Orlando Sentinal/MCTEagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Already the face of Campbell’s Chunky Soup, early last month he unveiled his new signature apparel collection, the Super Five clothing line along with Reebok, the exclusive on-field and sideline apparel provider for the National Football League.
McNabb created a casual men’s look that is meant to reflect his own style. The line includes T-shirts and fleeces to knit sweaters and vests. With sizes that go all the way up to 5XL.
“I’ve always wanted clothing that was casual and comfortable, but had a more refined look and feel,” McNabb said, according to the Associated Press.
Reebok makes McNabb the first NFL player to have his own clothing line and one of a few North American sports league athletes. Philadelphia 76’s point guard Allen Iverson also has a signature apparel collection from Reebok.
McNabb is trying to achieve similar cross over status as Michael Jordan whom he grew up idolizing as a kid in Chicago. Jordan was the one who opened all the doors for athletes to be more then just ball players and become businesses. Jordan started with his own sneaker from Nike over twenty years ago and now has his own clothing line under the Nike label.
“His name is way bigger than mine and the things he’s been able to accomplish. Those are the things I want to accomplish when it comes to sports on and off the field as well,” McNabb said.
McNabb acknowledges that Jordan’s success in winning six National Basketball Association championships helped him to become as marketable as he is now. At the time, the Eagle’s were 4-4 coming of a season where they had failed to miss the playoffs after previously making the National Football Conference championship game four years in a row and going to one Super Bowl.
It bothers McNabb that many athletes are judged by the number of championships they win because of all the great athletes out there that never won. But he has never let the public’s opinions hinder his growth in anyway, not since he was booed the minute his name was announced on draft day in 1999.
“People are going to say whatever they want, and everybody has their own opinion about things,” McNabb said. “I think in this game that we play, you have to be able to open up avenues for yourself in the future and be able to put yourself in a position when the game is done.You have to have something to fall back on.”
Currently McNabb’s season is over, after suffering season ending knee injury that could have him sidelined into next season.
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