Donovan McNabb Used an Ice Cream Cone to Obtain His Trademark No. 5 With the Vikings
Football fans may have to squint to remember Donovan McNabb playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
Like so many of his friends and teammates, McNabb retired elsewhere from where he posted his best numbers. An all-time Philadelphia Eagles legend, McNabb spent his final season handing off to Adrian Peterson and hooking up with a young Percy Harvin.
Just as he did in Philadelphia and Washington, McNabb wore his trademark No. 5 in Minnesota. However, in order to obtain the number, McNabb needed to do far more than simply request No. 5 from punter Chris Kluwe.
Donovan McNabb is a Philadelphia Eagles legend
History should look back favorably on Donovan McNabb, even if he never finds himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Not only did McNabb live up to the expectations which come with being the second overall pick, but he grew into one of the most productive players in Philadelphia Eagles history.
In 11 seasons with the Eagles, McNabb completed 60.3% of his passes for 32,873 yards, 216 touchdowns, and 100 interceptions. McNabb went 92-49-1 as the Eagles’ starting quarterback and reached the Pro Bowl five times.
A dangerous player with his legs, McNabb scored 28 rushing touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry with the Eagles.
No stranger to the postseason, McNabb won nine of his 16 playoff starts. McNabb completed 59.1% of his passes in those games for 3,752 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.
McNabb spent part of the 2011 season in Minnesota
With a young Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings, Philadelphia traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins in April 2010 for two draft picks.
McNabb went 5-8 in 13 starts for Mike Shanahan, completing 58.3% of his passes for 3,377 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Washington traded McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2011 for a 2012 draft pick, one that the Redskins used on future Pro Bowl running back Alfred Morris.
McNabb lasted six starts in Minnesota, completing 60.3% of his passes for 1,026 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, Minnesota only won one of McNabb’s first six starts and eventually handed things over to rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.
Minnesota cut McNabb midway through the season, and he never played in the league again.
Donovan McNabb did everything to wear No. 5 with the Vikings
Wherever Donovan McNabb went in the NFL, he wore his trademark No. 5.
When McNabb arrived joined the Minnesota Vikings, punter Chris Kluwe already wore No. 5. Professional athletes often buy their preferred number away from their new teammates, whether it is in the form of a donation, a gift, or a pure purchase.
Kluwe wanted more than just money, though. According to Bloomberg, McNabb agreed to donate $5,000 to charity and promote Kluwe’s rock band, Tripping Icarus, during a press conference.
Kluwe’s final request may also be the strangest. In addition to the donation and promotion, Kluwe wanted McNabb to buy him an ice cream cone.
McNabb followed through on all three counts. On a Reddit post in 2016, Kluwe said it took McNabb a few years, but the veteran quarterback finally bought the punter an ice cream cone.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
