Josh Freeman
Encyclopedia
2009
On November 8, 2009, Freeman started his first professional game at home against the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. The Buccaneers won, ending an 11-game losing streak. He completed 14 out of 31 passes for 205 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 INT, including a fourth down touchdown pass to rookie Sammie Stroughter
Sammie Stroughter
Sammie Stroughter is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State....
to take the lead, 31–28 late in the game. Freeman became the youngest quarterback in Bucs history to start and win his first game.
On December 27, 2009 he led his Buccaneers to a 20–17 overtime win over the 13–1 New Orleans Saints preventing them from clinching the 1st seed in the playoffs for 1 more week.
2010
Josh Freeman began the 2010 season as the starting quarterback. He started all 16 games of the season, the first since Brad JohnsonBrad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
had done it in 2003. On December 26, 2010, Freeman completed 21 of 26 pass attempts for 227 yards and 5 touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks, matching a franchise record for touchdowns in a game. On January 1, 2011 Freeman completed 21 of 26 pass attempts for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns against the playoff-bound New Orleans Saints. Both performances won him the FedEx Air Player of the Week. He was awarded NFC Player Of The Week on Week 5 and 17. He led the team to a winning record of 10–6, barely missing the playoffs. He was also named as an alternate for the 2011 Pro Bowl.
Statistics
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | RAT | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | TB | 10 | 158 | 290 | 54.5 | 1,855 | 6.4 | 10 | 18 | 59.8 | 42 |
| 2010 | TB | 16 | 291 | 474 | 61.4 | 3,451 | 7.3 | 25 | 6 | 95.9 | 64 |
| TOTAL | 26 | 449 | 764 | 58.8 | 5,306 | 6.9 | 35 | 24 | 82.2 | 64 |
Personal
His father, Ron, was a hall of fame linebacker for Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
and also played in the United States Football League with the Pittsburgh Maulers (1984) and Orlando Renegades (1985). Freeman's brother, Caleb, was recruited to Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
to play linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in 2008. He was red-shirted.