Jon Kitna
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| Jon Kitna | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 21, 1972 |
| Place of birth | Tacoma, Washington |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| College | Central Washington University |
| Awards | 1997 NFL Europe World Bowl MVP 2003 NFL Comeback POY |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1997-2000 2001-2005 2006-Present |
Seattle Seahawks Cincinnati Bengals Detroit Lions |
Jon Kitna (born September 21, 1972 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American football player at the quarterback position in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions. He attended Central Washington University. Kitna was named the Most Valuable Player in NFL Europe when he led the Barcelona Dragons to the 1998 World Bowl Championship (World Bowl V), winning 38-24 over the Rhein Fire.
[edit] High school years
Kitna attended Lincoln High School (Tacoma, Washington) and was a standout in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a friend of and a prep teammate of Lawyer Milloy in football and basketball.
[edit] Career
Kitna was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. He served as a backup to Warren Moon in 1997 and 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 and winning the AFC Western Division Championship.
In 2001, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2003, Kitna played every 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, that 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 onto the football field during the Bengals' AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2006. Carson 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 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions as the Bengals fell to the eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17.
Known to be a great clubhouse leader, Kitna appealed to many teams soon after his release in January 2006. On March 14, 2006, Kitna was signed by the Detroit Lions as a Free agent to a 4-year contract. He was expected to compete for the starting QB position with Josh McCown, but coach Rod Marinelli made Kitna the starting quarterback.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Warren Moon |
Seattle Seahawks Starting Quarterbacks 1998-2000 |
Succeeded by: Matt Hasselbeck |
| Preceded by: Akili Smith Scott Mitchell |
Cincinnati Bengals Starting Quarterbacks 2001-2003 |
Succeeded by: Carson Palmer |
| Preceded by: Tommy Maddox |
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award 2003 |
Succeeded by: Drew Brees |
| Preceded by: Joey Harrington |
Detroit Lions Starting Quarterbacks 2006- |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
