John Friesz

John Friesz

No. 17
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: May 19, 1967 (1967-05-19)
Place of birth: Missoula, Montana
Career information
College: Idaho
NFL Draft: 1990 / Round: 6 / Pick: 138
Debuted in 1990 for the San Diego Chargers
Last played in 2000 for the New England Patriots
Career history
San Diego Chargers (1990-1993) Washington Redskins (1994) Seattle Seahawks (1995-1998) New England Patriots (1999-2000)
Career highlights and awards
N/A
Career NFL statistics as of 2000
TD-INT	45-42
Yards	8,699
QB Rating	72.3
Stats at NFL.com
College Football Hall of Fame

John Melvin "Deep" Friesz (last name pronounced "Freeze") (born May 19, 1967) is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots.

Early life

Friesz grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He was a football standout at Coeur d'Alene High School, graduating in 1985. He enrolled at the University of Idaho, recruited by head coach Dennis Erickson, after attending the Vandal football camps while in high school.

College career

Friesz redshirted in 1985. In 1986, under new head coach Keith Gilbertson, he served as the backup to Scott Linehan, who would go on to become head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Friesz was the Vandals starting quarterback for three years, beginning in 1987, when he threw 28 touchdown passes as a sophomore and was named player of the year in the Big Sky Conference and second team All-American (Division I-AA). In his junior season of 1988, he guided the Vandals to a 9-1 regular season and two playoff wins, ending the season with a road loss in the Division I-AA semi-finals. He was a consensus All-American selection at quarterback.

In his senior season in 1989, Freisz threw 31 touchdowns and for over 4,000 yards in guiding the Vandals to their third consecutive conference championship. Idaho went undefeated in conference play (8-0), the only time in school history. Friesz averaged over 360 yards per game and passed for over 300 yards in ten consecutive games. He received the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in the nation in Division I-AA.

Idaho Vandal fans traveling to away games would put their opponent's stadium under a Friesz Warning during his college career.

In his college career, #17 passed for over 10,000 yards and was the conference player-of-the-year for three consecutive years. The Vandals' annual MVP award has been renamed the John Friesz Award in his honor.

In August 2006 John Friesz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. His #17 was officially retired by the University of Idaho in October 2006.

Professional career

In the 1990 NFL Draft, Friesz was the tenth quarterback selected, taken in the sixth round (138th overall) by the San Diego Chargers. Other quarterbacks in this draft were Jeff George (#1 overall pick), Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware, future Super Bowl starter Neil O'Donnell, and Scott Mitchell.

Friesz became the starting quarterback for the Chargers in 1991, his second season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in a pre-season game in 1992. The Chargers then acquired QB Stan Humphries from the Washington Redskins, who was drafted by then Redskins GM Bobby Beathard, who was the Chargers GM at that time. Humphries became the Chargers starting QB and led the Chargers who were 0-4 to start the 1992 season to an 11-5 record, helping the Chargers end a 10-year playoff drought and winning their first AFC West Division title since 1981 under rookie coach Bobby Ross. Friesz would return to the Chargers the next season as the backup QB and left the Chargers as a free agent prior to the 1994 season.

Friesz passed for over 8,600 yards and 45 touchdowns in his professional career.

External links

• College Football Hall of Fame - John Friesz
• Idaho Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame profile
• Pro Football Reference.com - John Friesz