Eagles Legend Donovan McNabb Sells Final Game-Worn Jersey to Support Teammate Battling Cancer
Philadelphia, PA – November 1, 2025
In a deeply emotional gesture that’s resonating across the Eagles fanbase, former franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb has auctioned off the game-worn jersey from his final season at Lincoln Financial Field.
The proceeds will go toward helping his longtime teammate L.J. Smith, who is currently battling lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that has forced him into an intensive treatment plan over the past year.
For Eagles fans, McNabb remains the defining symbol of the early 2000s — the franchise savior who led Philadelphia to four NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth, reigniting a city’s football pride. His leadership and toughness under pressure made him one of the most beloved athletes in Philadelphia sports history.
💬 “We built something special together — trust, chemistry, and belief,” McNabb said quietly. “Now that he’s fighting for his life, I just want this jersey to fight for him — the same way he always fought for this city.”
Smith, who played from 2003 to 2008, was one of McNabb’s most trusted red-zone targets. Known for his strength, agility, and clutch plays during the 2004 Super Bowl run, he was a key part of an offense that defined an era for the Eagles.
In recent years, Smith’s health has deteriorated due to his cancer diagnosis. Friends say he remains optimistic, continuing to mentor young athletes and inspire those around him with his fighting spirit — the same one fans saw every Sunday in midnight green.
McNabb’s jersey sale is not about nostalgia, but brotherhood. The funds will be donated through the Eagles Alumni Foundation, directly supporting Smith’s cancer treatment and recovery program.
“This jersey carried our story — the sweat, the pain, and the pride,”
For Eagles fans, this story reminds them of what Philadelphia football has always stood for — loyalty, courage, and the unbreakable bond between teammates who gave everything for their city.
In Philadelphia, brotherhood doesn’t end with the game — it lives forever.
Packers Tucker Kraft Knee Injury a Potentially Devastating Blow in Week 9
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 02: Tucker Kraft #85 of the Green Bay Packers is helped off the field with an injury in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the game at Lambeau Field on November 02, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Packers‘ red zone fumble from rookie receiver Savion Williams was not a highlight, nor were the two other red-zone drives that yielded field goals, and neither was the missed field from Brandon McManus or the deep interception by Jordan Love in the third quarter. So much went wrong over the first three quarters of the Packers’ Week 9 showdown with the Panthers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, but the biggest source of angst was what happened off the field.
Namely, the angst came as tight end Tucker Kraft was carted off to the locker room after a knee injury on the opening drive. The Packers can withstand a poor effort against a game Panthers bunch, but a long-term injury to their best offensive playmaker this season is an especially damaging development.
Kraft left the game after an awkward collision with offensive lineman Sean Rhyan on a 15-yard run by Josh Jacobs with 12:32 to go in the third quarter. Kraft had two catches for 20 yards on the day.
Tucker Kraft Subject of Major Concern
There will be testing and further diagnosis yet to come for Kraft, but the early indications weren’t very positive. While doctors who diagnose injuries off replays are obviously limited in their available information, the consensus appeared to be that the best outcome for Kraft is an MCL injury that could see him return relatively soon.
Doctor of physical therapy Jeff Mueller wrote on Twitter/X, “Definite concern on Right MCL sprain. Hoping the angle of impact avoided trauma to his ACL. I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t lead to some missed time.”
Another DPT, Tom Christ, wrote much the same: “His teammate accidentally kicks the outside of his right knee at the exact same time his foot plants and knee is fully extended creating a significant valgus force. Certainly concern for MCL injury, ACL possible too. Let’s hope not though.”
Packers Could Look to Luke Musgrave
Kraft has been a revelation in this, his third NFL season, as he entered the game with 30 catches and 469 yards on the season, plus six touchdowns. He rates No. 3 among tight end in yardage and No. 2 in touchdowns this season. He is ranked the No. 2 tight end among players with at least 250 snaps this season at Pro Football Focus, behind Sam LaPorta of Detroit.
The Packers do have 2023 second-round pick Luke Musgrave on the roster, though he has yet to live up to his billing entering the league and has just six catches for 54 yards this season.
