They call the plays — or at least execute them — in the NFL. There is something to be said for being the backup QB and holding the clipboard — or now Surface. It appears to prepare you for a future in the league as a coach.
Frank Reich
Current Colts coach Frank Reich famously played for the Buffalo Bills in one of the greatest comeback in NFL history. On Jan. 3, 1993, the Houston Oilers surged to a 35-3 lead in a wild-card game. Starting for an injured Jim Kelly, Reich led a miraculous comeback that saw the Bills win, 41-38 in OT. Reich played for four teams from 1985-98.
Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury comes out of the passing factory known as Texas Tech. He was with five NFL teams, an NFL Europe team and two CFL teams. He threw for 17 yards in the NFL. Kingsbury is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay was a seventh-round pick out of Louisiana Tech in 2000 by the San Francisco 49ers. He threw for better than 4,800 yards in an NFL career that lasted from 2000-07. He is in the process of interviewing with the Washington Redskins for a gig as their quarterbacks coach.
Ken Dorsey
Ken Dorsey played in the NFL. However, he is best known for leading Miami to the national title game against Ohio State in 2002. The Hurricanes lost in double overtime. Dorsey played sparingly in the NFL after being a seventh-round pick of the 49ers. He also was with the Browns. Dorsey threw eight TD passes against 18 interceptions in the big league.
Gary Kubiak
Gary Kubiak was a Denver Broncos quarterback from 1983-91 after being selected in the eighth round out of Texas A&M. In nine seasons, Kubiak appeared in 119 regular-season games and went 3–2 as a starter. Kubiak is now assistant head coach to Mike Zimmer in Minnesota.
Alex Van Pelt
Alex Van Pelt was in the NFL from 1994-2003. Most of the time was spent as a backup with the Buffalo Bills. In his NFL career, Van Pelt threw for slightly less than 3,000 yards. He was an eighth-round pick out of Pitt in 1993 and currently is the quarterback coach for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sean Payton
Sean Payton had a short — as in three games — stint in the NFL. He played for Chicago during the 1987 strike, the team known as the “Spare Bears.” Payton was only 8-of-23 with a pick. Coincidentally, the INT was thrown against the Saints, the team he would later lead to the Super Bowl.
Ryan Lindley
Freddie Kitchens tabbed Ryan Lindley as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback coach after he was promoted to head coach. Lindley was with five NFL teams from 2012-2015. In 2017, he played for Ottawa of the CFL. Lindley played in a total of 10 NFL games, throwing for 1,372 yards and 3 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Scott Milanovich
Scott Milanovich is the quarterbacks coach in Jacksonville. He played college ball at Maryland. He was a member of teams in different leagues, the NFL, XFL, NFL Europe, the Arena league and CFL.
Pat O’Hara
Pat O’Hara spent some time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers out of USC. He’s currently the quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Titans. O’Hara spent much of his pro career in the Arena League.
Mike Kafka
Mike Kafka will begin his first season as quarterbacks coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Nice work since it means you will be fine-tuning Patrick Mahomes. After leaving Northwestern, Kafka bounced around the league to the tune of seven franchises between 2010-15. He threw for 107 yards and had two passes picked.
Jon Kitna
Jon Kitna had more game experience than most of the others on this list. The quarterbacks coach of the Dallas Cowboys ended his career with the team between 2010-11 and then ’13. He also spent time with the Seahawks, Bengals and Lions. Kitna threw for nearly 30,000 yards in his NFL career.
Mike Shula
Mike Shula comes from great genes. He’s the son of the legendary Don Shula. He was a 12th-round selection out of Alabama in 1987. Shula did not see much playing time. He has, however, been coaching in some capacity between the pros and college since 1988.
Matt Cavanaugh
Matt Cavanaugh is the Senior Offensive Assistant for the Washington Redskins. The former Pitt star played for four teams from 1978-91 after he was a second-round pick of the New England Patriots. Cavanaugh is a two-time Super Bowl champ as a player and once as a coach. Despite his long career, he threw for only 4,332 yards.
Dave Ragone
Dave Ragone is working with Mitchell Trubisky as quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears. Ragone played collegiately at Louisville and was a third-round selection in 2003 by the Houston Texans. He spent time with three franchises, mostly on the practice squad. Ragone threw for 135 yards in his NFL career.
Byron Leftwich
Byron Leftwich famously arrived on the national scene at Marshall when lineman carried the hobbled quarterback down the field in a game. He’s currently the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive coordinator after spending most of last year in that position with the Arizona Cardinals. Leftwich was with four different franchises in a career that spanned 2003-12. He threw for 10,532 yards and 58 touchdowns.
