“That was irresponsible” – When Terrell Owens claimed Eagles’ Super Bowl XXXIX defeat was down to Donovan McNabb partying all night

Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles fell short in winning Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season). They were defeated by the New England Patriots by a close score of 24-21.

The Patriots won their second Super Bowl in a row and their third in four seasons, while the Eagles failed to secure their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Ahead of the big game, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was supposedly out the night before drinking.

In an episode of Bleacher Report's "Untold Stories" in 2020, Owens blamed McNabb's partying and drinking the night before as a reason for the team's downfall.

"Why would somebody lie? There were teammates that said he threw up in the huddle. Personally, I didn't see it, but there are guys, and I know there are teammates that I've talked to recently that said they saw him throw up in the huddle.”

Owens added that he spoke with teammates after and confirmed that McNabb was out partying the night before preparing for the Super Bowl.

"I've talked to teammates since then, and know for a fact that he was out the night before. He was out the night before, before the biggest game pretty much of all of our careers. There are people that saw him out the night before that said he was drinking, and I think that contributed to him throwing up in the huddle. He's obviously had a history of conditioning problems."

Owens thinks McNabb's drinking the night before the game contributed to him throwing up in the huddle.

"So for me, knowing all this information, I felt like that was irresponsible, especially for somebody of his caliber, his status, to obviously be the leader of the team, and you're out the night before the biggest game of your career. You're out drinking or what have you, and then that maybe contributed to him throwing up in the huddle. It's just ... not good."

McNabb had a decent outing in the Super Bowl. He completed 30 out of 51 passes for 357 yards, three touchdowns and as many interceptions.

---

Terrell Owens played in Super Bowl XXXIX with a broken leg

Terrell Owens during Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys

Seven weeks before the Philadelphia Eagles faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX, Owens broke his leg and tore a ligament in his right ankle.

Doctors and medical experts didn't think it was possible for Owens to return and play that quick. On this, Owens said he was the only one that knew he was going to play.

Terrell Owens played 62 out of the team's 72 offensive snaps, missing just 10 plays. He produced a superb performance, recording nine catches for 122 yards and leading all Eagles' receivers.

Given the circumstances that he played the game with, it's easy to see why Terrell Owens was mad at McNabb for drinking the night before the Super Bowl.