McNabb Gets Vikings No. 5 Jersey for Donation, Kluwe Band Pitch, Ice Cream

Six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb may be the first National Football League player to sign a contract involving a charity donation, a band promotion during a press conference and an ice cream cone.

McNabb was traded to the Vikings on July 30 from the Washington Redskins. In order to wear No. 5, a number previously held by Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, the 34-year-old McNabb entered a written agreement with his new teammate to promote the punter’s rock band, Tripping Icarus, during a press conference and donate $5,000 to charity. He will also buy Kluwe an ice cream cone.

“I, Chris Kluwe, hereby relinquish No. 5 to Donovan McNabb in exchange for the following,” reads the beginning of the contract, signed in a video on the team’s website.

Tripping Icarus is a four-man rock and alternative band, formed in 2009, according to its Facebook page. Kluwe, 29, plays bass. Under the terms of the contract, McNabb must mention the band five non-consecutive times during one press conference.

“Sounds good, where do I sign?,” McNabb said when he saw the details in writing.

McNabb, who has worn No. 5 his whole career, was selected second by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1999 draft. In 11 years with the Eagles, McNabb was 92-49-1 as a starter, leading the team to the playoffs eight times and the Super Bowl after the 2004 season. He spent last year with the Redskins, where he was 5-8 in 13 starts before being benched for the final three games.

In 2005, Redskins running back Clinton Portis paid former teammate Ifeanyi Ohalete $18,000 for his No. 26 jersey number. New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles gave his No. 10 to Eli Manning for a weeklong, all-expenses-paid family vacation to Florida, after the quarterback was drafted in 2004, according to Sport Illustrated.

McNabb’s charity donation will go to Kick for a Cure, a soccer tournament and festival to benefit children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that weakens muscles.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net.