Cade McNown
Encyclopedia
Cade B. McNown is a former American football quarterback
who played in the National Football League
(NFL). He attended and played college football
at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA).
After starring at UCLA, McNown began his professional career with the Chicago Bears
, who selected him in the first round of the in the 1999 NFL Draft
, as the twelfth overall pick. McNown struggled through two seasons with the Bears, and finished his brief NFL career as a back-up quarterback for the Miami Dolphins
and San Francisco 49ers
.
in Hollister, California
, before transferring as a senior to West Linn High School
in West Linn, Oregon
, where he played quarterback and free safety.
He led his high school to the 1994 Oregon 4A semifinals, becoming wildly touted by newspapers as a college prospect. He also was active on the school track team, where he set a school pole vault
record. McNown signed with UCLA after high school. His selection of UCLA was influenced by future NFL quarterback Brock Huard
signing with Washington. Huard, along with McNown, were the top high school quarterback prospects in the western United States in 1994.
as a true freshman, four games into the season, ranking first among all freshmen quarterbacks in many statistics. In 1995, UCLA finished 7-5 and played in the Aloha Bowl
(losing to Kansas
).
McNown was less successful as a sophomore in 1996, when UCLA would go 5-6 and he would be ranked 9th in the Pac-10 in pass efficiency. But the season ended on a high note as UCLA overcame a 17 point 4th quarter deficit to beat rival USC in overtime, 48-41.
As a junior in 1997, McNown announced the team's goal to score an average of 30 points per game. After an 0-2 start, UCLA would win its remaining 10 games, including the 1998 Cotton Bowl Classic over Texas A&M
, to finish Pac-10 co-champion and ranked #5 in the nation. McNown was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player for that year's Cotton Bowl Classic. He also was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award
, was named an All-American by the Associated Press
(third team), The Sporting News
(third team), made the All-Pac-10 team (second team) behind Washington State's Ryan Leaf
, and finished eighth in the Heisman
balloting. He led the nation in passing efficiency with a 168.6 rating. His play broke many UCLA records, most of which had been previously set by Tom Ramsey
.
In his senior season in 1998, McNown helped lead UCLA to 10-2 record, including a Rose Bowl appearance as the sole Pac-10 champion. With McNown at the helm, the Bruins' explosive offense carried them on a school-record 20 game winning streak from the previous year, as they won their first 10 games in 1998, before losing to Miami (FL)
in their regular season finale in a game that knocked UCLA out of the BCS Title Game vs. Tennessee. The disappointed Bruins then lost to the Ron Dayne led Wisconsin
in the 1999 Rose Bowl, 38-31. McNown set numerous school records in passing and offense, became the Pac-10's all-time career leader in total offense, and won a collection of post-season honors, including Pac-10 co-Offensive Player of the Year, the Pop Warner Memorial Trophy for best senior player on the West Coast, first-team All-American from the Associated Press, and the Johnny Unitas Award as the top senior quarterback in college football. McNown also finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
. In the 1999 Senior Bowl
, McNown earned MVP honors as he threw two touchdowns in helping to lead the South team to victory.
For his career, McNown still holds many of the passing and total-offense records. McNown also holds the distinction of being the only UCLA quarterback to go 4-0 against cross-town rival USC. On October 9, 2009, McNown was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
, Daunte Culpepper
, and Donovan McNabb
, appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine
in the issue highlighting the draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bears with the twelfth overall pick in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft
, following a draft pick trade with the Washington Redskins
. He was the highest-drafted Bears quarterback since Jim McMahon
.
In the months preceding draft day, the Bears had declared that Erik Kramer
would be the starting quarterback, but would waive him prior to signing McNown, who they named as the upcoming season's starter. He was a contract holdout most of training camp. Head coach
Dick Jauron
announced that Shane Matthews
would be the starter, but that McNown would play at least one series every game to gain experience.
McNown would start his first game for the Bears on October 10 following a hamstring injury to Matthews the previous week. During the game on December 26, following a poor performance against the Rams
, McNown chose to sit out the second half of the game. He would be replaced as starter by Jim Miller
, but would once again be named the starter following Miller's suspension. He would finish the season breaking franchise rookie records for completions and passing attempts.
He was named the starter over Matthews (Miller was injured during the pre
-season), but his performance grew noticeably worse through the season; the Bears under McNown would fall to 1-6, leading the home crowd to regularly chant for Miller's return. He suffered a shoulder injury during the seventh game of the season (against Philadelphia
), was briefly replaced by Miller, who would himself suffer an injury and be replaced by Matthews. McNown would start (and lose) one more game that season, against San Francisco, and was benched for the final game of the season.
McNown was traded during the 2001 preseason to the Miami Dolphins
, along with a seventh-round pick, for a sixth-round pick, and a conditional 2003
seventh-round pick. In Chicago, he had fallen down the depth chart, below Miller and Matthews, competing against Danny Wuerffel
for the third-string position. He would be named the third-string quarterback for the Dolphins, and saw no action during the season.
The Dolphins traded McNown to the San Francisco 49ers
for a conditional seventh-round draft pick during the 2002 offseason. By then, Terry Donahue
, former head coach at UCLA, was the general manager. Interest was briefly raised in McNown, as the 49ers were then searching for a quarterback for the west coast offense
. Although he was initially competing against Tim Rattay
, Giovanni Carmazzi
, and Brandon Doman for the backup spot behind starter Jeff Garcia
, McNown reinjured his shoulder during the preseason. When it was revealed he would require season-ending surgery, he was placed on injured reserve
. McNown was released by the 49ers during the 2003 offseason. His rights were shortly thereafter acquired by the Calgary Stampeders
, although he was never signed.
parking pass while playing football at UCLA in 1996, to which he pled no contest. Other players charged included Skip Hicks
, Larry Atkins
, and Brendon Ayanbadejo
.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He attended and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA).
After starring at UCLA, McNown began his professional career with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who selected him in the first round of the in the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
, as the twelfth overall pick. McNown struggled through two seasons with the Bears, and finished his brief NFL career as a back-up quarterback for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
High school
McNown went to high school at San Benito High SchoolSan Benito High School
San Benito High School is a school in Hollister, California, and serves as the primary high school for Hollister city residents and most county residents. The school’s current enrollment is approximately 2,700 students, served by 250 faculty and staff....
in Hollister, California
Hollister, California
Hollister is a city in and the county seat of San Benito County, California, United States. The population was 34,928 at the 2010 census. Hollister is primarily an agricultural town.-History:...
, before transferring as a senior to West Linn High School
West Linn High School
West Linn High School is a public high school in West Linn, Oregon, United States. It is one of two high schools in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, the other being Wilsonville High School.-Academics:...
in West Linn, Oregon
West Linn, Oregon
West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
, where he played quarterback and free safety.
He led his high school to the 1994 Oregon 4A semifinals, becoming wildly touted by newspapers as a college prospect. He also was active on the school track team, where he set a school pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
record. McNown signed with UCLA after high school. His selection of UCLA was influenced by future NFL quarterback Brock Huard
Brock Huard
Brock Xavier Huard is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Brock's brother, Damon, also played quarterback at the University of Washington and later played in the National Football League...
signing with Washington. Huard, along with McNown, were the top high school quarterback prospects in the western United States in 1994.
College career
McNown became the starting quarterback at UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
as a true freshman, four games into the season, ranking first among all freshmen quarterbacks in many statistics. In 1995, UCLA finished 7-5 and played in the Aloha Bowl
Aloha Bowl
The Aloha Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. With the exception of the 1983-86 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu. For most of its...
(losing to Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
).
McNown was less successful as a sophomore in 1996, when UCLA would go 5-6 and he would be ranked 9th in the Pac-10 in pass efficiency. But the season ended on a high note as UCLA overcame a 17 point 4th quarter deficit to beat rival USC in overtime, 48-41.
As a junior in 1997, McNown announced the team's goal to score an average of 30 points per game. After an 0-2 start, UCLA would win its remaining 10 games, including the 1998 Cotton Bowl Classic over Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
, to finish Pac-10 co-champion and ranked #5 in the nation. McNown was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player for that year's Cotton Bowl Classic. He also was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award
Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
, was named an All-American by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(third team), The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
(third team), made the All-Pac-10 team (second team) behind Washington State's Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
, and finished eighth in the Heisman
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting. He led the nation in passing efficiency with a 168.6 rating. His play broke many UCLA records, most of which had been previously set by Tom Ramsey
Tom Ramsey
Tom Ramsey is a former professional American football quarterback, who played four seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots. Earlier he played for the Los Angeles Express and the Oakland Invaders of the USFL....
.
In his senior season in 1998, McNown helped lead UCLA to 10-2 record, including a Rose Bowl appearance as the sole Pac-10 champion. With McNown at the helm, the Bruins' explosive offense carried them on a school-record 20 game winning streak from the previous year, as they won their first 10 games in 1998, before losing to Miami (FL)
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in their regular season finale in a game that knocked UCLA out of the BCS Title Game vs. Tennessee. The disappointed Bruins then lost to the Ron Dayne led Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
in the 1999 Rose Bowl, 38-31. McNown set numerous school records in passing and offense, became the Pac-10's all-time career leader in total offense, and won a collection of post-season honors, including Pac-10 co-Offensive Player of the Year, the Pop Warner Memorial Trophy for best senior player on the West Coast, first-team All-American from the Associated Press, and the Johnny Unitas Award as the top senior quarterback in college football. McNown also finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. In the 1999 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
, McNown earned MVP honors as he threw two touchdowns in helping to lead the South team to victory.
For his career, McNown still holds many of the passing and total-offense records. McNown also holds the distinction of being the only UCLA quarterback to go 4-0 against cross-town rival USC. On October 9, 2009, McNown was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
NFL career
Following the scouting combine, some scouts questioned the strength of his throwing arm. McNown, along with Akili SmithAkili Smith
Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, the third quarterback in the first three choices, behind Tim Couch , and Donovan McNabb...
, Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
, and Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
, appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
in the issue highlighting the draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bears with the twelfth overall pick in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
, following a draft pick trade with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He was the highest-drafted Bears quarterback since Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
.
In the months preceding draft day, the Bears had declared that Erik Kramer
Erik Kramer
William Erik Kramer , is a former American football quarterback. He attended John Burroughs High School in Burbank, CA. After attending Los Angeles Pierce College and playing as their quarterback, Kramer transferred to North Carolina State University where he finished a successful college football...
would be the starting quarterback, but would waive him prior to signing McNown, who they named as the upcoming season's starter. He was a contract holdout most of training camp. Head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Dick Jauron
Dick Jauron
Richard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
announced that Shane Matthews
Shane Matthews
Michael Shane Matthews is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for all or part of fourteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played...
would be the starter, but that McNown would play at least one series every game to gain experience.
McNown would start his first game for the Bears on October 10 following a hamstring injury to Matthews the previous week. During the game on December 26, following a poor performance against the Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, McNown chose to sit out the second half of the game. He would be replaced as starter by Jim Miller
Jim Miller (quarterback)
James Donald Miller is a former NFL quarterback, last under contract with the New York Giants. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 178th overall. Miller attended Waterford Kettering High School and graduated in 1989...
, but would once again be named the starter following Miller's suspension. He would finish the season breaking franchise rookie records for completions and passing attempts.
He was named the starter over Matthews (Miller was injured during the pre
-season), but his performance grew noticeably worse through the season; the Bears under McNown would fall to 1-6, leading the home crowd to regularly chant for Miller's return. He suffered a shoulder injury during the seventh game of the season (against Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
), was briefly replaced by Miller, who would himself suffer an injury and be replaced by Matthews. McNown would start (and lose) one more game that season, against San Francisco, and was benched for the final game of the season.
McNown was traded during the 2001 preseason to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, along with a seventh-round pick, for a sixth-round pick, and a conditional 2003
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
seventh-round pick. In Chicago, he had fallen down the depth chart, below Miller and Matthews, competing against Danny Wuerffel
Danny Wuerffel
Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
for the third-string position. He would be named the third-string quarterback for the Dolphins, and saw no action during the season.
The Dolphins traded McNown to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
for a conditional seventh-round draft pick during the 2002 offseason. By then, Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
, former head coach at UCLA, was the general manager. Interest was briefly raised in McNown, as the 49ers were then searching for a quarterback for the west coast offense
West Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
. Although he was initially competing against Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Giovanni Carmazzi
Giovanni Carmazzi
Giovanni Carmazzi is a former American football player. He never played in a regular season NFL game but was on the roster of the San Francisco 49ers as a backup quarterback. He is an alumnus of Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California. He was coached by his father, Dan Carmazzi, while...
, and Brandon Doman for the backup spot behind starter Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia
Jeffrey Jason "Jeff" Garcia is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State University....
, McNown reinjured his shoulder during the preseason. When it was revealed he would require season-ending surgery, he was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. McNown was released by the 49ers during the 2003 offseason. His rights were shortly thereafter acquired by the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, although he was never signed.
Personal
McNown was charged in September 1999 with the illegal possession of a handicappedHandicapped
Handicapped or handicap may refer to:*Handicapping, various methods of leveling a sport or game**Golf handicap, a sport-specific handicapping method**Go handicaps**Handicaps in shogi**Asian handicap, bookmakers technique to level odds...
parking pass while playing football at UCLA in 1996, to which he pled no contest. Other players charged included Skip Hicks
Skip Hicks
Brian LaVell "Skip" Hicks is a former American football running back in the National Football League. In his four seasons, Hicks played for the Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans...
, Larry Atkins
Larry Atkins
Larry Tabay Atkins III is a former American football linebacker. Atkins played in the National Football League from 1999 to 2003, spending four years with the Kansas City Chiefs and one year with the Oakland Raiders. In his five-year career, Atkins recorded nine tackles, one forced fumble, and one...
, and Brendon Ayanbadejo
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins....
.
External references
- Bruin Gold, Sons of Westwood: Bruin Football Legends-Cade McNown.
- New York Times, McNown and Toledo backgrounder.
- McNown acquired by 49ers.
- Rights acquired by Stampeders.
- Detailed information on the 1999 Bears season.
- Detailed information on the 2000 Bears season.