Jay Fiedler
Encyclopedia
Jay Brian Fiedler is a former American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
.
in Oceanside, New York
. He is a distant relative of Arthur Fiedler
, the long-time conductor
of the Boston Pops Orchestra
.
Fiedler attended Oceanside High School
in Oceanside
, and won varsity letters as a quarterback in football, a point guard
in basketball, and as a decathlete in track and field. He was influenced greatly by football coach Frank Luisi, who is also an English teacher at Oceanside High School. Fiedler told ESPN
Magazine that his hero growing up was "my coach at Oceanside High School
, Frank Luisi," who "would do anything for us. Coach kept me focused. He still calls after every game."
, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity and Dragon Senior Society
.
Fiedler led Dartmouth to a 22–7–1 record from 1991–93, Ivy titles in 1991 (6–0–1) and 1992 (6–1–0), and second place in 1993. He was the Ivy player-of-the-year, All-Ivy League first team, and third team All-America in 1992. In 1993 he engineered comeback victories in four of the Green's last five games, and repeated as All-Ivy League first team quarterback. During three seasons, Fiedler set Dartmouth records for touchdown passes (58), passing yards (6,684) and total offense (7,249 yards).
Fiedler was named Co-Offensive Player of the Game in the 1994 East-West Shrine Game
. He received a Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award for sportsmanship
, and received his degree
in Mechanical Engineering
.
(1994–95), Minnesota Vikings
(1998), and Jacksonville Jaguars
(1999) before finding steady work with the Dolphins (2000–04) beginning in 2000. In between his time with the Eagles and Vikings, Fiedler served as a receivers coach at Hofstra University
in 1997 before being signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1998.
Fiedler's stint with the Miami Dolphins
featured three 10+ win seasons in four years, two 11–5 seasons in 2000 and 2001, an AFC East title, and two postseason appearances including a victory for the Miami Dolphins. During these years, the Dolphins' offense lagged notably behind its defense, which featured perennial Pro-Bowlers in linebacker Zach Thomas
, defensive end Jason Taylor
, and cornerbacks Sam Madison
and Patrick Surtain
.
Although Fiedler's team was mediocre, he managed a respectable regular season performance with a respectable record in post-season play while with the Dolphins.
Fiedler signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2005, as a backup quarterback to Chad Pennington
. He suffered an injury on his right shoulder in a game on September 25 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and as a result missed the rest of the season. Ironically, Pennington's injury earlier in that game would also turn out to be season-ending, despite the fact that Pennington came back into the game to relieve Fiedler.
Fiedler was released by the Jets on February 22, 2006, and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
who released him in August of that year due to injury as Fiedler had a nagging shoulder issue and was unable to practice. Fiedler sat out 2006 rehabilitating his throwing shoulder following his release from Tampa Bay.
Fiedler was set to work out for the Falcons in April 2007, according to his agent Bryan Levy. In addition, the Giants considered signing him but eventually signed Anthony Wright
instead.
Fiedler played in 76 games with 60 starts and is a 58.7 percent career passer. He has thrown 69 touchdowns and 66 interceptions.
.
Fiedler, who is Jewish, was inducted into the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame
in 2002. At the time of his induction, Fiedler mentioned how strong he is in his faith. Fiedler was one of two active NFL players inducted into the Hall that year, the other being then-Pittsburgh Steelers
punter Josh Miller
. ESPN
personality Chris Berman would also occasionally allude to Fiedler's faith by referring to him as Fiedler on the Roof
after performing well in games, even going far as to start singing If I Were a Rich Man
during highlights.
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...
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...
.
Early life and high school years
Fiedler was born to a Jewish family on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in Oceanside, New York
Oceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. He is a distant relative of Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
, the long-time conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
.
Fiedler attended Oceanside High School
Oceanside High School
-Campus:Oceanside High School rests between the beach and Interstate 5. The remodeled campus includes many palm trees and new sport fields. There is a three-story Science & technology building and Senior Hall...
in Oceanside
Oceanside
-Places:*Oceanside, New South Wales, Australia*Oceanside, British Columbia, Canada*Oceanside, California, United States*Oceanside, New York, United States*Oceanside, Oregon, United States-Other:...
, and won varsity letters as a quarterback in football, a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
in basketball, and as a decathlete in track and field. He was influenced greatly by football coach Frank Luisi, who is also an English teacher at Oceanside High School. Fiedler told ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Magazine that his hero growing up was "my coach at Oceanside High School
Oceanside School District
Oceanside School District is a school district in Oceanside, New York. There are 854 full-time employees, of which 440 are teachers.-Schools:* Florence A. Smith Elementary School* Oaks Elementary School* South Oceanside Road Elementary School...
, Frank Luisi," who "would do anything for us. Coach kept me focused. He still calls after every game."
College career
He is an alumnus of Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity and Dragon Senior Society
Dragon Society
The Dragon Society or Society of Dragons is a secret society of senior men at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The group's membership and organizational structure are unknown...
.
Fiedler led Dartmouth to a 22–7–1 record from 1991–93, Ivy titles in 1991 (6–0–1) and 1992 (6–1–0), and second place in 1993. He was the Ivy player-of-the-year, All-Ivy League first team, and third team All-America in 1992. In 1993 he engineered comeback victories in four of the Green's last five games, and repeated as All-Ivy League first team quarterback. During three seasons, Fiedler set Dartmouth records for touchdown passes (58), passing yards (6,684) and total offense (7,249 yards).
Fiedler was named Co-Offensive Player of the Game in the 1994 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
. He received a Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, the Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award for sportsmanship
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
, and received his degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
.
Professional career
Fiedler had stints with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia 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...
(1994–95), Minnesota Vikings
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...
(1998), and Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1999) before finding steady work with the Dolphins (2000–04) beginning in 2000. In between his time with the Eagles and Vikings, Fiedler served as a receivers coach at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in 1997 before being signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1998.
Fiedler's stint with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
featured three 10+ win seasons in four years, two 11–5 seasons in 2000 and 2001, an AFC East title, and two postseason appearances including a victory for the Miami Dolphins. During these years, the Dolphins' offense lagged notably behind its defense, which featured perennial Pro-Bowlers in linebacker Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas
Zachary Michael Thomas is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech....
, defensive end Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor (American football)
Jason Paul Taylor is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft...
, and cornerbacks Sam Madison
Sam Madison
Samuel Adolfus Madison, Jr. is an American football cornerback who is retired. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville....
and Patrick Surtain
Patrick Surtain
Patrick Frank Surtain is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
.
Although Fiedler's team was mediocre, he managed a respectable regular season performance with a respectable record in post-season play while with the Dolphins.
Fiedler signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2005, as a backup quarterback to Chad Pennington
Chad Pennington
James Chadwick "Chad" Pennington is an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for ten years. He is currently a football analyst with FOX Sports though he plans to return to playing after recovering from an injury...
. He suffered an injury on his right shoulder in a game on September 25 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and as a result missed the rest of the season. Ironically, Pennington's injury earlier in that game would also turn out to be season-ending, despite the fact that Pennington came back into the game to relieve Fiedler.
Fiedler was released by the Jets on February 22, 2006, and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
who released him in August of that year due to injury as Fiedler had a nagging shoulder issue and was unable to practice. Fiedler sat out 2006 rehabilitating his throwing shoulder following his release from Tampa Bay.
Fiedler was set to work out for the Falcons in April 2007, according to his agent Bryan Levy. In addition, the Giants considered signing him but eventually signed Anthony Wright
Anthony Wright (quarterback)
Anthony Lavron Wright is a retired American football quarterback. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1999...
instead.
Fiedler played in 76 games with 60 starts and is a 58.7 percent career passer. He has thrown 69 touchdowns and 66 interceptions.
Outside of the NFL
In 2007, Fiedler and Demetrius Ford became co-owners of the CBA basketball expansion team, The East Kentucky Miners, based in Pikeville, KentuckyPikeville, Kentucky
Pikeville is a city in Pike County, Kentucky. The population was 6,903 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pike County.-History:On March 25, 1822, the county's government officials decided to build a new county seat named Liberty, one and one-half mile below the mouth of the Russell Fork...
.
Fiedler, who is Jewish, was inducted into the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame
National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame
The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, in Commack, New York, is dedicated to honoring American Jewish sports figures who have distinguished themselves in sports....
in 2002. At the time of his induction, Fiedler mentioned how strong he is in his faith. Fiedler was one of two active NFL players inducted into the Hall that year, the other being then-Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
punter Josh Miller
Josh Miller
Josh Miller is a former American football punter and current football analyst.He was signed by the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League as an undrafted free agent in 1994...
. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
personality Chris Berman would also occasionally allude to Fiedler's faith by referring to him as Fiedler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
after performing well in games, even going far as to start singing If I Were a Rich Man
If I Were a Rich Man (song)
"If I Were a Rich Man" is a song from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof. It was written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock. The song is performed by Tevye, the main character in the musical, and reflects his dreams of glory....
during highlights.