Erik Kramer
Encyclopedia
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
career. He was not drafted by an NFL
team, but did see action in 1987, when he played for the Atlanta Falcons
as a replacement player
during the NFL players strike. He would then spend some time in the CFL
with the Calgary Stampeders
. Kramer would return to the NFL in 1991, when he became a surprise starter for the Detroit Lions
after injuries sidelined Rodney Peete
. Kramer played in 13 games, led the Lions to a 12-4 record, their first playoff victory since the 1950s, and a trip to the NFC Championship Game
.
Kramer's nickname in Detroit was "Brass", a media-friendly redaction of "Brass Balls". The moniker apparently originated after Kramer called an audible
on his first series as Lions' quarterback, having just replaced the injured Rodney Peete. One Lions' offensive lineman turned to another and said, "This guy's got brass balls." Kramer proved to be quite successful as a signal-caller in 1991 and the nickname stuck. His other nickname was "Cosmo", which was due to him having the same last name as the character Cosmo Kramer from the popular TV show, Seinfeld.
Kramer was not able to keep his starting job for the next three years, however, sharing duties with Peete and Andre Ware
. In 1994, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears
, and spent the next five years with the club, starting for most of 1995 and 1997, passing for over 3,000 yards in each of those seasons. Kramer's NFL career ended in 1999 after six games with the San Diego Chargers
. He finished his 13 NFL seasons with 1,317 completions for 15,337 yards and 92 touchdowns, with 79 interceptions. He also gained 217 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground.
Kramer holds the Bears' record for highest career passer rating (80.7), and owns their single-season records for attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yards.
Currently, he is working for FSN Detroit, where he covers one of his former teams, the Detroit Lions, as an in studio analyst. He is also working as color commentator on Bears preseason games.
Erik writes a personal blog for www.playerpress.com at www.erikkramerpass.com, where he discusses current events in the NFL and his former career and picks NFL games against the spread.
Kramer appeared as himself in an episode of Married With Children, during which the series' protagonist, Al Bundy
, sells his soul in order to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl
.
On Sun, Oct 30, 2011, Kramer's son Griffen, age 18 and a senior at Thousand Oaks High School, was found dead at a friend's home. Four people, including two juveniles, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance by Sheriff's investigators in the matter.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
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...
. He attended John Burroughs High School
John Burroughs High School
John Burroughs High School is a public high school located in Burbank, California. Emilio Urioste, Jr. is the current principal. The school was built in the 1920s, but wasn't established as a high school until 1948. The school was named after naturalist John Burroughs...
in Burbank, CA. After attending Los Angeles Pierce College
Los Angeles Pierce College
Los Angeles Pierce College, also known as Pierce College, Pierce, is a community college that serves more than 23,000 students in the northern Chalk Hills of Woodland Hills, a community within the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.The college began with 70 students...
and playing as their quarterback, Kramer transferred to North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
where he finished a successful 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...
career. He was not drafted by an NFL
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...
team, but did see action in 1987, when he played for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a replacement player
Replacement player
In professional sports, a replacement player is an athlete who is not a member of the league's players association and plays during a labor dispute such as a strike or lockout.- National Football League – 1987 :...
during the NFL players strike. He would then spend some time in the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
with 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...
. Kramer would return to the NFL in 1991, when he became a surprise starter for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
after injuries sidelined Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete is a former American football quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the National Football League for 16 years. He retired in 2004 and is now in broadcasting.-Early life:...
. Kramer played in 13 games, led the Lions to a 12-4 record, their first playoff victory since the 1950s, and a trip to the NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
.
Kramer's nickname in Detroit was "Brass", a media-friendly redaction of "Brass Balls". The moniker apparently originated after Kramer called an audible
Audible
Audible may refer to:* Sound that is capable of being heard* Audible, a tactic used by quarterbacks in American football to change a play at the line of scrimmage* Audible.com, an online audiobook store-See also:*Audio...
on his first series as Lions' quarterback, having just replaced the injured Rodney Peete. One Lions' offensive lineman turned to another and said, "This guy's got brass balls." Kramer proved to be quite successful as a signal-caller in 1991 and the nickname stuck. His other nickname was "Cosmo", which was due to him having the same last name as the character Cosmo Kramer from the popular TV show, Seinfeld.
Kramer was not able to keep his starting job for the next three years, however, sharing duties with Peete and Andre Ware
Andre Ware
Andre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
. In 1994, he signed as a free agent 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...
, and spent the next five years with the club, starting for most of 1995 and 1997, passing for over 3,000 yards in each of those seasons. Kramer's NFL career ended in 1999 after six games with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He finished his 13 NFL seasons with 1,317 completions for 15,337 yards and 92 touchdowns, with 79 interceptions. He also gained 217 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground.
Kramer holds the Bears' record for highest career passer rating (80.7), and owns their single-season records for attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yards.
Currently, he is working for FSN Detroit, where he covers one of his former teams, the Detroit Lions, as an in studio analyst. He is also working as color commentator on Bears preseason games.
Erik writes a personal blog for www.playerpress.com at www.erikkramerpass.com, where he discusses current events in the NFL and his former career and picks NFL games against the spread.
Kramer appeared as himself in an episode of Married With Children, during which the series' protagonist, Al Bundy
Al Bundy
Al Bundy is a fictional character from the U.S. television series Married... with Children. He was played by Ed O'Neill.-Character history:...
, sells his soul in order to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
.
On Sun, Oct 30, 2011, Kramer's son Griffen, age 18 and a senior at Thousand Oaks High School, was found dead at a friend's home. Four people, including two juveniles, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance by Sheriff's investigators in the matter.