Former Pro Bowler moved into a backup role for Philadelphia
It’s time for Jeff Garcia fans to toss out the Detroit Lions
hats for Philadelphia Eagles ones.
Gilroy’s favorite son was signed by the Eagles last Friday and
will be Donovan McNabb’s backup.
Although the move takes the 36-year-old Gilroy High alumni
further away from California, the former Pro Bowler will find
comfort in reuniting with with Eagles assistant head
coach/offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who served in the
same capacity with the 49ers from 1999-2000
– Garcia’s first two years in the league.
Former Pro Bowler moved into a backup role for Philadelphia
It’s time for Jeff Garcia fans to toss out the Detroit Lions hats for Philadelphia Eagles ones.
Gilroy’s favorite son was signed by the Eagles last Friday and will be Donovan McNabb’s backup.
Although the move takes the 36-year-old Gilroy High alumni further away from California, the former Pro Bowler will find comfort in reuniting with with Eagles assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who served in the same capacity with the 49ers from 1999-2000 – Garcia’s first two years in the league.
Under Mornhinweg, Garcia’s skills were accentuated. In 1999, he was pressed into a starting role in 10 games for an injured Steve Young.
In 2000, his first full season as a starter, Garcia threw for a 49ers team record 4,278 yards and 31 touchdowns. The following season, his first of three straight Pro Bowl campaigns, he passed for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns, becoming the first passer in 49ers history with 30-plus touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
In order to make room for Garcia, the Eagles released quarterbacks Mike McMahon and Andy Hall on Monday, three days after signing the Gilroy native.
Although he is slated to be the back-up, Garcia knows that he is just one hit away from the starting job on a team that has been a Super Bowl contender for several seasons running.
Last season, Garcia threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in six games with Detroit last season after five years in San Francisco and one in Cleveland.
Ten-year veteran Koy Detmer, the team’s holder, remains on the Eagles’ roster.
Garcia is one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL with 19,076 yards and 126 touchdown passes over the past seven seasons. His quarterback rating (85.8) ranks fourth among active players with 2,700-or-more pass attempts.
Garcia will be entering his 13th season in professional football, his eighth in the NFL. Following his collegiate career at San Jose State, he played five seasons in the Canadian Football League highlighted by a 1998 Grey Cup Championship with the Calgary Stampeders, when he was named the game’s most valuable player.
Garcia was also a three-year starter (1990-93) at San Jose State where he completed 504 of 887 passes (56.8 percent) for 6,545 yards and 48 touchdowns. He ranks first in school history with 7,274 yards of total offense and is the Spartans’ third all-time passing leader in yards, completions and passer rating (129.4). Before transferring to San Jose State, he was the starting quarterback at Gavilan College (1989).
