Eagles Easter Sunday History: Donovan McNabb Traded 13 Years Ago

The deal kept the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback in the NFC East, but the Eagles ultimately proved correct in dealing him and setting off a quest for the next franchise QB

PHILADELPHIA - Andy Reid threw his weight behind Donovan McNabb, saying, yes, McNabb will return for his 12th season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Three days later, on Easter Sunday evening in 2010, McNabb was shipped to the then-Washington Redskins.

The surprise was that the Eagles traded within the NFC East, a nod to the opinion that they believed McNabb, at 33, was on the downside of his career even though he was coming off a solid 2009 season, earning his sixth, and what turned out to be final, Pro Bowl. 

He finished his final season with the Eagles with 3,553 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a passer rating of 92.9.

"I'm really excited about my future with the Washington Redskins," said McNabb shortly after the deal went down. "I'm eager to work with Coach (Mike) Shanahan. He's been a very successful coach with a couple of Super Bowl victories on his resume.

"While it has been my goal to win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, we came up short. I enjoyed my 11 years, and know we shared a lot more good times than bad."

The Eagles ultimately proved correct in making a trade that netted them a second-round pick in the 2010 draft and two picks the following year.

McNabb started the 2010 season at 2-2, including a 17-12 win over his former team, but Washington won just three times over the next nine games and was ultimately pulled in favor of Rex Grossman.

Washington traded McNabb to Minnesota in the offseason. The quarterback started 1-5 and was benched for rookie Christian Ponder. McNabb, after just turning 35, asked for and received his release, but never played again.

That was more than a decade ago and, for the Eagles, the trade of a quarterback who had led them to five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl, ignited a long and unsuccessful search for another franchise quarterback.

Jalen Hurts is the latest in Philadelphia’s quest.

Kevin Kolb was given first crack at being McNabb’s successor. 

Drafted in the second round – the Eagles’ first pick in that draft at 36 overall – the former University of Houston star never was able to stay healthy. He made 14 starts in the two ensuing years after the McNabb trade.

Michael Vick was given a chance, and he had his moments, but he was 29 when his career was given a rebirth by Reid after he had spent nearly two years at the State Penitentiary, Leavenworth, for his role in a dogfighting operation.

Chip Kelly took over for Reid in 2013 and never fully believed in Nick Foles, despite a season in which he threw 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions, took the Eagles to the playoffs, but was ultimately traded for Sam Bradford.

Bradford lasted one season, and when Kelly was fired after winning a power struggle with Howie Roseman to be the general manager, Roseman was put back in charge.

Roseman wasted little time making an impact early in his return. He made two trades up the draft board to end up with the second overall pick in 2016, and took Carson Wentz, who was supposed to be the next McNabb and spend a decade or more in Philly.

Wentz was undone by injuries, and eventually benched in late in the 2020 season for Hurts, the Eagles’ second-round pick earlier that spring.

And it’s Hurts’ show now.

---

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter on @kracze.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here.

Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here