to win nine playoff games whos not in the Hall of Fame. Who won the 2023 NFL Draft? Quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb have interesting cases, but neither is strong enough. In 137 games, Eli has thrown 211 touchdowns and 144 interceptions; in 167 games Donovan threw for 234 TDs with just 117 interceptions. If it doesn't, it doesn't.". Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. McNabb has more yards than Kelly career wise, their completion percentages are about the same, have similar TD #s as well. Stroud and edge Will Anderson Jr., the Houston Texans get plenty of love but they're not No. Washington Redskins: 5 Most Probable McNabb had Brian Westbrook, and James Thrash as his two best receivers during that stretch. He was all about finding a way to beat you, whether that meant taking on two linebackers with his head down to grind out a first down or buying time to improvise an impossible pass downfield to stretch a defense. 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. His 98 regular season wins are more than by Ken Stabler and Steve Young, and his 234 career passing touchdowns are more than by Joe Namath and Kurt Warner. Westbrook, of course, was a RB and only came on in 2003. Barbers resume has it all. I am a Hall of Famer," McNabb told TMZ in 2019, saying that his stats were better than Troy Aikman's. The Redskins offensive line from the 1980s was great enough to have earned its unique nickname The Hogs but its crazy to think it has only one Hall of Fame presence in guard Russ Grimm. I played the game because I love it. McNabb never had a dubious distinction like that? Donovan McNabb If you ask the NFL fans who dont really care about the game and only want to run with narratives, then McNabb is not a HOF QB. Can the presence of Tom Brady, a continued resurgence of Ronald Jones and the drafting of Ke'Shawn Vaughn add a rushing component long absent in Tampa? Although not as flattering a stay in Washington as hoped for, Donovan McNabb is a future Hall of Famer. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Brown was also named to the Hall of Fames all-decade team in the 60s. When talking about McNabbs impact on the NFL, context is more important than most other players. At his peak, Holt was the better player. But the case for, I'd argue, is more persuasive. Its easy to From 2000-2004, Donovan McNabb was a top-five player in the National Football League. He madeseven Pro Bowl trips and ledthe league in receiving yardage twice. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. There is no doubt McNabb has been a better overall pro than, say, Eli Manning. And his 234 career touchdowns is #29 with Tony Romo and, again, Dave Krieg ahead of him. 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. Is Donovan McNabb a Hall of Fame quarterback? - Quora Super Bowl: Warren Moon thinks he wont be the lone Black To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Something went wrong. ", -- "Aikman gave up numbers to win rings and hand the ball to @EmmittSmith22", -- "He had T.O. But it's not the be-all, end-all as a representation of an NFL player's greatness. His numbers speak for themselves -- yet still, all anyone looks at is the fact that he ended his career with zero Super Bowl rings. In 12 seasons, he racked up 52 interceptions and also was a good return specialist. Manning played 17 seasons for the Giants. If he makes it in, McNabb needs to wear this hat. ONeal had 105.5 of his 132.5 career sacks in his seven seasons with the Chargers. Dan Marino was beaten in the 1985 Super Bowl by the San Francisco '49ers, 38-16, and he didn't play nearly as well in defeat as McNabb did. So, to me, of this "McNair Era," I would list Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, McNair, Drew Brees, Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer as the true elites at their position. That cant be an accidental coincidence. Had it not been for Atlantas early struggles as a team, he would be in the Hall. McNabb originally did not receive a warm welcome to Philadelphia and was booed after he was drafted. No more. 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. After nabbing both QB C.J. We don't think it's that crazy. He completely turned the franchise around, and it has not looked back since. The Eagles scored 17 touchdowns in 1998. I'd rank them in that order, which puts McNair in the top five. 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. McNabb played from 1999 to 2011 and was on the Eagles from 1999 to 2009. Two decades and a 13-year career later and McNabb possesses the title as 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. "You know what, I don't know. First up in the discussion: Donovan McNabb. The National Quarterback Club (NQBC) recently announced that McNabb will be inducted into the National Quarterback Club Hall of Fame at the 2021 NQBC Making it into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor in every sport. Syracuse, N.Y. Donovan McNabb isn't eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame until 2017, but one Hall of Famer believes he should get in when that time comes. He took over a team that had gone 3-13 and had won 2 playoff games in 19 years. Sorry, you couldn't help itbut no.". McNabb made six Pro Bowls for a reason. Yet not all Super Bowl winning QBs have had, or will have their names called in Canton. 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. 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. But heres to Holt, who had 869 catches for 12,660 yards in 10 seasons with the team. Its time for McNabb to get his props and be in the Hall of Fame. Greenwood. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Come on. Nick is the beat reporter for the Philadelphia Eagles for Metro Philadelphia and the Philly Sports Network. Ron Jaworski and Nick Foles were 28, Randall Cunningham and Rodney Peete were 29, Tommy Thompson was 31, Norm Van Brocklin was 34 and Jeff Garcia was 36. As I reflected on McNair's career, I began to ponder whether he will end up enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, given that many of his greatest contributions to the game came in moments of brilliance, determination and leadership that don't fit neatly into a statistical package. His career record as a starter is 78-57 for a won-loss of 57.8%. McNabb has been eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2016, but has never been a finalist. "I didn't play the game to make the Hall of Fame. In terms of stats relative to other Hall of Famers, his 47 career interceptions are only one less than Herb Adderley and Willie Wood, the same as Jimmy Johnson, and one more than Jack Christiansen and Mike Haynes. McNair and Hall of Famers 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 yards. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Seymour is the guy who is most worthy of joining him. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. And he may not have had the longevity and year-to-year dominance that separates the very good from the elite in the NFL. Its a loaded running back class, however, and other positions like wide receiver, offensive line and defensive back seem loaded as well. He may never have been the best quarterback in the 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. WebHis stats are not bad but not particularly Hall of Fame worthy. His 37,276 passing yards ranks #25 on the all time list with names like Dave Krieg and Kerry Collins ahead of him. Although theres a case for quarterback Jim Hart and perhaps some sentimental push for the late Pat Tillman, Wilson is thechoice. It is an absolutely solid class, with long-time nominees Cliff Branch and Dick Vermeil finally getting in amongst others. The just-retired Eagles quarterback's lack of a Super Bowl victory and a few mediocre years shouldn't overshadow his overall impressive record. But much of the debate on Twitter about McNabb's comments noted that it was misleading to compare McNabb's and Aikman's statistics: -- "You do realize that McNabb averaged almost 100 more throws per season than Aikman. "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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! McNabb is arguably the top QB nominated (though Randall Cunningham and Steve McNair both inspire debate). AP / Michael Perez. Autographed Football Immortals Hall of Fame Card - Art Donovan There's no established criteria here, so you can use your own standards. Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has been eligible for the Hall of Fame for a few years now, but during that time his name hasn't If he had had the Patriots' defense instead of the Eagles', Philly probably would have won. Donovan McNabb has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year since he became eligible in 2017, and all three times he has not made the 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. And as much as I like and respect Brunell, he isn't someone who likely will generate tremendous Hall of Fame debate.