Strategic planning, sports and competition are still pillars of Donovan McNabb's life, albeit from a different perspective as a retired NFL athlete and parent of four sports-driven youths: daughter Alexis, twins Sariah and Donovan Jr., and son Devin James.
Nov. 14, 1999, is forever etched in Donovan's mind. That was the day of his first NFL start. During that game, he led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 35–28 win against the Washington Redskins, a victory made even more satisfying from being a first-round draft pick for the Eagles that same season. "It was so memorable to hear the crowd and get a standing ovation," he recalls.
Donovan's second memory shared with devout Eagles' fans was when the team got into "THE" Big XXXIX Game on Super Saturday during 2004, after racking up one of the most significant seasons in the Eagles' franchise history. "The team had had NFC Championship wins, and it took a lot to get over that last bump. I will always cherish that experience," he says.
On July 29, 2013, Donovan officially retired from professional football as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named to the club’s 75th Anniversary Team and immortalized at a halftime ceremony during September 2013, when the organization retired his No. 5 jersey.
Fans can still hear Donovan as a regular contributor to the 94.1 WIP sports talk afternoon show, often appearing to discuss the Eagles after their games.
Starting as a football running back in seventh grade, this 49-year-old athlete who now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, got his first taste of quarterback allure when his middle school team's designated quarterback got injured before playoffs. Donovan says his coach asked him if he wanted to try the QB spot, and he then realized how much he enjoyed the combination of skills and determination the position required.
"Molding my game became my focus through high school, college and the NFL. When someone had the audacity to tell me that I couldn't do something, I told myself: 'Now it's time to prove to myself, and prove to you, that I can.'"
But football didn't stop Donovan from also playing basketball, baseball, volleyball and running track. Those other sports' experiences have come in handy as he coached flag football, club softball, basketball and tackle football for his children and their teams.
"In dad mode, I'm asking my kids to think about commitment and what they're actually doing while playing. In coach mode, I'm trying to share philosophies and how to handle pressures. Sometimes, I'm just a dad in the stands. Or the bus driver/chauffeur. It can be challenging but it's fun," he reflects.
In Donovan's other teaching dimension, he's the QB coach at Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix. He also works as a QB trainer, focusing on developing young athletes through his 5Sports Performance company.
Wellness Routines Over Time
"It's a funny thing, when you're playing professional sports, you're burning so many calories, you don't have to watch everything you eat," Donovan states. "But I've always loved the gym, and I went three or four times a week. Sometimes, Andy (Eagles coach Andy Reid) would come by and tell me to stop working out."
To round out his fitness routine, he says he did maintenance lifting, got massages and worked with a chiropractor and stretch therapist. For muscle recovery, he turned to hot and cold therapy through cold plunges, steam saunas and hot tubs. He also ran sprints twice weekly for conditioning to "better handle scrambling from the pocket" and the "chill and cold temperatures" of later East Coast football seasons.
Now that he's not burning as many calories through playing football, he says he's still working out at the gym five, six or seven times a week. He still stretches and gets massages, although only about twice per month.
He tries to eat from a stricter standpoint, but admits that desserts are his weakness. "Carrot cake with cream cheese icing, heated up, and a couple scoops of ice cream. Now that's what I'm talking about!"
As he notes earnestly, he still has a firm wellness routine, just perhaps at an executive level now.
Charitable Assistance
Raquel "Roxi" McNabb, Donovan's wife since 2003, also a star athlete while the two dated at Syracuse University, shares his philanthropic desires through the Donovan McNabb Fund. In October 2009, the couple announced a partnership with Virtua hospital where each of their four children were born. The partnership began with a six-figure donation from the McNabbs to help with constructing a new NICU at the Virtua Voorhees replacement hospital, which opened in 2011. In addition, the family committed to helping raise $2.5 million for additional funding for the project. The completed unit was named The McNabb Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in honor of their dedication.
Donovan's father, Sam, a retired electrical engineer, and mother, Wilma, a registered nurse, continue to be a big part of Donovan’s life. His father, along with his older brother, Sean, both battle diabetes and inspired Donovan's support of the American Diabetes Association. With his parents, Donovan previously kicked off a national education campaign called "How I Do Diabetes." They were ideally suited for this education initiative, and Sam eventually became a kidney transplant recipient. Wilma is best known to many fans as Mama McNabb, the woman providing Campbell’s Chunky Soup to her son and his teammates. After an actress played Wilma the first year, Wilma herself took over in 2002 and served as a spokesperson for the company for five years.
Together, Raquel and Donovan founded Caris Sports Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization to assist financially disadvantaged children who previously couldn't participate in sports due to economic barriers, such as single-parent incomes.
Looking Forward
As Donovan ponders his 50th birthday milestone approaching in 2026, he vows that he'd love to be "the" strongest 50-year-old! To that end, he still sometimes does 3 hours a day of cardio and heavy weightlifting. "I want to be healthy and supportive for my kids as they move through their own life journeys," he explains.
Regarding potential Hall of Fame Enshrinement, Donovan says he feels he had a Hall of Fame career. "But I didn't get into the game for that. I got into football because I love the competition and camaraderie. I love what winning means, and being a hard worker and leader."
He's enjoying teaching youths that sports can be a safe haven when it comes to mental health.
"You're doing what you love, free from other distractions and that helps balance ourselves out. I encourage them to be themselves and to learn to use motivation as their fuel. I also like to teach them that there's life after sports, even when you can still smell the grass and hear the crowds," he asserts.
"After retiring, I'm enjoying gathering all the aspects of football that I learned so I can give back to youths by helping them to get truly prepared for life. For those who remain goal-oriented, you discover what goals really mean to you. And once you settle on goals, you can decide the best approaches, then come the helpful tactics," he says.
"I believe it's essential to cross off one goal at a time. But once you achieve your current five goals, it's immediately time to establish the next five."
"If you believe it, you can achieve it." ~Donovan McNabb, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, coach, broadcast commentator, devoted sports dad.