Gilbert Renfroe
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Renfroe is a former professional football quarterback
.
Renfroe played college football
at Tennessee State University
from 1982-1985. With the Tigers, he finished fourth all time in total offensive yards and passing yards. After going undrafted and unsigned by the National Football League
, he signed in 1986 with the Ottawa Rough Riders
of the Canadian Football League
. he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts for the 1987 season, where he split the Argos starting job with fellow rookie John Congemi
. The Argonauts finished 11-6-1 and played in the 75th Grey Cup
. Renfroe started the game and threw two touchdowns, including a 61 yard pass to Gil Fenerty. He was injured in the third quarter and left the game with the Argonauts trailing 35-29. Backup Danny Barrett
rushed for the go ahead touchdown with 2:36 left in the game, but the Argos missed the two point conversion. The Edmonton Eskimos
would go on win the game 38-36 on a Jerry Kauric
field goal. He spent the 1988
as the Argonauts started with John Congemi spending most of the season on the bench. Congemi won the starting job in 1989
, but was injured in mid-September and Renfroe was once again the Argos' starter.
Renfroe moved to the NFL for the 1990 season
. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons
on February 28, 1990. He did not make the final roster and was cut on the final day of the preseason. He was re-signed eight days later when Hugh Millen
was granted his request for a release after falling all the way to the third spot on the depth chart. Renfroe practiced three times with the Falcons and saw some action on special teams in a 21-14 loss to the Detroit Lions
before being waived on September 18 for the second time in a week and the third time in 17 days. On September 26 he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
after starting quarterback Wade Wilson was sidelined after thumb surgery. Renfroe was the Vikings first ever black quarterback. He was cut by the Vikings on November 21 when Wilson returned from injury. He returned to the Falcons the following season but was cut after Billy Joe Tolliver
was traded to the Falcons to take the final spot behind Chris Miller and Brett Favre
. After being cut by the Falcons, he played nine games for the Calgary Stampeders
.
He was charged with DUI in May 1992. He had previously been charged less than a year earlier.
After a failed tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs
, Renfroe signed with the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League. In his first AFL season, he completed 103 of 194 passes for 1,417 yards, 24 touchdowns, an 8 interceptions. He led the Drive to a 56-38 romp over the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl VI
. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His 65.8% completion rate was an ArenaBowl
record.
He had similar success the following year, completing 184 of 344 passes for 2,635 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Drive finished 11-1 and once again made the ArenaBowl VII
, however they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Storm
51-31.
He returned to the CFL in 1994
, signing with the expansion
Shreveport Pirates
. He was cut before the start of the season.
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...
.
Renfroe 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 Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
from 1982-1985. With the Tigers, he finished fourth all time in total offensive yards and passing yards. After going undrafted and unsigned by 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...
, he signed in 1986 with the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
of the Canadian Football League
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....
. he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts for the 1987 season, where he split the Argos starting job with fellow rookie John Congemi
John Congemi
John Congemi is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and current college football analyst for ESPNU and the Big East Network.Congemi played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1982-1986. He finished second all time in passing yards and led his team to the 1984 Fiesta...
. The Argonauts finished 11-6-1 and played in the 75th Grey Cup
75th Grey Cup
The 75th Grey Cup was the 1987 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Toronto Argonauts...
. Renfroe started the game and threw two touchdowns, including a 61 yard pass to Gil Fenerty. He was injured in the third quarter and left the game with the Argonauts trailing 35-29. Backup Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
rushed for the go ahead touchdown with 2:36 left in the game, but the Argos missed the two point conversion. The Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
would go on win the game 38-36 on a Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
field goal. He spent the 1988
1988 CFL season
The 1988 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1988:...
as the Argonauts started with John Congemi spending most of the season on the bench. Congemi won the starting job in 1989
1989 CFL season
The 1989 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 36th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 32nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1989:...
, but was injured in mid-September and Renfroe was once again the Argos' starter.
Renfroe moved to the NFL for the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
. He was signed by 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...
on February 28, 1990. He did not make the final roster and was cut on the final day of the preseason. He was re-signed eight days later when Hugh Millen
Hugh Millen
Hugh Breedlove Millen is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 216-lb...
was granted his request for a release after falling all the way to the third spot on the depth chart. Renfroe practiced three times with the Falcons and saw some action on special teams in a 21-14 loss to 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...
before being waived on September 18 for the second time in a week and the third time in 17 days. On September 26 he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
after starting quarterback Wade Wilson was sidelined after thumb surgery. Renfroe was the Vikings first ever black quarterback. He was cut by the Vikings on November 21 when Wilson returned from injury. He returned to the Falcons the following season but was cut after Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver is a former American football player who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints...
was traded to the Falcons to take the final spot behind Chris Miller and Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
. After being cut by the Falcons, he played nine games for 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...
.
He was charged with DUI in May 1992. He had previously been charged less than a year earlier.
After a failed tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Renfroe signed with the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League. In his first AFL season, he completed 103 of 194 passes for 1,417 yards, 24 touchdowns, an 8 interceptions. He led the Drive to a 56-38 romp over the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl VI
ArenaBowl VI
ArenaBowl '92 was the Arena Football League's sixth Arena Bowl. The game featured the #2 Detroit Drive against the #1 Orlando Predators...
. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His 65.8% completion rate was an ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
record.
He had similar success the following year, completing 184 of 344 passes for 2,635 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Drive finished 11-1 and once again made the ArenaBowl VII
ArenaBowl VII
ArenaBowl '93 was the Arena Football League's seventh Arena Bowl. The game featured the #3 Tampa Bay Storm of the National Conference against the #1 Detroit Drive of the American Conference...
, however they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
51-31.
He returned to the CFL in 1994
1994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
, signing with the expansion
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
Shreveport Pirates
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
. He was cut before the start of the season.