Gus Frerotte
Encyclopedia
Gustave Joseph "Gus" Frerotte (fəˈrɒt; born July 31, 1971 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania
) is a former American football
quarterback
. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins
in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Tulsa.
Frerotte, who was selected to the 1997 Pro Bowl
while with the Redskins, also played for the Detroit Lions
, Denver Broncos
, Cincinnati Bengals
, Miami Dolphins
, Minnesota Vikings
, and St. Louis Rams
.
in Ford City, Pennsylvania
, a suburb of Pittsburgh. In high school, he was a letterman in football
, basketball, and baseball
. Frerotte graduated in 1989.
Frerotte is the cousin of Mitch Frerotte
, an offensive lineman who played for the Buffalo Bills
during the 1990s.
, he started eight games as a redshirt freshman in 1990 after quarterback T.J. Rubley was injured, starting his first career game at Oklahoma
. He finished his college career
as the school's second-ranked all-time passer, behind Rubley. During his career, he threw for 5,480 yards and 32 touchdowns on 432-of-860 passing. His 2,871 passing yards as a senior were the most by a Tulsa quarterback in 28 years. As a sophomore, Frerotte also handled punting
duties for the team and averaged 35.5 yards per punt.
As an undergraduate, he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha
Fraternity
.
by the Washington Redskins
; earlier in the same draft, the Redskins had selected Heath Shuler
with their first-round pick (third overall). However, by the next season
Frerotte was the starting quarterback due to Shuler's injuries and struggles adjusting to the professional game. Frerotte would retain the starting job until 1998
.
Frerotte was selected to the 1997 Pro Bowl
, but may be better remembered for spraining his neck by ramming his head into a padded cement wall during a touchdown celebration in a 7–7 tie against the New York Giants
on Sunday Night Football
.
, he played for the Detroit Lions
, where he backed up rookie Charlie Batch
. Frerotte wound up starting for the Lions in the playoffs when Batch out with injuries; the Lions lost in the Wild Card round to the Redskins, Frerotte's former team, 27-13.
after Brian Griese
was injured and led the Broncos to the playoffs, though the team fell in the opening round to eventual Super Bowl
Champion Baltimore Ravens
. He remained the Broncos' backup until the end of the 2001 NFL season
.
, winning the starting job before losing the position after three games to Jon Kitna
under the soon-to-be-fired Dick LeBeau
. His most notable play with the Bengals came against the Cleveland Browns
on September 15: Frerotte, attempting to avoid a sack by Orpheus Roye
, threw the ball with his left hand (Frerrotte is right-handed) and was intercepted by Browns defensive lineman Kenard Lang
, who returned the ball 71 yards the to the Bengals 8 yard line.
for the Minnesota Vikings
. He won both games as a temporary starter for the team in 2003
.
Frerotte earned the Miami Dolphins
starting job in 2005. He started 15 games, guiding the Dolphins to a 9–6 record, throwing for 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, completing 52% of his passes and finished the season with a 71.9 quarterback rating.
After, he joined the St. Louis Rams
as back-up to Marc Bulger
. St. Louis cut Frerotte after two seasons on February 28, 2008.
's backup for the first two games of the year. On September 17, 2008, he was named the starter for the rest of the 2008 season by head coach Brad Childress
. Frerotte led the Vikings to an 8-3 record before suffering a back injury, which reinstated Jackson as the starter.
On November 30, 2008, Frerotte tied the NFL record for the longest pass from scrimmage by throwing a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian
against the Chicago Bears
.
Frerotte had expressed interest in being the starting quarterback for the Vikings for the 2009 NFL season
, but was released on February 27, 2009, after the team traded for quarterback Sage Rosenfels
. The Vikings, however, would end up signing Brett Favre
to be their eventual starter.
On January 19, 2011, Frerotte announced he would be taking over as head coach at John Burroughs School
in the St. Louis area.
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning is a borough and the county seat of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is situated northeast of Pittsburgh, along the east bank of the Allegheny River. The name means "at the great stream" in the Delaware language...
) is a former American football
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 was drafted by 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,...
in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft
1994 NFL Draft
The 1994 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 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. He 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 Tulsa.
Frerotte, who was selected to the 1997 Pro Bowl
1997 Pro Bowl
The 1997 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 1997 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 26, NFC 23. Mark Brunell of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the game's MVP. In the game, Brunell threw for 236 yards...
while with the Redskins, also played 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...
, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, 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...
, 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...
, and St. Louis 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,...
.
Early years
Frerotte attended Ford City High SchoolFord City High School
Ford City High School is a public high school located in Ford City, Pennsylvania. The school serves grades 7 through 12 as part of the Armstrong School District .-Academic achievement:...
in Ford City, Pennsylvania
Ford City, Pennsylvania
Ford City is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh along the east bank of the Allegheny River and 4 miles south of Kittanning, the county seat....
, a suburb of Pittsburgh. In high school, he was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, basketball, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Frerotte graduated in 1989.
Frerotte is the cousin of Mitch Frerotte
Mitch Frerotte
Paul Mitchael Frerotte was an American professional football player who played as a guard for four seasons in the National Football League, all with the Buffalo Bills. Frerotte is perhaps best known for scoring three touchdowns during the 1992 NFL season, a record for an offensive lineman.Frerotte...
, an offensive lineman who played for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the 1990s.
College career
At the University of TulsaUniversity of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, he started eight games as a redshirt freshman in 1990 after quarterback T.J. Rubley was injured, starting his first career game at Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. He finished his college career
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...
as the school's second-ranked all-time passer, behind Rubley. During his career, he threw for 5,480 yards and 32 touchdowns on 432-of-860 passing. His 2,871 passing yards as a senior were the most by a Tulsa quarterback in 28 years. As a sophomore, Frerotte also handled punting
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
duties for the team and averaged 35.5 yards per punt.
As an undergraduate, he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
Washington Redskins
Frerotte was picked in the seventh round of the draft1994 NFL Draft
The 1994 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 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
by 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,...
; earlier in the same draft, the Redskins had selected Heath Shuler
Heath Shuler
Joseph Heath Shuler is a businessman, a former NFL quarterback, and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
with their first-round pick (third overall). However, by the next season
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
Frerotte was the starting quarterback due to Shuler's injuries and struggles adjusting to the professional game. Frerotte would retain the starting job until 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
.
Frerotte was selected to the 1997 Pro Bowl
1997 Pro Bowl
The 1997 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 1997 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 26, NFC 23. Mark Brunell of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the game's MVP. In the game, Brunell threw for 236 yards...
, but may be better remembered for spraining his neck by ramming his head into a padded cement wall during a touchdown celebration in a 7–7 tie against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is a weekly American football game held throughout most of the season by the National Football League. Sunday night games have been played regularly since 1987 and have thus far aired on three different television outlets:...
.
Detroit Lions
In 19991999 Detroit Lions season
The 1999 Detroit Lions season was their 70th in the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 5–11 and qualified for the playoffs, where they lost to the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round...
, he played 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...
, where he backed up rookie Charlie Batch
Charlie Batch
Charles "Charlie" Batch is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. Frerotte wound up starting for the Lions in the playoffs when Batch out with injuries; the Lions lost in the Wild Card round to the Redskins, Frerotte's former team, 27-13.
Denver Broncos
In 2000, he started for the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after Brian Griese
Brian Griese
Brian David Griese is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played high school football at Christopher Columbus High School and later college football at Michigan....
was injured and led the Broncos to the playoffs, though the team fell in the opening round to eventual 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...
Champion Baltimore Ravens
2000 Baltimore Ravens season
The Baltimore Ravens concluded the 2000 NFL season with a 12–4 record, good for second place in the AFC central, and earning them a spot in the playoffs as a wild card entrant...
. He remained the Broncos' backup until the end of the 2001 NFL season
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
.
Cincinnati Bengals
He joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 20022002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, winning the starting job before losing the position after three games to Jon Kitna
Jon Kitna
Jon K. Kitna is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
under the soon-to-be-fired Dick LeBeau
Dick LeBeau
Charles Richard “Dick” LeBeau is a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive back. He is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player with the Detroit Lions and...
. His most notable play with the Bengals came against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 15: Frerotte, attempting to avoid a sack by Orpheus Roye
Orpheus Roye
Orpheus Michael Roye is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, threw the ball with his left hand (Frerrotte is right-handed) and was intercepted by Browns defensive lineman Kenard Lang
Kenard Lang
Kenard Dushun Lang was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League...
, who returned the ball 71 yards the to the Bengals 8 yard line.
2003-2007: Vikings, Dolphins, and Rams
In 2003 and 2004, Frerotte backed up Daunte CulpepperDaunte 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...
for 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...
. He won both games as a temporary starter for the team in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
.
Frerotte earned 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...
starting job in 2005. He started 15 games, guiding the Dolphins to a 9–6 record, throwing for 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, completing 52% of his passes and finished the season with a 71.9 quarterback rating.
After, he joined the St. Louis 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,...
as back-up to Marc Bulger
Marc Bulger
Marc Robert Bulger [] is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
. St. Louis cut Frerotte after two seasons on February 28, 2008.
Second stint with Vikings
On April 1, 2008 he returned to the Vikings, signing a two-year, 3.75 million dollar deal. He was Tarvaris JacksonTarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
's backup for the first two games of the year. On September 17, 2008, he was named the starter for the rest of the 2008 season by head coach Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
. Frerotte led the Vikings to an 8-3 record before suffering a back injury, which reinstated Jackson as the starter.
On November 30, 2008, Frerotte tied the NFL record for the longest pass from scrimmage by throwing a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian is a free agent American football wide receiver who last played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
against 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...
.
Frerotte had expressed interest in being the starting quarterback for the Vikings for the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, but was released on February 27, 2009, after the team traded for quarterback Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
. The Vikings, however, would end up signing 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...
to be their eventual starter.
After Retirement
As of December 2010, Frerotte works for GAIMPlan Consulting which helps high school athletes pick a college.On January 19, 2011, Frerotte announced he would be taking over as head coach at John Burroughs School
John Burroughs School
Founded in 1923, John Burroughs School is a private, non-sectarian preparatory school with nearly 600 students in grades 7-12. Its 47.5 acre campus is located in Ladue, Missouri , an affluent suburb of Saint Louis. It is named for U.S...
in the St. Louis area.
Personal
Gus Frerotte is married to Ann, with whom he has a daughter, Abigaile, and two sons, Gunnar and Gabriel .External links and References
- Minnesota Vikings Bio
- Pro-football-reference.com - Career Statistics