Steve DeBerg

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Steven Leroy DeBerg (born January 19, 1954 in Oakland, California) had a long and varied career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, Steve DeBerg ultimately accumulated some fairly impressive NFL statistics.

DeBerg's reputation is that of a journeyman, and he was also very much a "witness to history" who played an incidental role in significant events. But late in his career, DeBerg exhibited flashes of brilliance, as well as endurance and staying power that separated him from other journeymen and career backups.

[edit] Career

He played for the San Francisco 49ers (1978-1980), Denver Broncos (1981-1983), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984-1987, 1992, 1993), Kansas City Chiefs (1988-1991), Miami Dolphins (1993), and Atlanta Falcons (1998). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 10th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. Prior to joining the NFL, he played quarterback for San Jose State.

The first part of DeBerg's NFL career found him in San Francisco with Bill Walsh. In fact, DeBerg was the first significant pro "West Coast" offense quarterback, and in the 1979 and 1980 NFL seasons he set several records for sheer number of passing attempts and completions.

Walsh aspired to even greater things, though, and quickly brought in Joe Montana. Amazingly, similar events unfolded again and again over the next decade, wherever DeBerg sought employment. He was not only with the 49ers when they drafted Joe Montana, but also with the Denver Broncos when John Elway arrived, and at Tampa Bay when both Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde were brought in.^[1] In each case, DeBerg offered solid but unspectacular performance before being replaced.

DeBerg passed for over 34,000 career yards, and ranks in the top 20 all-time for attempts, completions, and yards passing. DeBerg's best years were with the Chiefs, during which he led the team to two playoff berths and had his best year in 1990 with a 101.2 quarterback rating, passing for 3,444 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Chronologically, most of his career was spent in a back-up role, and he never spent more than 64 games with any one team.

DeBerg also acquired a reputation for playing through particularly gruesome or unique injuries. He played with laryngitis and wore a portable amplifier during regular season games with San Francisco. He also played with an exposed metal pin sticking out of his finger in a Chiefs playoff victory in 1990. In 1993, he left a Dolphins game versus the New York Giants battered and bloodied after taking a helmet to the chin, only to return to the game following halftime.

DeBerg served as the head coach of the Arena Football League's Indiana Firebirds in 2004 for 5 games. The team's record during his tenure was 0-5. He later served as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Storm.

DeBerg holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever included on a Super Bowl roster, having been part of the Atlanta Falcons team that made it to the game when he was 45 years old. He did not, however, get into the game.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Steve DeBerg coaching page at ArenaFan Online