John Friesz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search John Friesz ' Position(s): Quarterback Jersey #(s): 17 Born: May 19, 1967 (1967-05-19) (age 41) Missoula, Montana Career information Year(s): 1990–2000 NFL Draft: 1990 / Round: 6 / Pick: 138 College: Idaho Professional teams San Diego Chargers (1990-1993) Washington Redskins (1994) Seattle Seahawks (1995-1998) New England Patriots (1999-2000) Career stats TD-INT 45-42 Yards 8,699 QB Rating 72.3 Stats at NFL.com Career highlights and awards No notable achievements College Football Hall of Fame John Melvin Friesz (born May 19, 1967 in Missoula, Montana) is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots.




Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Professional career 4 References 5 External links Early life Friesz grew up in Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. He was a football standout at Coeur d'Alene High School, graduating in 1985. He enrolled at the University of Idaho, recruited by head coach Dennis Erickson, after attending the Vandal football camps while in high school. [edit] College career Friesz redshirted in 1985, and in 1986 under new head coach Keith Gilbertson, he served as the backup to Scott Linehan, who would go on to coach the St. Louis Rams. He was also a teammate of guard Mark Schlereth who would also play in the NFL. Friesz was the Vandals starting quarterback for three years, beginning in 1987, when he threw 28 touchdown passes as a sophomore and was named player of the year in the Big Sky Conference and second team All-American (Division I-AA). In his junior season of 1988, he guided the Vandals to a 9-1 regular season and two playoff wins, ending the season with a road loss in the Division I-AA semi-finals. He was a consensus All-American selection at quarterback. In his senior season in 1989 (the first for new head coach John L. Smith), Freisz threw 31 touchdowns and for over 4,000 yards in guiding the Vandals to their third consecutive conference championship. Idaho went undefeated in conference play (8-0), the only time in school history. Friesz averaged over 360 yards per game and passed for over 300 yards in ten consecutive games. He received the Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in the nation in Division I-AA. In his college career, #17 passed for over 10,000 yards and was the conference player-of-the-year for three consecutive years. The Vandals' annual MVP award has been renamed the John Friesz Award in his honor. In August 2006 John Friesz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.[1] His #17 was officially retired by the University of Idaho in October 2006.[2] [edit] Professional career In the 1990 NFL Draft, Friesz was the tenth quarterback selected, taken in the sixth round (138th overall) by the San Diego Chargers.[3] Other quarterbacks in this draft were Jeff George (#1 overall pick), Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware, future Super Bowl starter Neil O'Donnell, and Scott Mitchell. Friesz became the starting quarterback for the Chargers in 1991, his second season. He incurred a season-ending injury in a pre-season

game in 1992, at which time the Chargers acquired Stan Humphries from the Washington Redskins. Friesz passed for over 8,600 yards and 45 touchdowns in his professional career.[4] [edit] References ^ http://collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=90103 ^ http://www.uiargonaut.com/content/view/2691/50/ ^ http://nfl.com/draft/history/years/1990 ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/FrieJo00.htm [edit] External links College Football Hall of Fame - John Friesz University of Idaho - Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame - John Friesz College Football Data Warehouse - Idaho Vandals results 1985-89 College Football Hall of Fame - Class of 2006 press release - from I-AA.org Pro Football Reference.com - John Friesz Database Football.com - John Friesz Pro football statistics - John Friesz NFL.com - 1990 NFL Draft - # 138 Blog - from Spokesman Review.com Friesz resonates on the field - UI Argonaut, 10-Nov-2006 Preceded by Babe Laufenberg San Diego Chargers Starting Quarterbacks 1990-1992 Succeeded by Stan Humphries Preceded by Mark Rypien (Cary Conklin, Rich Gannon) Washington Redskins Starting Quarterbacks 1993 Succeeded by Gus Frerotte Preceded by Rick Mirer Seattle Seahawks Starting Quarterbacks 1995-1998 Succeeded by Warren Moon Preceded by Dave Meggett Walter Payton Award Winner 1989 Succeeded by Walter Dean [show]v • d • eWalter Payton Award winners 1987: K. Gamble | 1988: D. Meggett | 1989: J. Friesz | 1990: W. Dean | 1991: J. Martin | 1992: M. Payton | 1993: D. Nussmeier | 1994: S. McNair | 1995: D. Dickenson | 1996: A. Amerson | 1997: B. Finneran | 1998: J. Azumah | 1999: A. Peterson | 2000: L. Ivory | 2001: B. Westbrook | 2002: T. Romo | 2003: J. Branch | 2004: L. Campbell | 2005: E. Meyer | 2006: R. Santos | 2007: J. Foster | 2008: A. Edwards [show]v • d • eSan Diego Chargers starting quarterbacks Kemp • Hadl • Wood • Rote • Tensi • Unitas • Fouts • Carter • Harris • Laufenberg • Malone • McMahon • Tolliver • Friesz • Humphries • Salisbury • Whelihan • Everett • Leaf • Harbaugh • Kramer • Flutie • Brees • Rivers [show]v • d • eBoston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins Starting Quarterbacks Baugh • Filchock • Jacobs • Youel • Mont • Gilmer • LeBaron • Dorow • Guglielmi • Scarbath • Snead • Jurgensen • Shiner • Ninowski • Kilmer • R. Johnson • Theismann • Kruczek • Schroeder • Rubbert • Williams • Rypien • Humphries • Rutledge • Conklin • Gannon • Friesz • Shuler • Frerotte • Hostetler • Green • B. Johnson • George • Banks • Matthews • Wuerffel • Ramsey • Hasselbeck • Brunell • Campbell • Collins [show]v • d • eSeattle Seahawks starting quarterbacks Zorn • Krieg • Kemp • Gelbaugh • Mirer • Friesz • Moon • Kitna • Foley • Huard • Dilfer • Hasselbeck • Wallace • Frye Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Friesz" Categories: American football quarterbacks | San Diego Chargers players | San Diego Chargers quarterbacks | Washington Redskins players | Washington Redskins quarterbacks | Seattle Seahawks players | New England Patriots players | Idaho Vandals football players | University of Idaho alumni | College Football Hall of Fame inductees | People from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho | People from Idaho | People from Missoula, Montana | 1967 births | Living people