Matt Leinart

Last updated

Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Leinart in 2023
No. 7, 11
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1983-05-11) May 11, 1983 (age 41)
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school: Mater Dei
(Santa Ana, California)
College: USC (2001–2005)
NFL draft: 2006  / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts:641
Passing completions:366
Completion percentage:57.1%
TD–INT:15–21
Passing yards:4,065
Passer rating:70.2
Rushing yards:89
Rushing touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Matthew Stephen Leinart (born May 11, 1983) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to an undefeated season as a junior. Selected tenth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2006 NFL Draft, Leinart primarily served as Kurt Warner's backup for four seasons. He spent his final three seasons in a backup role for the Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders. Leinart was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. [3]

Contents

Early life

Leinart was born in Santa Ana, California with strabismus (commonly known as "crossed eyes"); his left eye was not aligned correctly with his right. He underwent surgery when he was three years old and was fitted with special glasses to correct the problem, but the eyewear combined with Leinart's already-overweight frame made him an easy target for other children's ridicule. [4] "I used to get made fun of for being cross-eyed. It's just a terrible thing because kids are so cruel to the fat kid, to the kid with the glasses. So I turned to sports," he would later say. [5]

Leinart attended Mater Dei High School and was a letterman in football and basketball. As a junior, he led his team to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division I co-championship and was named the Serra League's Offensive Most Valuable Player. Wearing number 7, he was chosen as the Gatorade California high school football player of the year. [6]

As one of the nation's top college football recruits, Leinart committed to USC under coach Paul Hackett, noting that a major factor was offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. [7] However, after Hackett and most of his staff were fired in 2000, Leinart considered other programs such as Georgia Tech and Arizona State, and visited Oklahoma and Michigan before USC eventually hired Pete Carroll. [8] [9] [10]

College career

2001–2003 seasons

Leinart attended the University of Southern California, where he played for coach Pete Carroll's USC Trojans football team from 2001 to 2005. He redshirted in 2001. [11] As a freshman the next year, he understudied senior quarterback Carson Palmer, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy and was drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 NFL Draft. [12] [13] Leinart appeared in only a few plays in 2002 but did not throw any passes. As a sophomore in 2003, Leinart competed with redshirt junior Matt Cassel, who was Palmer's backup the previous season, and Purdue transfer Brandon Hance for the vacant starting quarterback position. [14] Going into the season, Carroll and his coaching staff selected Leinart, not because he had set himself significantly ahead of the pack in practice, but because they had to pick one of the three as the starting quarterback. [15]

When the coaching staff told Leinart he would be the starter, he replied, "You're never going to regret this." There was some thought in the press that Leinart would merely hold the starting position until highly touted true freshman John David Booty, who had bypassed his senior year in high school to attend USC, could learn the offense. [16]

Leinart's first career pass was a touchdown against Auburn in a 23–0 victory in the season opener. [17] He won the first three games of his career before the then-#3 Trojans suffered a 34–31 triple-overtime defeat to California on September 27 that dropped the Trojans to #10. [18] [19] Leinart and the Trojans bounced back the next week against Arizona State. Leinart injured his knee in the second quarter and was not expected to play again that day, but he returned to the game and finished 13-of-23 for 289 yards in a 37–17 victory. [20] [21]

Leinart and the Trojans won their final eight games and finished the regular season 11–1 and ranked No. 1 in the AP and coaches' polls. [22] However, USC was left out of the BCS championship game after finishing third in the BCS behind Oklahoma and LSU. [23] The Trojans went to the Rose Bowl and played the University of Michigan. Leinart was named the Rose Bowl MVP after he went 23-of-34 for 327 yards, throwing three touchdowns and catching a touchdown of his own from wide receiver Mike Williams. [24] [25] In 13 starts, Leinart was 255 for 402 for 3,556 yards, 38 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. [26] He finished sixth in the Heisman voting. [27] He was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. [28]

In recognition of his Rose Bowl accomplishments, Leinart was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2019. [29]

2004 season

The Trojans started Leinart's junior season (2004) with victories in their first three games. [30] On September 25, the Trojans played Stanford. After Stanford took a 28–17 halftime lead, Leinart sparked the offense with a 51-yard pass to Steve Smith and scored on a one-yard sneak to cut the Cardinal lead to four points. Leinart and the Trojans were able to take the lead on a LenDale White rushing touchdown and held on for the victory, 31–28. Leinart completed 24 of 30 passes. [31] Against Notre Dame, Leinart threw for a career-high 400 yards. After an incomplete pass and a sack led to a fourth-and-nine situation with 1:36 left—at the Trojans' own 26-yard line, Leinart called an audible "slant and go" route at the line of scrimmage and threw deep against the Irish's man-to-man coverage, where Dwayne Jarrett caught the ball and raced to the Irish' 13-yard line, a 61-yard gain. Leinart moved the ball to the goal line as time dwindled and scored on a quarterback sneak that gave the Trojans a 34–31 lead with three seconds to go, giving the Trojans their 28th straight victory and one of the most memorable and dramatic finishes in the history of the Notre Dame–USC rivalry.

Leinart finished the final regular season game against UCLA, but was held without a touchdown pass for the first time in 25 starts. [32] Nonetheless, Leinart was invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony, along with teammate Reggie Bush, Oklahoma's freshman running back sensation Adrian Peterson, quarterback and incumbent Heisman winner Jason White, and Utah's quarterback Alex Smith. In what many had considered one of the more competitive Heisman races, [33] Leinart became the sixth USC player to claim the Heisman Trophy. [34] [35]

Leinart with his Heisman Trophy in 2005 LeinartHeisman2005.jpg
Leinart with his Heisman Trophy in 2005

In 2004, USC went wire-to-wire at No. 1 in the polls and earned a bid to the BCS title game at the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma, which was also 12–0. A dream matchup on paper (including White vs. Leinart, which was to be the first time two Heisman winners would play against each other), [36] the Orange Bowl turned out to be a rout, as Leinart threw for five touchdown passes on 18-for-35 passing and 332 yards to lead the Trojans to a 55–19 victory. [37] [38] Leinart received Orange Bowl MVP honors and the Trojans claimed their first BCS National Championship and second straight No. 1 finish in the AP, extending their winning streak to 22 games. [39] [40] [41] [42] This victory and BCS championship were later vacated as a result of the Reggie Bush scandal (though the AP national championship still stands). [43] [44] He won Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season but shared it with Reggie Bush. [45]

2005 season

The 2005 Trojans again had a perfect 12–0 regular season. [46] Leinart was again invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony along with teammate Reggie Bush and Texas quarterback Vince Young. As a former Heisman winner, Leinart cast his first-place vote for Bush, and ended up third in the voting behind Bush and runner-up Young. [47] [48]

The Trojans advanced to the Rose Bowl to face Vince Young and #2 Texas in the BCS title game. The title game was considered another "dream matchup". Leinart himself had a great game, going 29-of-40 for a touchdown and 365 yards, but was overshadowed by Young, who piled up 467 yards of total offense and rushed for three touchdowns, including a score with 19 seconds remaining and two-point conversion to put the Longhorns ahead, 41–38. [49] The Trojans lost for the first time in 35 games, and Leinart for just the second time in his 39 career starts. After graduation, Leinart's #11 jersey was retired at USC. [50]

Leinart finished his college career with 807 completions on 1,245 attempts (64.8% completion percentage) for 10,693 yards, 99 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. [51] At the time of his departure, he was USC's all-time leader in career touchdown passes and completion percentage, and was second at USC behind Carson Palmer in completions and yardage. He averaged nearly 8.6 yards per attempt, and averaged only one interception every 54 attempts. [52] He was 37–2 as a starter. [53]

College statistics

SeasonTeamGPGSPassingRushing
CmpAttPctYdsTDIntRtgAttYdsTD
2001 USC Trojans Redshirted
2002 USC Trojans 30––––––––––
2003 USC Trojans 131325540263.43,556389164.532−620
2004 USC Trojans 131326941265.33,322336156.549−443
2005 USC Trojans 131328343165.73,815288157.751366
Total 42398071,24564.810,6939923159.5132−709

Honors

2004

2005

  • Orange Bowl MVP
  • Unitas Award [59]
  • Finalist for Heisman Trophy
  • All-American Offensive Player
  • LA Sports Sportsman of the Year
  • Sporting News Sportsman of the Year

Professional career

Pre-draft

Projected to be the first overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft, Leinart's draft stock decreased after he chose to return to USC for his senior season. [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] Nonetheless, he remained one of the top prospects in the 2006 NFL Draft. Scouts considered Leinart to be the archetypal NFL quarterback in size at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 225 pounds (102 kg), although his arm strength drew concerns.

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash Vertical jump Broad jump Wonderlic
6 ft 4+7⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		223 lb
(101 kg)		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		4.90 s37 in
(0.94 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		35 [66]
All values from NFL Combine and Pro Day [67] [68]

Arizona Cardinals

Leinart at a Cardinals practice Matt Leinart.jpg
Leinart at a Cardinals practice

Leinart was selected tenth overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Leinart was the draft's second-highest selected quarterback after Vince Young, who defeated Leinart's team in the Rose Bowl. [69]

Leinart spent four seasons with the Cardinals, primarily as a backup for veteran Kurt Warner.

In his first season, after a contentious negotiation making him the last member of the draft to sign a contract, Leinart agreed to a six-year, $51 million contract on August 14. [70] Leinart played in the second quarter of the exhibition game against the New England Patriots on August 19.

Cardinals head coach Dennis Green held a press conference after a poor performance by Warner in Week 3 and announced Leinart would start. He made his debut in the fourth game of the season, throwing two touchdown passes.

In Week 6 against the 5–0 Chicago Bears, Leinart threw two touchdown passes in the first half, but the Bears came back in the second half to win 24–23.

In a November 26 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Leinart set a then-NFL rookie record with 405 passing yards, but only produced a quarterback rating of 74.0 as the team ultimately lost. He suffered a sprained left shoulder (throwing arm) in the Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers. In 11 starts, Leinart threw for 2,547 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished the season with a 4–7 record.

Leinart opened the 2007 season on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers as the starting quarterback. After a sequence of drives, the offense stalled, which led new head coach Ken Whisenhunt to begin inserting Warner as a situational quarterback. On October 7, 2007, Leinart suffered a fractured left collarbone after being sacked by St. Louis Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon. Three days later, he was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. In his first two NFL seasons, Leinart had suffered two season-ending injuries, both due to being sacked. With Warner at the helm for the remainder of the season, the Cardinals mounted a late-season surge and won five of their final eight games.[ citation needed ]

In Leinart's second season with Arizona, he started five games, completed 53.6% of his passes (60/112), and threw for 647 yards, 5.8 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. His passer rating was 61.9. He averaged 129 yards and 0.4 touchdowns per start. In the 2008 offseason, after he recovered from the injury, Leinart was handed his starting job back. Still, his hold on the job was tenuous after another strong training camp performance by Warner. Finally, after Leinart threw three interceptions within a matter of minutes versus the Oakland Raiders in the third preseason game, Warner was named the opening-day starter. Leinart picked up only a limited number of snaps in mop-up duty behind Warner. Warner started 16 games and took the Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl, cementing his status as starter and Leinart's status as a backup. For the 2008 season, he completed 15 of 29 passing attempts (51.7%), one touchdown, one interception, and an 80.2 passer rating. In 2009, Leinart continued his role as back-up for Warner, who started all but one regular season game.[ citation needed ]

In 2010, Leinart was named the presumptive starter after Warner's retirement. However, due to poor play, the starting job in training camp was given to Derek Anderson. The Cardinals released Leinart on September 4, two days after the final preseason game, in favor of Anderson and rookies Max Hall and John Skelton. [71]

Houston Texans

On September 6, 2010, the NFL announced that Leinart signed a one-year contract to back up Matt Schaub with the Houston Texans. Since Schaub played all 16 games, Leinart did not play during the 2010 season. During the 2011 offseason, despite speculation that he would sign with the Seattle Seahawks, who were coached by Leinart's college coach Pete Carroll, and compete for a starting job, [72] [73] Leinart ultimately agreed to return to Houston as a backup for the 2011 season. [74] In Week 10, Schaub injured his right foot and the Texans named Leinart their starter. Leinart started for the first time in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars; however, during the first half he fractured his collarbone and was replaced by rookie quarterback T. J. Yates. [75] At this point in his career, Leinart already suffered three season-ending injuries (2006, 2007, 2011) within his last eight starts.

On March 12, 2012, Leinart was released by the Texans. [76]

Oakland Raiders

Leinart signed with the Oakland Raiders on May 1, 2012, as a backup to his former college teammate and fellow Heisman winner Carson Palmer. [77] After Palmer suffered an injury in Week 16, Leinart and Terrelle Pryor split first-team reps. [78] Pryor ended up getting the start in Week 17 and Leinart was not re-signed by the Raiders the following offseason.

Buffalo Bills

After injuries to quarterbacks EJ Manuel (knee surgery) and Kevin Kolb (concussion), the Bills decided to sign Leinart on August 25, 2013. [79] Leinart and Thad Lewis (who was brought in on the same day through a trade) would compete for the fourth-string quarterback job behind undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel. Lewis won the competition, and Leinart was released by the team on August 30, 2013. [80]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCompAttPctYardsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2006 ARI 12114–721437756.82,5476.8111274.022492.22
2007 ARI 553–26011253.66475.82461.911423.80
2008 ARI 40–152951.72649.11180.2451.30
2009 ARI 810–1517766.24355.60364.69−6−0.70
2010 HOU 00–DNP
2011 HOU 211–0101376.9574.410110.11−1−1.00
2012 OAK 20–163348.51153.50144.4000.00
Total 33188–1036664157.14,0656.3152170.247891.92

Personal life

Leinart has a son with Brynn Cameron, a former USC women's basketball player. [81] The couple split before their son's birth. [82] [83]

His mother was Linda (née Primak) and his father is Bob Leinart.[ citation needed ]

In May 2018, Leinart married Make It or Break It and The Mentalist actress Josie Loren at the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, North Carolina. [84] In January 2020, Loren gave birth to Leinart's second son. In May 2021, Loren had his third son. [85]

As of January 2023, Leinart is an analyst on Big Noon Kickoff for Fox Sports 1. [86]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The championship was later vacated by the BCS on June 6, 2011, following the imposition of sanctions by the NCAA, including vacation of games during the 2004 season
  2. ↑ Co-winner with Reggie Bush this season
  1. ↑ Zinser, Lynn (June 6, 2011). "U.S.C. Loses Its 2004 B.C.S. National Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ Zinser, Lynn (June 10, 2010). "U.S.C. Sports Receive Harsh Penalties". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Rivals Manning, Spurrier enter College Hall of Fame together". USAToday.com. Associated Press. December 5, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Star-Bulletin, Honolulu (August 31, 2005). "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports". starbulletin.com.
  5. ↑ Player Bio: Matt Leinart :: Football Archived December 14, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Bolch, Ben (December 5, 2000). "Leinart Chosen State Player of Year". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Bolch, Ben (October 31, 2000). "Leinart, Hart Keeping Options Open". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ Bolch, Ben; Wharton, David (November 29, 2000). "USC Recruit Leinart Waits to See Who Will Be Coach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dufresne, Chris (December 16, 2000). "Timing Isn't Entirely on Carroll's Side". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ Bolch, Ben (December 16, 2000). "Recruits Seem to Be Committed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ Dufresne, Chris (October 5, 2003). "Injured Leinart Earns Big Points". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2002 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Old Trojans Palmer and Leinart, together again". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. August 1, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Cassel to meet old rival". Lewiston Sun Journal. Associated Press. August 17, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Moore, David Leon (August 2, 2007). "Booty carrying on USC's quarterback tradition". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ Miller, Ted (July 24, 2008). "Once anointed as USC QB, Sanchez asserted himself". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "USC at Auburn Box Score, August 30, 2003". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  18. ↑ Faraudo, Jeff (September 29, 2009). "Cal's triple-overtime thriller against USC in 2003 produced multiple heroes". East Bay Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  19. ↑ "2003 USC Trojans Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  20. ↑ "USC at Arizona State Box Score, October 4, 2003". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  21. ↑ Klein, Gary (October 7, 2003). "Leinart Has Ankle and Knee Injuries". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ "USC Trojans 2003 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ "2003 College Football Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ex-USC Heisman Quarterback Matt Leinart Named To Rose Bowl Hall Of Fame". USC Athletics. September 17, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Rose Bowl – Michigan at USC Box Score, January 1, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Matt Leinart 2003 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  27. ↑ "2003 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Eddie Casey, Cornelius Greene, Matt Leinart and Jacque Robinson to be Inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2019". Tournament of Roses – Rose Bowl Game. September 17, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  30. ↑ "USC Trojans 2004 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  31. ↑ "USC at Stanford Box Score, September 25, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  32. ↑ "USC at UCLA Box Score, December 4, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Trophy hunt — Candidates abound in Heisman race". Deseret News. Associated Press. November 10, 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  34. ↑ "2004 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Heisman Memorial Trophy Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Trojans Defeat Oklahoma in Orange Bowl". University of Oklahoma. January 4, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Orange Bowl – USC vs Oklahoma Box Score, January 4, 2005". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  38. ↑ Thamel, Pete (January 5, 2005). "Trojans in No Mood to Share". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  39. ↑ Murphy, Austin (January 10, 2005). "Leinart, USC destroys Oklahoma to win national title". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  40. ↑ "USC Trojans College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  41. ↑ "2004 College Football Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  42. ↑ "USC crushes Oklahoma in title game, 55–19". East Valley Tribune. January 4, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Appeals Exhausted, USC Finally Stripped of 2004 BCS National Title". College and Magnolia. June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Report: USC won't lose 2004 AP championship". ESPN.com. June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Junior Free Safety Darrell Brooks Named Second Team All-Pac-10". University of Arizona Athletics. November 30, 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  46. ↑ "USC Trojans 2005 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  47. ↑ Heyman, Brian (December 10, 2005). "USC's Bush leaves Heisman field in his wake". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  48. ↑ "2005 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Rose Bowl – Texas at USC Box Score, January 4, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  50. ↑ Jennings, Chantel (June 3, 2015). "Numbers you don't mess with in the Pac-12". ESPN.com . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Matt Leinart College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  52. ↑ "USC Trojans Passing Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Leinart not ready to give up his dream". Orange County Register. August 12, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  55. ↑ "AP Player of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Manning Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  57. ↑ "Tuberville Receives Victor Award for College Football Coach of the Year". Auburn University Athletics. July 16, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Consensus All-America Teams (2000–2009)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  60. ↑ Goulding II, Patrick (January 5, 2011). "Matt Leinart to San Francisco 49ers: A Chance To Right a Draft Day Gone Wrong?". Bleacher Report . Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  61. ↑ Schlabach, Mark (January 15, 2005). "QB Leinart Opts to Return To USC". The Washington Post . Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  62. ↑ Klein, Gary (January 15, 2005). "Surprise! Leinart is Staying". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  63. ↑ Reilly, Rick (October 24, 2005). "Leinart's Last Dance". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  64. ↑ Rovell, Darren (April 29, 2006). "Leinart won't make $24 mil signing bonus as 10th pick". ESPN . Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  65. ↑ "Quarterback Draft Slides". Forbes . April 29, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Historical NFL Wonderlic Scores". wonderlictestsample.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  67. ↑ "Matt Leinart, Southern California, QB, 2006 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  68. ↑ "Matt Leinart, Combine Results, QB – Southern California". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  69. ↑ "2006 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  70. ↑ "Leinart finally agrees to deal". FOX Sports. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on August 24, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  71. ↑ "Cardinals decide to release quarterback Leinart". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 4, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  72. ↑ Mortensen, Chris; Schefter, Adam; Clayton, John; Sando, Mike (July 27, 2011). "Matt Hasselbeck leaving Seattle Seahawks; Tarvaris Jackson agrees to deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  73. ↑ Floyd, Brian (July 26, 2011). "NFL Free Agency: Matt Leinart Still An Option For Seattle Seahawks – SB Nation Seattle". SBNation.com. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  74. ↑ Oshan, Jeremiah (July 27, 2011). "Matt Leinart Signs With Texans, After Reportedly Signing With Seahawks". SBNation.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  75. ↑ Smits, Garry (November 27, 2011). "Texans shrug off adversity of Matt Leinart injury in victory". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  76. ↑ Clayton, John (March 12, 2012). "Texans' Leinart, Winston say they've been cut". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  77. ↑ "Raiders sign QB Leinart to back up Palmer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  78. ↑ Copeland, Kareem (December 26, 2012). "Oakland Raiders' Terrelle Pryor, Matt Leinart split reps". NFL.com . Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  79. ↑ Pelissero, Tom (August 25, 2013). "Bills sign QB Matt Leinart, trade for Thaddeus Lewis". USA Today . Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  80. ↑ Sessler, Marc (August 30, 2013). "Matt Leinart released by Buffalo Bills after five days". NFL.com . Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  81. ↑ Ingrassia, Lisa (October 25, 2006). "Matt Leinart, Brynn Cameron Have a Son". People. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  82. ↑ "Update: Matt Leinart and Brynn Cameron reach custody deal". People Magazine. August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  83. ↑ Witz, Billy (March 12, 2009). "U.S.C.'s Cameron Balances Basketball and Motherhood". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  84. ↑ Rodriguez, Karla (May 28, 2018). "Former NFL Quarterback Matt Leinart Marries Actress Josie Loren". Us Weekly . Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  85. ↑ Gissen, Lillie (March 30, 2020). "Investigating:'Make It Or Break It' Cast: Where Are They Now?". J-14 . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  86. ↑ "Matt Leinart: College Football Studio Analyst". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 11, 2023.

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Reginald Alfred Bush III is an American former football running back who was an on-air college football analyst for Fox Sports. He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors twice and winning the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding player in the nation. Bush is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all-time. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. While with the Saints, Bush was named an All-Pro punt returner in 2008 and won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 over the Indianapolis Colts. He also played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers before retiring from professional football in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Peete</span> American football player (born 1966)

Rodney Peete is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning first-team All-American honors in 1988. Peete was selected in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and Carolina Panthers

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Cassel</span> American football player (born 1982)

Matthew Brennan Cassel is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. A member of seven NFL teams, Cassel's most notable stints were with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at USC and was selected by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Since retiring, Cassel has served as a television football analyst on NBC Sports Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USC Trojans football</span> American college football team at University of Southern California

The USC Trojans football program represents University of Southern California in the sport of American football. The Trojans compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Young</span> American gridiron football player (born 1983)

Vincent Paul Young Jr. is an American former football quarterback who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Young was selected by the Tennessee Titans as the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft, and he was also selected to be the Madden NFL 08 cover athlete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Chow</span> American football player and coach (born 1946)

Norman Yew Heen Chow is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Helvetic Guards in the European League of Football (ELF). He was the head football coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a position he held from December 2011 until November 2015 and previously held the offensive coordinator position for the Utah Utes, UCLA Bruins, the NFL's Tennessee Titans, USC Trojans, NC State Wolfpack, and BYU Cougars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Smith</span> American gridiron football player (born 1984)

Troy James Smith is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the Heisman Trophy in 2006. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and also played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL), and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul McDonald (American football)</span> American football player (born 1958)

Paul Brian McDonald is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning second-team All-American honors in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Jarrett</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Dwayne Jarrett is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for four seasons with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning recognition as a All-American twice. Carolina selected him in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Rose Bowl</span> 2006 edition of the Rose Bowl American Football championship

The 2006 Rose Bowl Game, played on January 4, 2006, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, was an American college football bowl game that served as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the only two unbeaten teams of the season: the defending Rose Bowl champion and reigning Big 12 Conference champion Texas Longhorns played Pacific-10 Conference titleholders and two-time defending AP national champions, the USC Trojans. Texas would defeat USC 41–38 to capture its fourth football championship in program history and first consensus national title since 1969. The game was a back-and-forth contest; Texas's victory was not secured until the game's final nineteen seconds. Vince Young, the Texas quarterback, and Michael Huff, a Texas safety, were named the offensive and defensive Rose Bowl Players of the Game. ESPN named Young's fourth-down, game-winning touchdown run the fifth-highest rated play in college football history. The game is the highest-rated BCS game in TV history with 21.7% of households watching it, and is often considered the greatest Rose Bowl game of all time, as well as the greatest college football game ever played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John David Booty</span> American football player (born 1985)

John David Booty is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft.

The 2005 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, winning the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and playing for the NCAA Division I-A national championship. The team was coached by Pete Carroll, led on offense by quarterback and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The 2006 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season, winning the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) and playing in the Rose Bowl. The team was coached by Pete Carroll, led on offense by quarterback John David Booty, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Miami Hurricanes football team</span> American college football season

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Miami Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. They finished the season 12–0 overall and 7–0 in the Big East to finish as conference champion. They were invited to the Rose Bowl, which served as the BCS National Championship Game, and defeated Nebraska, 37–14, to win the school's fifth national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason White (American football)</span> American college football player (born 1980)

Jason White is an American former college football quarterback who played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was named a unanimous All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 2003.

The 2007 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl. The team was coached by Pete Carroll and played its home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 2004 Trojans football team won the 2004 BCS National Championship by winning the 2005 Orange Bowl, that year's BCS National Championship Game. The team also won the AP title for the second year in a row. It was the Trojans' first unanimous national championship since 1972, and the second time a team had gone wire-to-wire, with the Trojans holding the number 1 spot in the polls all season. The team was coached by Pete Carroll in his fourth year with the Trojans, and played their home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The team is widely considered one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Barkley</span> American football player (born 1990)

Matthew Montgomery Barkley is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the USC Trojans, setting set the Pac-12 Conference season record for touchdown passes as a junior. Due to suffering a shoulder injury in his senior season, he was not selected until the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley has been a member of 11 different teams, mostly as a backup. His most notable stint was with the Chicago Bears, where he served as the team's starter in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Kessler</span> American football player (born 1993)

Cody David Kessler is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Williams</span> American football player (born 2001)

Caleb Sequan Williams is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and USC Trojans and was selected first overall by the Bears in the 2024 NFL draft. Williams won the Heisman Trophy and several other awards with USC in 2022 after throwing for over 4,500 yards with 52 total touchdowns, the latter being a single-season school record.

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