Jon Kitna

Jon K. Kitna (born September 21, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played for fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Central Washington University, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1996 and was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in 1997. He led the Dragons to a World Bowl championship, and became the starting quarterback for the Seahawks in 1998 after spending the 1997 and most of the 1998 seasons as the backup to Warren Moon. Following a four-year stint with Seattle, Kitna signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001. He played for the Bengals from 2001 to 2005 as their starting quarterback, and, later, the mentor to Carson Palmer. He was a member of the Detroit Lions from 2006 to 2008, and the Dallas Cowboys from 2009 to 2011.

College career
Kitna attended Central Washington University and was a quarterback for the Wildcats from 1992-1995. In 1995 the Wildcats won the NAIA National Football Championship with Kitna as their quarterback.

Barcelona Dragons
Kitna was named the World's Most Valuable Player in NFL Europe when he led the Barcelona Dragons to the 1997 World Bowl Championship (World Bowl V), winning 38–24 over the Rhein Fire.

Seattle Seahawks
Kitna was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. He served as a backup to Warren Moon in 1997 and most of 1998, but started the final five games of the 1998 season. Then, in 1999, he started 15 games for the Seahawks, leading them to a 9–7 record (Kitna going 8–7 in games started) and winning the AFC West, though Seattle would lose the wild card game to the Miami Dolphins.

In 2000, Kitna opened the season with a four-interception performance against the Dolphins which opened the door for coach Mike Holmgren to start Brock Huard. During that season, Kitna and Huard rotated as starting QBs due to injury and benchings. His last win for the Seahawks came on a rain-soaked Husky Stadium turf in December of that year, beating the AFC Championship Game-bound Oakland Raiders on a TD pass to rookie Darrell Jackson in the final minute of play.

Cincinnati Bengals
In 2001, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2003, Kitna played every offensive down, and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after throwing for over 3,500 yards and 26 touchdown passes in leading the Bengals to a respectable 8–8 record, the team's first non-losing season since 1996.

Kitna's secondary role with the team was to prepare young quarterback Carson Palmer (the Bengals' #1 draft pick in 2003). It was a role Kitna accepted gracefully. By 2004, Palmer was ready, leading the Bengals to another 8–8 season. Kitna was the backup for Palmer in that season. The two QB's developed a close friendship off the field, particularly because both men are avid golfers.

Kitna was unexpectedly thrust back behind center during the Bengals' AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2006. Palmer went down with a knee injury on his second play from scrimmage and Kitna stepped in off the bench and into a relief role. Kitna finished 24-40 for 197 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and a fumble as the Bengals fell to the eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31–17.

Detroit Lions
Kitna signed with the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent in early 2006. He started every Lions game in 2006 and 2007, throwing for 4,000 yards each season—a franchise record. In 2008, Kitna was injured and placed on injured reserve in week 5. The team ended the regular season with an 0-16 record.

Dallas Cowboys
Kitna was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on February 28, 2009, for Anthony Henry. His role was Tony Romo's primary back-up with Stephen McGee being the third-string QB. Kitna did not play a single down for the Cowboys in the 2009 regular season. He remained idle until October 25, 2010 when Tony Romo was removed after suffering a broken clavicle, which ended Romo's season. Kitna ended up injuring himself on December 25, 2010, in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. He was replaced by third-stringer McGee in the season finale against the Eagles. Kitna played well in relief of Romo throwing for over 2000 yards and 16 touchdowns in the 9 games he started, compiling a 4-5 record and a career high 88.9 passer rating in the process.

Kitna retired from the NFL on January 12, 2012.

He is currently a math teacher and football coach at his high school alma mater, Lincoln High School.