Jon Kitna
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | September 21, 1972 Tacoma, Washington | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| College: | Central Washington | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1996 | ||||||||||||
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Jon Kelly Kitna (born September 21, 1972) is a semi-retired American football quarterback who last played for the National Football League (NFL) Dallas Cowboys. After playing college football for Central Washington University, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1996 and was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in 1997. He led the Dragons to a World Bowl championship, and became the starting quarterback for the Seahawks in 1998 after spending the 1997 and most of the 1998 seasons as the backup to Warren Moon. Following a four-year stint with Seattle, Kitna signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001. He played for the Bengals from 2001 to 2005 as their starting quarterback, and, later, the mentor to Carson Palmer. He was a member of the Detroit Lions from 2006 to 2008, and the Dallas Cowboys from 2009 to 2011. Kitna was re-signed by the Cowboys as a third string quarterback on December 24, 2013.
College career
Born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Kitna attended Central Washington University without an athletic scholarship, and was a quarterback for the Wildcats from 1992-1995. In 1995 the Wildcats won the NAIA Football National Championship with Kitna as their quarterback.[1]
Professional career
Believing that his football career was over after the NAIA championship, Kitna finished his math education degree at Central Washington[2] and began applying for high-school coaching jobs. Seattle Seahawks head coach Dennis Erickson visited the campus to give a tryout for his nephew, a receiver on the Central Washington team. Impressed by Kitna's strong passes, Erickson offered him the opportunity to attend the Seahawks' 1996 training camp. Kitna made the practice squad, and after the 1996 season was sent to NFL Europe.[1]
Barcelona Dragons
Kitna was named the MVP in NFL Europe's 1997 championship game, when he led the Barcelona Dragons to the World Bowl Championship (World Bowl V), winning 38–24 over the Rhein Fire.[3]
Seattle Seahawks
Kitna was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seahawks. He served as a backup to Warren Moon in 1997 and most of 1998, but started the final five games of the 1998 season. Then, in 1999, he started 15 games for the Seahawks, leading them to a 9–7 record (Kitna going 8–7 in games started) and winning the AFC West, though Seattle would lose the wild card game to the Miami Dolphins.
In 2000, Kitna opened the season with a four-interception performance against the Dolphins which opened the door for coach Mike Holmgren to start Brock Huard. During that season, Kitna and Huard rotated as starting QBs due to injury and benchings. On November 5, down 15-14 on 3rd-and-16 with 1:28 left in the game, Kitna dodged a possible 17-yard sack by San Diego Chargers defensive end Neil Smith and made an 18-yard pass to Darrell Jackson. This pass set up the game-winning field goal by Rian Lindell.[4] His last win for the Seahawks came on a rain-soaked Husky Stadium turf in December of that year, beating the AFC Championship Game-bound Oakland Raiders on a TD pass to rookie Darrell Jackson in the final minute of play.[5]
Cincinnati Bengals
In 2001, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals.[6]
In 2003, Kitna played every offensive down, and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after throwing for over 3,500 yards and 26 touchdown passes in leading the Bengals to a respectable 8–8 record, the team's first non-losing season since 1996.
Kitna's secondary role with the team was to prepare young quarterback Carson Palmer (the Bengals' #1 draft pick in 2003). It was a role Kitna accepted gracefully. By 2004, Palmer was ready, leading the Bengals to another 8–8 season. Kitna was the backup for Palmer in that season. The two QB's developed a close friendship off the field, particularly because both men are avid golfers.
Kitna was unexpectedly thrust back behind center during the Bengals' AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2006. Palmer went down with a knee injury on his second play from scrimmage and Kitna stepped in off the bench and into a relief role. Kitna finished 24-40 for 197 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and a fumble as the Bengals fell to the eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31–17.[7]
Detroit Lions
Kitna signed with the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent in early 2006.[8] He started every Lions game in 2006 and 2007, throwing for 4,000 yards each season—a franchise record at the time.[9] In 2008, Kitna was injured and placed on injured reserve in week 5. The team ended the regular season with an 0-16 record.[10]
Dallas Cowboys
Kitna was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on February 28, 2009, for Anthony Henry. His role was Tony Romo's primary back-up with Stephen McGee being the third-string QB. Kitna did not play a single down for the Cowboys in the 2009 regular season. He remained idle until October 25, 2010, when Tony Romo was removed after suffering a broken clavicle which ended Romo's season.[11] Kitna ended up injuring himself on December 25, 2010, in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. He was replaced by third-stringer McGee in the season finale against the Eagles. Kitna played well in relief of Romo throwing for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in the 9 games he started, compiling a 4-5 record and a career high 88.9 passer rating in the process.
Kitna retired from the NFL on January 12, 2012.[12]
On December 24, 2013, Kitna was called out of retirement to serve as back-up quarterback to Kyle Orton for the Dallas Cowboys, following a back injury to Romo.[13] He will donate his salary ($55,294 before taxes) from his 2013 signing with Dallas for the final game to the Lincoln High School Booster Club.[14]
Personal life
Kitna has been a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater, Lincoln High School.[2] As coach he led the team to a 5–5 record in the 2012 season.[1] Kitna became a Christian while attending Central Washington University.[1] Kitna has 4 children with his wife Jeni.[15]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Carpenter, Les (2012-12-19). "Former NFL QB Jon Kitna finds 'gold mine' at his troubled old high school". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ a b O'Neil, Danny (May 19, 2012). "Jon Kitna's greatest play: NFL QB to high-school math teacher". The Seattle Times.
- ^ "A Star is Born". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Trotter, Jim. "Chargers beat Seahawks everywhere except where it matters, the scoreboard". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 7, 2000.
- ^ Purdy, Mark (December 17, 2000). "New Raiders revert to old Raiders form". San Jose Mercury News.
- ^ "AROUND THE NFL; Bengals, Kitna Agree to Terms". March 9, 2001.
- ^ Bell, Jarrett (January 9, 2006). "Steel hurtin': Steelers roll". USA Today.
- ^ Detroit Lions | All News
- ^ Jon Kitna, QB for the Dallas Cowboys at NFL.com
- ^ Jon Kitna News
- ^ "Giants rough up Romo, Cowboys to seize control of NFC East". Associated Press. 2010-10-26.
- ^ "Former Cincinnati Bengal Jon Kitna Decides to Retire".
- ^ "Cowboys decide on... Jon Kitna to backup Kyle Orton".
- ^ Archer, Todd. "Cowboys' Jon Kitna will give his game check to high school team". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Cox, Allen. "Casual Comfort - South Sound Magazine". South Sound Magazine. Premier Media Group. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
External links
- 1972 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Tacoma, Washington
- American Christians
- American football quarterbacks
- Players of American football from Washington (state)
- Central Washington Wildcats football players
- Barcelona Dragons players
- Seattle Seahawks players
- Cincinnati Bengals players
- Detroit Lions players
- Dallas Cowboys players
- World Bowl MVPs
- American schoolteachers