Michael Irvin Responds to Donovan McNabb's Comments on Troy Aikman and Hall of Fame
By Brian Cass
Most fans scoffed at former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb when he stated that he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Not so much because he proclaimed himself a HOFer, but more so because he took a jab at current Hall of Fame gunslinger Troy Aikman.
It was only a matter of time before Aikman's former teammates were asked about McNabb's comments and came to his defense. Michael Irvin was among the first to do so, but while he believes Aikman is superior to McNabb, he finds that the former Eagles star deserves to be honored in Canton, OH.
Michael Irvin to @TMZ_Sports: Donovan McNabb belongs in HOF, but he's not "anywhere near" Troy Aikman. "He could've put up those kind of numbers, if he was asked to throw that much...Troy doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves for what he did during his time in Dallas."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 29, 2019
When you gander at some of the quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame and their accomplishments, McNabb's stats are right up there.
Players like Warren Moon didn't come close to what McNabb put forth in his career, but comparing himself to Troy Aikman, someone who's won three Super Bowls, is where McNabb's argument found deaf ears.
Warren Moon won 3 playoff games in 17 years and never reached a conference title game.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) May 25, 2019
He won 10 games TWICE in 17 years.
Moon had 291 TDs and 233 INTs.
5 had 234 TDs and 117 INTs.
Donovan was 107-69-1
Moon was 105-108.
But yeah, I'm clueless. https://t.co/wE9EUiird3
While McNabb's numbers appear superior to Aikman's, he failed to deliver on the big stage for the Eagles, never winning a Super Bowl during his tenure with the team.
Aikman had the luxury of handing it off to the all time leading rusher in NFL history, Emmitt Smith. And he played behind one of the best offensive lines in NFL history as well, but it still takes a strong leader under center to win three rings, and that's what puts Aikman above McNabb on so many fans' rankings.
Whether McNabb truly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame is for the voters to decide. Irvin sure thinks McNabb's statistics warrant consideration, but he drew ire from Cowboys fans across the nation with his jab at Aikman.