10 greatest Philadelphia Eagles of all time

4. QB Donovan McNabb

His introduction to the NFL and to the fans from the City of Brotherly Love was certainly memorable. The 1999 NFL Draft Class began with three quarterbacks. The Cleveland Browns opted for Tim Couch first overall and two picks later it was the Cincinnati Bengals choosing Akili Smith. Both of those players wound up having very abbreviated careers in the National Football League.

In the middle were the Philadelphia Eagles and Syracuse University’s Donovan McNabb. For some inexplicable reason, it was a selection that was greeted with skepticism and at Radio City Music Hall, the versatile signal-caller was booed.

But McNabb would get the last laugh in terms of producing for the franchise. Yes, the Eagles did not win an NFL championship but he was a big reason the club reached the playoffs seven times during his stay with the club and went to the NFC title game five times in an eight-year span from 2001-08 – including Super Bowl XXXIX.

In 11 seasons with the Birds, he threw for 32,873 yards and more than twice as many touchdown passes (216) as interceptions (100). The six-time Pro Bowler also ran for 3,249 yards and 28 scores with the club before being dealt to rival Washington in 2010.