Donovan McNabb - Hall of Famer?

Top 100 NFL QBs of all time. Who ya got?

 

If both retired today, Rodgers would get in over Eli.

 

I didn't "dodge" shit. The disparity in eras isn't as meaningful in this case as people make it out to be. Much like the "Kelly threw more TDs" argument.

McNabb never led the NFL in passing, correct. Neither did Kelly. He led the league in TD passes once. Kelly was no doubt innovative and unique, but how, exactly, was he so much better than his peers than McNabb was to his? One doesn't need freakish Drew Brees numbers to be a good and exceedingly efficient QB in this era. McNabb is near the top of the all-time list in interception percentage, while Kelly is barely in the top 100. That's not something that differs much from era to era.

Kelly was a top 10 quarterback in an era with Marino, Elway, Montana, Young, Moon and Favre, all HOFers and Favre is a lock.

McNabb was a top 10 quarterback in an era with Manning, Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger, Warner and Rodgers, all of whom are or will be HOF locks.

 

McNabb's career similar players on Pro Football Reference: Bradshaw, McNair, Kelly, Bledsoe, Esiason, Griese, Hadl, Roethlisberger, Aikman, Brunell.

Some decent company. Still not a HOFer.

 

I think McNabb will get in. It may be decades, but I think he'll get in.

 

Yeah, I saw that list too and came to the same conclusion. I think him and Bledsoe were really different players, but kind of similar from a history perspective. Both came into not-so-great situations and got their squads to the playoffs multiple times, but ultimately weren't Super Bowl winners or consistent MVP candidates. If you don't get into the HOF on the "peak value" standard (Warner, maybe Eli with the multiple SBs), then I think you need 10+ seasons of really good play to be a lock. It probably doesn't help for either one that when the end came, it came quick and badly, and on new teams.

 

I never thought of McNabb as one of the best QBs in the league, but as one of the better ones. I have never thought of him as a Hall of Famer, and am kind of surprised this thread still lives.

 

A couple of the most overrated QBS of all time on that list.

 

I don't think Eli Manning is in, or at least he shouldn't be. I would put in Warner well before him, or Roethlesberger. I'm also not convinced that McNabb is a better candidate than Cunningham, but I haven't checked the numbers.

 

Neither was Kelly.

McNabb finished second to Faulk in MVP voting in 2000. Kelly finished second to Thurman Thomas in 1991. That's pretty much it for either of them.

And, I keep coming back to this: McNabb threw three TDs in one Super Bowl, and Kelly threw two TDs (and seven INTs) in four Super Bowls. And Kelly's two came in the same game - meaning he threw ZERO touchdowns in his three other SB appearances.

 

It's going to be awesome when the Philly voter goes into the HOF meeting and says "Jim Kelly is in. McNabb should be in." If only they could air that live on TV.