Editing Donovan McNabb (section)

== Statistical Excellence ==

McNabb's statistical achievements with the Eagles established records that remain unmatched. His career passer rating, his touchdown passes, his rushing yards as a quarterback, and his winning percentage all represent franchise benchmarks. The combination of production and durability—he started more than 100 games as an Eagle—demonstrated sustained excellence that injuries and inconsistency have prevented subsequent quarterbacks from matching.<ref name="didinger"/>

His 2004 season represented his peak, the Pro Bowl MVP performance and the Super Bowl appearance validating a career that critics had questioned. The Super Bowl loss, in which the Eagles fell to New England 24-21, could not diminish what the season had achieved—the franchise's first conference championship since 1980 and only its second Super Bowl appearance ever. McNabb's performance in the game, though criticized for a late-game lapse, met the moment's demands for most of its duration.<ref name="macnow"/>

The absence of a championship, despite the four NFC Championship appearances and the Super Bowl berth, created narratives about McNabb's limitations that his achievements could not entirely dispel. The criticism, sometimes reflecting expectations that no quarterback could meet, shaped perception of a career that by objective measures ranked among the franchise's greatest. The gap between what McNabb accomplished and what some fans demanded remains central to understanding his complicated Philadelphia legacy.<ref name="didinger"/>