The Eagles announced Monday that they have agreed to terms with quarterback Jeff Garcia on a one-year deal.
Now in his second stint in Philadelphia, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Garcia was last with the Eagles in 2006. That year, he was handed the reins at quarterback after Donovan McNabb suffered a season-ending injury in a loss to Tennessee on November 19.
After a 45-21 loss at Indianapolis the following week that dropped the Eagles record to 5-6, Garcia helped rally the team to five consecutive wins, including a three-game stretch on the road against division rivals. The Eagles would go on to claim the NFC East Division title, but lost at New Orleans in the Divisional round of the playoffs. That season, Garcia completed 116 of 188 passes for 1,309 yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
A four-time Pro Bowl player, Garcia spent the 2009 preseason with the Oakland Raiders, but was released by the team on Sept. 5 as part of their final roster cutdown. The 39-year-old started in 24 of 25 games in two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2007-08, throwing for 5,152 yards, 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. He garnered Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time following the 2007 season.
Prior to his career in the NFL, Garcia played five seasons for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League from 1994-98. In his final season in Calgary, Garcia led the Stampeders to the Grey Cup Championship and was named the game's MVP. The following year in 1999, Garcia signed with the San Francisco 49ers and went on to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2000-2002.
Garcia has appeared in 124 career games (116 starts) in 10 NFL seasons with San Francisco (1999-2003), Cleveland (2004), Detroit (2005), Philadelphia (2006), and Tampa Bay (2007-08). A threat in both the pass and run game over his career, he has completed 2,264 of 3,676 passes (61.6%) for 25,537 and 161 touchdowns, while also rushing for 2,142 yards and 26 scores. His 1.94 touchdown/interception ratio ranks sixth all-time in NFL history. Garcia also ranks third all-time, and second among active players behind Donovan McNabb, with a 2.26 interception percentage.
The first quarterback in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966) to start a playoff game for a division winner for three different franchises (49ers, Eagles and Buccaneers), Garcia has started in six postseason contests in his career, completing 126 of 217 passes for 1,357 yards and seven touchdowns.
A three-year starter at San Jose State from 1990-93, Garcia finished his career as the school's all-time leader with 7,274 yards of total offense.
The Gilroy, CA, native attended Gilroy High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and basketball. Jeff and his wife, Carmela, have one daughter, Presley.
