John Friesz

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John Friesz
Date of birth May 19, 1967 (age 39)
Place of birth Flag of United States Missoula, Montana
Position(s) Quarterback
College Idaho
NFL Draft 1990 / Round 6/ Pick 138
Statistics
Team(s)
1990-1993
1994
1995-1998
1999-2000		 San Diego Chargers
Washington Redskins
Seattle Seahawks
New England Patriots
College Hall of Fame

John Melvin Friesz (born May 19, 1967 in Missoula, Montana) is an American former professional football player; a retired NFL quarterback.

Friesz grew up in Coeur d'Alene in northern 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.

[edit] College career

Friesz redshirted in 1985, and in 1986 under new head coach Keith Gilbertson, he served as the backup to Scott Linehan, the current head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Friesz started at quarterback of the Vandals for three years, beginning in 1987, when he threw 28 TD 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 (the first for new head coach John L. Smith), Freisz threw 31 touchdowns and for over 4000 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.

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.

[edit] Pro 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 incurred a season-ending injury in a pre-season game in 1992, at which time the Chargers acquired Stan Humphries.

John Friesz played with four teams in his NFL career: the Chargers (1990-93), Redskins (1994), Seahawks (1995-98), and Patriots (1999-2000). Friesz passed for over 8600 yards and recorded 45 touchdown passes in his pro career.

[edit] External Links

Preceded by
Babe Laufenberg		 San Diego Chargers Starting Quarterbacks
1990-1992		 Succeeded by
Stan Humphries
Preceded by
Rick Mirer		 Seattle Seahawks Starting Quarterbacks
1995-1998		 Succeeded by
Warren Moon
Preceded by
Dave Meggett		 Walter Payton Award Winner
1989		 Succeeded by
Walter Dean


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