PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Jeff Garcia won a playoff game, went to three Pro Bowls and posted big numbers in five seasons with San Francisco.

Unlike Joe Montana and Steve Young, though, Garcia couldn't lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl victory.

For the first time since leaving the 49ers after the 2003 season, Garcia is returning to San Francisco. On Sunday, he'll be wearing a Philadelphia Eagles uniform and standing on the sideline as the backup to Donovan McNabb.

Garcia embraced the challenge of following Montana and Young when he signed with the 49ers in 1999. His biggest regret is not leaving with a championship ring. Montana won four, while Young won one.

``I really wanted to be the next quarterback that they would talk about in that lineage,'' Garcia said. ``I really believed that I would be that guy and hopefully be able to do the things that those guys previous to me did - taking San Francisco to the Super Bowl, winning a Super Bowl. I really wanted to be that guy who could do that for that team.''

Garcia joined the 49ers after playing five seasons in the Canadian Football League. He replaced an injured Young early in his first season in San Francisco and became the full-time starter in 2000. With Terrell Owens as his main target, Garcia completed 63.3 percent of his passes (355-for-561) for 4,278 yards, 31 TDs and only 10 interceptions that season. But the 49ers went 6-10.

Garcia threw for 3,538 yards and 32 TDs in 2001, helping the 49ers finish 12-4. But the Packers beat San Francisco in a divisional playoff game in Green Bay.

Garcia had 3,344 yards passing and 21 TDs in 2002, when the 49ers went 10-6. He threw for 331 yards and three TDs in a playoff win over the Giants, before the 49ers lost to Tampa Bay in the second round.

Steve Mariucci was fired as coach after that season and the 49ers went 7-9 in 2003, signaling the start of their rebuilding process.

``I did some pretty respectable things considering where I came from, being a guy that nobody really expected anything out of,'' Garcia said. ``Individually and team-wise, we put up some great numbers, we did some great things as an offense, and I felt like I could be the quarterback there for my whole career. Because of the business, because of the way things work in the NFL now, that didn't end up happening. That's past us now. We've moved on.''

Garcia played for Cleveland in 2004, starting 10 games. He spent last season in Detroit, before signing with the Eagles to provide a capable backup for McNabb.

In seven seasons in the NFL, Garcia has completed 60.9 percent of his passes (1,695 for 2,785) for 19,076 yards, 126 TDs, 71 interceptions and has a passer rating of 85.8. An outstanding scrambler, Garcia also has run for 1,791 yards and 24 TDs.

The 36-year-old Garcia is looking forward to returning to San Francisco, though he isn't starting.

``It will be very special,'' he said. ``I had quite a request for tickets. I'm excited because there were a lot of great memories that I have that I was able to experience in San Francisco. To be walking back out on that field in a different uniform will be a little bit strange for me, but it will be a nice thing. It will be a bittersweet situation.''

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.