Kurt Kittner

TD-INT:	2-6
Passing yards:	391
Passer rating:	32.5

Kurt Kittner
No. 15
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	January 23, 1980 (age 44); Schaumburg, Illinois, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Schaumburg (IL)
College:	Illinois
NFL draft:	2002 / Round: 5 / Pick: 151
Career history
	Atlanta Falcons (2002–2003); Cincinnati Bengals (2004); New York Giants (2004); New England Patriots (2004); Pittsburgh Steelers (2004); Chicago Bears (2005); 2005);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	World Bowl XIII MVP (2005); World Bowl XIII champion; Second-team All-Big Ten (2001);
Career NFL statistics
TD-INT:
TD-INT:	2-6
Passing yards:	391
Passer rating:	32.5
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Kurt Kittner (born January 23, 1980) is a former

University of Illinois during their 2001 Big Ten

Championship.

Biography

High school career

Kittner was quarterback for Schaumburg High School under then-coach Tom Cerasani.

College career

Becoming a starter near the end of his freshman year at Illinois under head coach

Heisman candidate. Kittner and receiver Brandon Lloyd led Illinois' offense as the Fighting Illini finished with a 7–1 record in the Big Ten and won their first Big Ten championship in 11 years on their way to a berth in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. Kittner's last collegiate game ended in a 47–34 loss against the LSU Tigers

.

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

Kittner was drafted in the fifth round of the

2001 first overall pick, Michael Vick. In 2003, after a preseason injury sidelined Vick and ineffective play caused second-string quarterback Doug Johnson to be benched, Kittner saw his first regular season action. Playing in seven games (four of which he started), he threw for 391 yards, scoring 2 touchdowns and throwing 6 interceptions. The highlight was a 27–7 win over the New York Giants at Giants Stadium

where Kittner threw for a touchdown. The Falcons ended the season however with a 5–11 record.

Turbulent times

Since then, Kittner has not seen any further playing time in the NFL, having been released from 5 different teams (the Falcons,

Most Valuable Player honors for the game. He is the second graduate of Schaumburg High School to earn the honor; Paul Justin won the award 10 years earlier for the Frankfurt Galaxy

.

Chicago Bears

In 2005, Kittner was invited to training camp with the Chicago Bears and coach Turner, then offensive coordinator for Chicago. He earned a roster spot as the third-string quarterback. After starter Rex Grossman was injured in camp, journeyman Jeff Blake was brought in to back up rookie starter Kyle Orton, leaving Kittner at third string. When Grossman returned from injury on November 23, 2005, Kittner was released without playing a regular season down for the Bears.

Life after football

Kittner currently resides in Chicago with his wife Leila Cehajic, a former University of Illinois tennis player. He works for Jones Lang LaSalle in Chicago doing commercial real estate. In July 2007, Kittner was named the color analyst for University of Illinois football radio broadcasts, replacing long-time analyst Jim Grabowski.

References

^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.

"Kittner guides Admirals to first World Bowl title". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2005. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
"Illinois Career Passing Leaders". Fighting Illini Official Site. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
Kiper Jr., Mel (2001). "Top 15 Heisman candidates". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
Pasquarelli, Len (2004). "Kittner cut for fifth time in seven months". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 29, 2005.

External links

Kittner at Pro-Football-Reference.com

[1] "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.