(EDITOR’S NOTE - This is one in a series of articles the Times News will be running that ranks the top quarterbacks of the last half century for pro and college football teams with strong local followings. Today, the Philadelphia Eagles will be featured. In the upcoming days, Penn State and Notre Dame quarterbacks will also be ranked.)

By Jeff Moeller

tnsports@tnonline.com

Ron Jaworski, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb or even Carson Wentz. Do you remember Roman Gabriel?

Who are the 10 greatest Eagles quarterbacks of the last half century?

Take your pick - it may not be as easy as you think.

Since 1970, the Eagles certainly have had their share of stars and flops. Some may have been quickly forgotten, while others have continued to maintain a high profile. The first few may be obvious choices, but the rest can be anyone’s guess.

Here’s one man’s opinion on the best Birds’ signalcallers in the last 50 years.

1. Donovan McNabb (1999-2009)

He probably is the most criticized and controversial quarterback in club history, part in due to his “sickness” in the Super Bowl loss to New England and some other championship game losses.

But McNabb led the Eagles to four straight championship game appearances and five overall. He is the team leader in completions, attempts, passing yardage (32,873), and touchdowns (216). He also ran for over 3,000 yards and scored 28 times on the ground.

He posted an overall 92-49-1 record and a postseason mark of 9-7. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and had his number 5 retired by the club. McNabb went on to play a year each with Minnesota and Washington.

2. Ron Jaworski (1977-1986)

The “Polish Rifle” brought the Eagles from the deep depths to a Super Bowl in 1980. He had weapons like Wilbert Montgomery and Harold Charmichael, but Jaworski still took the team on his shoulders and he became a folklore figure from small Youngstown State.

For his efforts, Jaworski could have shared the top spot with McNabb, but McNabb won more big games. Jaworski is second on the team in yardage (26,963) and touchdowns (175), but he is also the team’s all-time interception leader (151).

Overall, Jaworski was a 69-67-1 in the regular-season and 4-4 in the postseason. He started all 16 games in five different seasons. Jaworski also played with Miami and Kansas City before he retired.

3. Randall Cunningham (1985-95)

Donned “The Ultimate Weapon” by Sports Illustrated, Cunningham often is considered as the franchise’s best dual threat quarterback.

He is best remembered for his scrambling and his occassional leaps over defenders, but Cunningham threw for 22,887 yards with 150 touchdowns. He ran for over 4,000 yards with 32 touchdowns and a 5.5 yards per carry average. He also holds the Eagles’ record for the longest punt (91 yards) and was a two-time first team All-Pro, and a three-time Pro Bowler.

Even though many believed that he wasn’t utilized to his full potential, Cunningham had a 63-43 -1 record as a starter, although he struggled with a 3-6 playoff mark. Cunningham retired, but came back to play for Minnesota and led them with a 15-1 record in 1998 and a berth in the NFC Championship game. He finished his career with single seasons in Dallas and Baltimore.

4. Michael Vick (2009-13)

Vick was signed by the Eagles as a free agent after he was release from Atlanta after his involvement in a dog-fighting scandal.

Vick was the eventual starter in 2010 after McNabb was traded and Kevin Kolb was injured. He was the NFC Comeback Player of the Year and named to the Pro Bowl in 2010 when he led the team to a 10-6 record and the playoffs.

He finished with 9,984 passing yards with 57 touchdowns. Vick had his share of highlights, but his career eventually began to fizzle. He ended his career with one-year stints each with the Jets and Steelers.

5. Roman Gabriel (1973-77)

Gabriel can be remembered as the aging quarterback who the Eagles acquired from the Rams for three draft picks, wide receiver Harold Jackson, and running back Tony Baker. Unfortunately, it turned out that he was already on the downside of a stellar career.

Still, Gabriel threw for 7,721 yards with 47 touchdowns over a four-year period in which the Eagles took their lumps. Gabriel was 12-25-1 during his reign with the Birds.

Gabriel did win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1973 when he took the Eagles to a 5-8-1 season after a 2-11-1 campaign the previous season.

6. Nick Foles (2012-14, 17-18)

Foles was a third-round pick in the 2012 draft and was a late starter that season. He had a 27-touchdown season the following year, however, he suffered a broken collarbone in 2014.

Foles was traded to the Rams and later found his way back to the Eagles in 2017. After a late-season Carson Wentz injury, Foles took and led the Eagles’ magical Super Bowl run that included him catching a touchdown pass on the famous “Philly Special play.” He took the Eagles back to the playoffs in 2018 and then opted for free agency that led him to Jacksonville.

He had 8,703 yards passing and an impressive 58-23 touchdown to interception ratio with Philadelphia. Despite his short stints, Foles will never be forgotten.

7. Carson Wentz (2016-present)

Yes, Wentz does make the list for his accomplishments in his short career.

In his first season, Wentz set a rookie record for completions and a team record for attempts. The following year, Wentz was lost in Week 14 with a knee injury, and Foles took over to direct the Super Bowl run. Wentz was on his way to a MVP season if not for the injury.

Wentz rebounded with a 3,000-yard-plus, 21-touchdown season. He followed that up with 27 touchdowns last season. Through three seasons, Wentz already has accumulated 14,191 yards with 97 touchdowns and just 35 interceptions. In his lone playoff game last season, Wentz left the game against Seattle with a concussion.

He’ll begin 2020 with a career 32-24 career record

8. Norm Snead (1964-70)

Even though he only had one seaso - and his last – in our period, Snead had a legendary stand.

In 1970, Snead had a humble 2,322-yard season with 15 touchdowns and 20 interceptions as the Eagles went 3-9-1. Overall, Snead amassed 15,672 yards with 111 touchdowns and 124 interceptions. In 85 games, Snead had a 28-50-3 record, having a six-win season (6-7-1) as his highlight year.

Snead was dealt to Minnesota in 1971 and found his mark with four-year stint with the Giants, whom he ended his career with in 1976.

9. Rodney Peete (1995-98)

Peete was best known for being a backup quarterback who stepped in to win a playoff game in his inaugural season of a four-year nest.

Peete took over for the injured Cunningham that year and posted a 9-3 record with 2,326 yards passing with eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He primary remained in a backup role over the next three years, as the team searched for their next franchise quarterback.

Overall, Peete did a yeoman’s work in his 30 games with 4,945 yards with 17 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He had cups of coffee with Washington and Oakland before he had finished his final two years with Carolina, starting 14 games in 2002.

10. (tie) Mike Boryla (1974-76)

Jim McMahon (1990-92)

Boryla was acquired from Cincinnati for a first-and six-round draft pick and was seen as the new savior. He didn’t have much help, but never got on track. Over his three years, Boryla threw for 2,823 yards with 20 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He missed the entire 1977 season with a knee injury and was dealt to Tampa Bay in 1978. Boryla did make the 1975 Pro Bowl as injury replacement.

McMahon brought his show East, but the Super-Bowl winning quarterback with Chicago had seen his better days. He reunited with former head coach Buddy Ryan and won the NFC Comeback Player of the Year as he led the Eagles to a 10-6 record in 1990. He lost in wildcard playoff game to Washington.

He would finish as Cunningham’s backup and ended his Eagles career with 2,820 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Honorable Mention

Rick Arrington (1970-72); John Reaves (1972-74); Ty Detmer (1996-97); Koy Detmer (1998-2006); Jeff Garcia (2006-09).