Editing Donovan McNabb (section)

== Eagles Franchise Quarterback ==

Donovan Jamal McNabb was born on November 25, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois, attending Syracuse University where his abilities established him as a premium draft prospect. The Eagles selected him second overall in 1999, a choice greeted with boos from fans at the draft who preferred running back Ricky Williams. This inauspicious beginning previewed a career marked by achievement that some fans nevertheless found insufficient.<ref name="macnow">{{cite book |last=MacNow |first=Glen |title=The Great Philadelphia Sports Debate |year=2003 |publisher=Middle Atlantic Press |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

His abilities became apparent quickly, the combination of arm strength, mobility, and competitive spirit transforming an Eagles offense that had lacked playmaking ability. By 2000, the Eagles had reached the playoffs; by 2001, they had reached the NFC Championship Game. Four consecutive conference title game appearances (2001-2004), culminating in the Super Bowl XXXIX loss to New England, represented sustained excellence that no Eagles quarterback had previously achieved.<ref name="didinger"/>

His playing style combined passing ability with rushing threat that defenses could not ignore, his mobility creating time for downfield plays while his willingness to run for first downs extended drives. The scrambling that frustrated some fans who wanted him to throw the ball away instead often produced positive plays that conventional pocket passers could not have achieved. His approach, though untraditional, produced results that traditional metrics validated.<ref name="macnow"/>