Stan Gelbaugh
Encyclopedia
Stanley Morris Gelbaugh (born December 4, 1962) is a former professional American football
quarterback
. Although he played several seasons in the National Football League
, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football
with the London Monarchs
, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable Player
in its inaugural season.
, and was the backup to Boomer Esiason
in 1983
and Frank Reich
in the 1984 season
. After Reich went down with a shoulder injury in Week 4 against Wake Forest
, Gelbaugh took over the starting role. After a loss to Penn State
, Gelbaugh and the Terps reeled off three straight victories. In Week 9, while visiting Bernie Kosar
and the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes
, the Hurricanes jumped out to a 31-0 lead at halftime. Gelbaugh was replaced by Reich, who led the Terps to a thrilling 42-40 comeback in the second half cited as one of the greatest comebacks in college football history. Going into the following season
, he was the starting quarterback for a team that was ranked #1 in the preseason poll. Even though the team went 9-3 overall, the team had a perfect 6-0 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference
, giving them the conference title. The season ended with a victory over Syracuse
in the Cherry Bowl
, where he passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and added another rushing score. Gelbaugh was named offensive MVP of the game. He finished his career second overall in team history in yardage and third in completions; his senior year yardage total of 2,475 was a team record (now since broken). He was also the first Terrapins quarterback with three career 300-yard games.
by the Dallas Cowboys
. However, he was waived by the team before the season started. After being released by Dallas, he briefly became a punter
for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
. He punted 45 times for a 40.6 yard average; he also served as a backup quarterback, though he did not throw a pass. He was waived by the team after two months. He signed with the Buffalo Bills
in November 1986, and served as the backup the rest of the year. He was injured during training camp the following year
, and was placed on injured reserve
. In 1988
, he was waived and re-signed later in the week, though he still did not see any playing time. Despite being waived three times by the Bills in 1989
, he did see some action at the end of a game against the New York Jets
, taking a knee to end the game. All told, during his time with the Bills, he was signed and waived four times. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals
in the 1990 offseason. Even though coach Sam Wyche
thought he was good enough to be a starter, he was cut before training camp was completed. In 1990, he was selling photocopier
s and fax machines to make money while still looking for a job in football; he would later remark that he would sooner face a blitz
than deal with secretaries.
began setting up a developmental league for players, with several teams in Europe
, called the World League of American Football
. Jim Haslett
, a former teammate of Gelbaugh's with the Bills, was an assistant coach with the Sacramento Surge
. Haslett convinced Gelbaugh to give up selling office equipment and come back to football. The plan was for the Surge to draft Gelbaugh in the league's supplemental draft. However, the Surge passed on Gelbaugh and picked Anthony Henton
, a linebacker. He ended up with the London Monarchs
. London's head coach was Larry Kennan
, who had worked out Gelbaugh while Kennan was an assistant with the Los Angeles Raiders. Gelbaugh didn't think the job would last, and even after being drafted, made plans to get his teaching certificate and teach at DeMatha Catholic High School
in Hyattsville, Maryland
.
In the first game of the new league, Gelbaugh and fellow Monarchs quarterback John Witkowski
led the Monarchs to victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy
. Gelbaugh's 96-yard touchdown to Jon Horton was the league's first passing touchdown. In week 2, he took over the starting job full-time, and led the Monarchs to a comeback victory against the New York/New Jersey Knights
in the Monarchs' home opener, the first of three straight 300-yard games for Gelbaugh. In Week 5, he threw for four touchdowns and 286 yards as the Monarchs beat the Montreal Machine
45-7. The following week, he led the Monarchs over the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks
with 361 yards and three touchdowns. After getting knocked out of a game against the Knights with a bruised shoulder in week 8, he returned the following game to throw for 325 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Sacramento Surge
. Gelbaugh credited much of his success to his offensive line, nicknamed the "Nasty Boyz", who allowed the fewest sacks in the league. The Monarchs finished the regular season with a loss to the Barcelona Dragons
, 20-17; the loss would end up being the only one of the year. In the playoffs, Gelbaugh got revenge on the Knights for his injury by throwing for 391 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 42-26 comeback victory to send the Monarchs to the inaugural World Bowl
. In the World Bowl, Gelbaugh managed the Monarchs effectively, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns en route to a 21-0 Monarchs victory over Barcelona. He finished the season atop several passing categories; his 2,655 yards, 92.8 passer rating
, and .624 completion percentage were best in the league, and he was tied for the lead in touchdown passes (17). For his efforts, he was named Offensive
Most Valuable Player
of the league, earning him a $25,000 bonus.
, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the CFL as a member of their practice squad. The two sides could not come to an agreement, and Gelbaugh walked away after two weeks. Later on,he was signed by the Phoenix Cardinals, who were having quarterback trouble after starter Timm Rosenbach
was injured for the season, and backup Tom Tupa
was underperforming. After appearances in two games against Minnesota
and the New York Giants
, he earned his first start in a 14-10 loss to San Francisco
in Week 12. A week later, he was picked off four times by the Philadelphia Eagles
, and the next week he was pulled in favor of Chris Chandler
after blowing a lead against the Washington Redskins
. Gelbaugh played one more time in the season finale against New Orleans
after Chandler was intercepted twice; Gelbaugh threw three interceptions in a Cardinals loss. Gelbaugh later announced that he would return to the Monarchs for the 1992 WLAF season; although he was contractually obligated to return, he viewed it as another opportunity for him to showcase his talents for a possible NFL return. Before his return, he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
, who picked him up as a Plan B free agent. He signed with Seattle because the Seahawks' offensive coordinator, Larry Kennan
, was his coach with the Monarchs.
the Monarchs would go on a seven game winless streak. The lone highlight of the season was a 45-13 drubbing of the Montreal Machine, but the Monarchs finished the season 2-7-1 and at the bottom of the European division. Gelbaugh's numbers were down slightly from his MVP season a year earlier; he finished the season with 1,966 yards, and 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Although the league suspended play after the 1992 season, Gelbaugh did not want to return anyway, citing the stress of two seasons in one year as too much.
, planning to be the third-string quarterback behind Dan McGwire
and Kelly Stouffer
. His first appearance came in relief of McGwire in week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys
, but he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and the Seahawks lost 27-0. With McGwire on injured reserve
and Stouffer injured, Gelbaugh got the start the following week against the Los Angeles Raiders, but the Seahawks were shut out for the second consecutive week. He started the next two games, both Seahawks losses, while waiting for Stouffer to return from his shoulder injury. Gelbaugh's next action would come in relief of Stouffer against the Denver Broncos
, and he would lead the team to an improbable comeback on Monday Night Football
, throwing a game-tying touchdown on the final play of regulation. The Seahawks would win the game in overtime
on John Kasay
's 32-yard game winner; Gelbaugh finished the evening with 164 yards and a touchdown in less than a full quarter's work. He would continue to trade time with Stouffer for the rest of the season, but the Seahawks were unable to win any more games, and finished the season with the fewest points scored in a 16 game season in league history.
Although Gelbaugh was resigned for the 1993 season
, his only appearance came in relief of injured starter Rick Mirer
in the fourth quarter of a game against the New England Patriots
. He then spent two years on the bench, only making a brief appearance in the 1994 season
finale. In 1996, he started the last regular season game against the Raiders, but was injured on the second series of downs after tearing a groin muscle. Gelbaugh retired after the 1996 season.
, where his son attended. He works full-time in sales for a construction company in the D.C. area.
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...
. Although he played several seasons 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...
, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
with the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in its inaugural season.
College career
Gelbaugh attended the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and was the backup to Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
in 1983
1983 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1983 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Terrapins offense scored 316 points while the defense allowed 253 points...
and Frank Reich
Frank Reich
Frank Michael Reich, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and the Detroit Lions. For a time, he had the distinction of having led his team to the biggest comeback victory ever in both the collegiate...
in the 1984 season
1984 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1984 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Terrapins won the ACC for the second consecutive season.-Regular season:...
. After Reich went down with a shoulder injury in Week 4 against Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
, Gelbaugh took over the starting role. After a loss to Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
, Gelbaugh and the Terps reeled off three straight victories. In Week 9, while visiting Bernie Kosar
Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
and the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes
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...
, the Hurricanes jumped out to a 31-0 lead at halftime. Gelbaugh was replaced by Reich, who led the Terps to a thrilling 42-40 comeback in the second half cited as one of the greatest comebacks in college football history. Going into the following season
1985 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1985 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Terrapins offense scored 326 points while the defense allowed 192 points...
, he was the starting quarterback for a team that was ranked #1 in the preseason poll. Even though the team went 9-3 overall, the team had a perfect 6-0 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, giving them the conference title. The season ended with a victory over Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
in the Cherry Bowl
Cherry Bowl
The Cherry Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1984 and 1985. The Cherry Bowl is noteworthy as an early attempt to bring a game to chilly Michigan, years before the successful Motor City Bowl...
, where he passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and added another rushing score. Gelbaugh was named offensive MVP of the game. He finished his career second overall in team history in yardage and third in completions; his senior year yardage total of 2,475 was a team record (now since broken). He was also the first Terrapins quarterback with three career 300-yard games.
Struggles in Buffalo
He was selected in the sixth round (150th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft1986 NFL Draft
The 1986 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 29–30, 1986...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. However, he was waived by the team before the season started. After being released by Dallas, he briefly became a punter
Punter (football position)
A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
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 punted 45 times for a 40.6 yard average; he also served as a backup quarterback, though he did not throw a pass. He was waived by the team after two months. He signed with 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...
in November 1986, and served as the backup the rest of the year. He was injured during training camp the following year
1987 Buffalo Bills season
The 1987 Buffalo Bills season was the 28th season for the club and its 18th in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Regular season:...
, and 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...
. In 1988
1988 Buffalo Bills season
The 1988 Buffalo Bills season was the 29th season for the team and the 19th season in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills finished in first place in the AFC East and finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses. The Bills were 8–0 at home for...
, he was waived and re-signed later in the week, though he still did not see any playing time. Despite being waived three times by the Bills in 1989
1989 Buffalo Bills season
The 1989 Buffalo Bills season was the 30th season for the team and the 20th season in the National Football League. The Bills finished in first place in the AFC East and finished the National Football League's 1989 season with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses....
, he did see some action at the end of a game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, taking a knee to end the game. All told, during his time with the Bills, he was signed and waived four times. He signed with the 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...
in the 1990 offseason. Even though coach Sam Wyche
Sam Wyche
Samuel David "Sam" Wyche is a former American football player and head coach, who is best known as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL...
thought he was good enough to be a starter, he was cut before training camp was completed. In 1990, he was selling photocopier
Photocopier
A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process using heat...
s and fax machines to make money while still looking for a job in football; he would later remark that he would sooner face a blitz
Blitz (American football)
In American football or Canadian football, a blitz or red dog is when players on or behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are sent across the scrimmage line to the offensive side to try to tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt...
than deal with secretaries.
Success in Europe
In the spring of 1990, the National Football LeagueNational 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...
began setting up a developmental league for players, with several teams in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, called the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. Jim Haslett
Jim Haslett
James Donald "Jim" Haslett is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is currently the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Previously, he served as the head coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, and the New Orleans Saints and St...
, a former teammate of Gelbaugh's with the Bills, was an assistant coach with the Sacramento Surge
Sacramento Surge
The Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned...
. Haslett convinced Gelbaugh to give up selling office equipment and come back to football. The plan was for the Surge to draft Gelbaugh in the league's supplemental draft. However, the Surge passed on Gelbaugh and picked Anthony Henton
Anthony Henton
Oscar Anthony Henton is a former American football player who played two seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Early life:Henton was born in Bessemer, Alabama where he later attended Jess Lanier High School....
, a linebacker. He ended up with the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
. London's head coach was Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966...
, who had worked out Gelbaugh while Kennan was an assistant with the Los Angeles Raiders. Gelbaugh didn't think the job would last, and even after being drafted, made plans to get his teaching certificate and teach at DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School, named after Saint John of Matha, is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. DeMatha is known for academic achievement, music, arts, service and athletics...
in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
.
In the first game of the new league, Gelbaugh and fellow Monarchs quarterback John Witkowski
John Witkowski
-Football career:John Witkowski was the winner of the 1982 Asa A. Bushnell Cup for leadership, competitive spirit, contribution to the team, and accomplishments on the field, Witkowski holds 12 Columbia Lions passing records, six total offense marks, and five Ivy League records...
led the Monarchs to victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. Gelbaugh's 96-yard touchdown to Jon Horton was the league's first passing touchdown. In week 2, he took over the starting job full-time, and led the Monarchs to a comeback victory against the New York/New Jersey Knights
New York/New Jersey Knights
New York/New Jersey Knights was a franchise in the World League of American Football for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. They played in the North American East division, which they won in the 1991 season. They were coached by Mouse Davis, an architect of the Run & Shoot offense.After 1992 the NFL ...
in the Monarchs' home opener, the first of three straight 300-yard games for Gelbaugh. In Week 5, he threw for four touchdowns and 286 yards as the Monarchs beat the Montreal Machine
Montreal Machine
The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the World League of American Football, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three European teams and six U.S.-based teams...
45-7. The following week, he led the Monarchs over the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks
Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks
The Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks were an American football team headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina that played for one season in 1991 in the World League of American Football . The name was inspired by the Wright brothers' flights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina...
with 361 yards and three touchdowns. After getting knocked out of a game against the Knights with a bruised shoulder in week 8, he returned the following game to throw for 325 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Sacramento Surge
Sacramento Surge
The Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned...
. Gelbaugh credited much of his success to his offensive line, nicknamed the "Nasty Boyz", who allowed the fewest sacks in the league. The Monarchs finished the regular season with a loss to the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
, 20-17; the loss would end up being the only one of the year. In the playoffs, Gelbaugh got revenge on the Knights for his injury by throwing for 391 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 42-26 comeback victory to send the Monarchs to the inaugural World Bowl
World Bowl
The World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
. In the World Bowl, Gelbaugh managed the Monarchs effectively, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns en route to a 21-0 Monarchs victory over Barcelona. He finished the season atop several passing categories; his 2,655 yards, 92.8 passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
, and .624 completion percentage were best in the league, and he was tied for the lead in touchdown passes (17). For his efforts, he was named Offensive
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the league, earning him a $25,000 bonus.
Phoenix Cardinals
After his success in Europe, he initially failed to sign with an NFL team. Due to WLAF rules, any NFL team signing him would have had to pay double his WLAF salary, which ended up as $90,000 after bonuses, just to negotiate with him. In the end, the WLAF waived the fee, leaving Gelbaugh free to sign with any team. Although he was interested in joining the San Diego ChargersSan 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 signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the CFL as a member of their practice squad. The two sides could not come to an agreement, and Gelbaugh walked away after two weeks. Later on,he was signed by the Phoenix Cardinals, who were having quarterback trouble after starter Timm Rosenbach
Timm Rosenbach
Timm Lane Rosenbach is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League . Rosenbach was selected in 1st round of the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals...
was injured for the season, and backup Tom Tupa
Tom Tupa
Thomas Joseph Tupa, Jr. is a former American football punter and quarterback in the National Football League.-Personal life and high school career:...
was underperforming. After appearances in two games against Minnesota
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 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...
, he earned his first start in a 14-10 loss to San Francisco
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...
in Week 12. A week later, he was picked off four times by the Philadelphia Eagles
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...
, and the next week he was pulled in favor of Chris Chandler
Chris Chandler
Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...
after blowing a lead against 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,...
. Gelbaugh played one more time in the season finale against New Orleans
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
after Chandler was intercepted twice; Gelbaugh threw three interceptions in a Cardinals loss. Gelbaugh later announced that he would return to the Monarchs for the 1992 WLAF season; although he was contractually obligated to return, he viewed it as another opportunity for him to showcase his talents for a possible NFL return. Before his return, he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, who picked him up as a Plan B free agent. He signed with Seattle because the Seahawks' offensive coordinator, Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966...
, was his coach with the Monarchs.
Return to London
Gelbaugh's first game back was an overtime victory over the Knights in London; he finished the day with 349 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Unfortunately, under new head coach Ray WillseyRay Willsey
Ray Willsey was the head football coach at the University of California from 1964 to 1971. During his tenure he compiled a 40-42-1 record. He was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993....
the Monarchs would go on a seven game winless streak. The lone highlight of the season was a 45-13 drubbing of the Montreal Machine, but the Monarchs finished the season 2-7-1 and at the bottom of the European division. Gelbaugh's numbers were down slightly from his MVP season a year earlier; he finished the season with 1,966 yards, and 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Although the league suspended play after the 1992 season, Gelbaugh did not want to return anyway, citing the stress of two seasons in one year as too much.
Seattle Seahawks: 1992–1996
Gelbaugh joined the Seahawks for the 1992 season1992 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1992 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 17th season with the National Football League. The 1992 season was the first season for head coach Tom Flores....
, planning to be the third-string quarterback behind Dan McGwire
Dan McGwire
Daniel Scott McGwire is a former American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.-Early life:...
and Kelly Stouffer
Kelly Stouffer
Kelly Wayne Stouffer is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. He spent most of his career with the Seattle Seahawks from 1988–1992. He graduated from Rushville High School in Rushville, Nebraska and attended Colorado State University...
. His first appearance came in relief of McGwire in week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, but he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and the Seahawks lost 27-0. With McGwire 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...
and Stouffer injured, Gelbaugh got the start the following week against the Los Angeles Raiders, but the Seahawks were shut out for the second consecutive week. He started the next two games, both Seahawks losses, while waiting for Stouffer to return from his shoulder injury. Gelbaugh's next action would come in relief of Stouffer against the 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...
, and he would lead the team to an improbable comeback on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
, throwing a game-tying touchdown on the final play of regulation. The Seahawks would win the game in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
on John Kasay
John Kasay
John David Kasay is an American football kicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
's 32-yard game winner; Gelbaugh finished the evening with 164 yards and a touchdown in less than a full quarter's work. He would continue to trade time with Stouffer for the rest of the season, but the Seahawks were unable to win any more games, and finished the season with the fewest points scored in a 16 game season in league history.
Although Gelbaugh was resigned for the 1993 season
1993 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1993 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 18th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *...
, his only appearance came in relief of injured starter Rick Mirer
Rick Mirer
Richard Franklin Mirer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame, Mirer was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the second pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Mirer was traded to the Chicago Bears during...
in the fourth quarter of a game against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He then spent two years on the bench, only making a brief appearance in the 1994 season
1994 Seattle Seahawks season
-Schedule:-External links:* *...
finale. In 1996, he started the last regular season game against the Raiders, but was injured on the second series of downs after tearing a groin muscle. Gelbaugh retired after the 1996 season.
Personal life
Gelbaugh's nickname while playing was "Blueprint", due to his knowledge of many different offenses. After retiring from football, Gelbaugh took on the role of offensive coordinator at The Bullis SchoolThe Bullis School
Bullis School is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational college preparatory day school for grades 3-12. The school enrolls 640 students and located in Potomac, Maryland, in the suburbs of Washington, DC.- History :...
, where his son attended. He works full-time in sales for a construction company in the D.C. area.