McNabb reportedly close to TV job

Wilma McNabb and son Donovan at a news conference for Chunky Soup the week before the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit. They helped Campbell's announce its donation of one million cans to food banks nationwide.
Wilma McNabb and son Donovan at a news conference for Chunky Soup the week before the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit. They helped Campbell's announce its donation of one million cans to food banks nationwide. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)
By Peter Mucha, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: September 05, 2012

Ex-Eagle quarterback Donovan McNabb may be accepting that he's now an ex-quarterback.

No team has signed the 35-year-old free agent, not even for an audition as a backup, since the Minnesota Vikings released him last season.

Now comes word he's "close to agreeing to a network job," according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal.

He's "signed with agent Mark Lepselter for broadcast work," she tweeted Sunday (@SBJLizMullen).

Indeed, MAXX Sports & Entertainment, founded by Lepselter, not only lists McNabb as a client under "broadcasters" but IDs him as "Analyst - NFL Network."

Unclear is whether that's about future gigs or previous brief TV stints.

The affable married father of four, who earned a communications degree at Syracuse University, has done a lot of TV and radio work, from his own shows as an Eagle to all sorts of commercials, including memorable ones for Campbell's Chunky Soup.

Broadcasting might even, in a way, return him to the field, suggests a writer for a Minnesota fans website. "Obviously, McNabb's future is as a sideline reporter a la Tony Siragusa. He has the sense of humor and will soon have the girth," jokes Dan Zinka.

When McNabb officially retires, it's possible he'll do so as an Eagles, just as teammates Tre Thomas, Brian Dawkins and Brian Westbrook have recently done.

But it's possible he'll hold out hope of returning this season, since injuries sometimes make teams desperate for veteran help.

McNabb holds just about every Eagles passing record, except for NFL championship wins. No Eagles team has ever won a Super Bowl.

After the Eagles traded McNabb to the Washington Redskins in April 2010, he racked up a lackluster five wins and wound up getting benched.

The subject of what honors might lie ahead - retiring of his number? induction in the NFL Hall of Fame? - could continue to fuel debate among fans and fellow broadcasters for years.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.

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