Revisiting the Eagles' Surprising Easter Trade of Donovan McNabb to the Rival Redskins

Donovan McNabb was taken No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft and was the starting quarterback up until the 2009 season.

McNabb made the Pro Bowl in 2009 and, even after a disappointing playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys, there was no indication he would lose his job. Then came Easter Sunday of 2010 when the news dropped that McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a second-round pick.

This came out of nowhere and was a polarizing move for Eagles fans. Some wanted McNabb gone while others may have been wondering why the mainstay was traded so abruptly after a winning season.

McNabb was the starter right away with the Redskins and ended up making 13 starts. The team finished 6-10 and McNabb was relegated to the backup role weeks after signing a five-year extension worth up to $78 million. Perhaps his worst performance came in a blowout loss against his old team.

The Eagles were led by Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick in 2010 and won the NFC East with a 10-6 record. Philly was bounced in the Wild Card round, but it was clear that moving on from McNabb was the right decision, especially since he only lasted one more year in the league.

The veteran quarterback was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 and quietly finished his career there after only making six starts. McNabb's best days came in Philly and the Eagles moved on at the right time to stay competitive -- and it was at the expense of a division rival who wasted a draft pick and a ton of money for just 13 games with the QB.