Steve Beuerlein
Encyclopedia
Stephen Taylor "Steve" Beuerlein (born March 7, 1965) is a former football
quarterback
, and currently is an NFL and college football analyst for CBS
.
's Servite High School
to California
's championship in 1982. In 1982 his Servite team played Ohio's famed Archbishop Moeller High School. Moeller won 27-15, but Beuerlein's performance at Servite, and in the game with Moeller, caught the eye of Notre Dame's new head coach Gerry Faust
, who had previously coached Moeller. Beuerlein attended Notre Dame the following year.
In a 1986 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Beuerlein was on the receiving end of one of the more notable sacks in college football history. Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett
, who would go on to a Pro Bowl
NFL career, knocked Beuerlein unconscious with a hit that was featured by sports artist Daniel Moore
in the painting "The Sack." Even after his NFL career ended, Beuerlein would claim that "The Sack" was the hardest he'd ever been hit. He graduated with a degree in American Studies
.
, but suffered a season ending injury in pre-season play. He made his NFL debut the following year, splitting quarterback duties with Jay Schroeder
for the next two years. The Raiders finished third in the AFC West
division both years.
Beuerlein's limited playoff experience came with the Dallas Cowboys
, after being traded to them 1991, in relief of an injured Troy Aikman
. He started in a win against the Chicago Bears
, throwing 180 yards, and a touchdown, with no interceptions. The following week, he started but was relieved by Aikman after the Detroit Lions
jumped too far ahead for the Cowboys. On his last play as a Cowboy, Beuerlein fumbled the ball on a botched handoff to Derrick Gainer, in Beuerlein's second play of the game. The Cowboys would go on to win 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII
.
He would play with the Arizona Cardinals
in 1993, passing for his first of three 3000 yard season.
In 1995 he was the first selection in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
by the Jacksonville Jaguars
. He was the starting quarterback for the first game in team history. He would later lose his starting job to Mark Brunell
.
In 1996 he was acquired by the Carolina Panthers
, where he remained for the next five years. Beuerlein holds many Panthers passing records. Many of these include single-season records set during 1999, probably his most successful year in the NFL, for passing yards (4,436), touchdowns (36), attempts (571), and completions (343). He made the Pro Bowl
that year as well, the only time in his career.
He holds three of the top four single-game passing yard totals in Carolina team history (373, 368, and 364). His 5 touchdown passes in the last week of the 1999 season are still a team record.
He set career records with the Panthers included most attempts (1,723), completions (1,041), passing yards (12,690), passing touchdowns (86), highest completion percentage (60.4%), and highest passer rating (87.7). They have all since been broken by former Panthers starting quarterback Jake Delhomme
.
His 36 touchdown passes was second only to Kurt Warner
in the NFL in 1999, and , is tied for the ninth highest single-season total in league history. His 4,436 passing yards led the league, as did his 343 completions.
Beuerlein finished his career with the Denver Broncos in 2002 and 2003, playing in twelve games over two years mostly as a backup. However, before retiring in 2004, he signed a token one-year deal with Carolina, saying he wanted to retire as a Panther.
as a game analyst
for The NFL on CBS. He made a notable gaffe during a November 25, 2007 telecast of a game between the Tennessee Titans
and Cincinnati Bengals
: After the Titans' LenDale White
and Bengals' Marvin White
had an altercation that resulted in offsetting personal fouls, the Bengals called a brief timeout resulting in a commercial break. Beuerlein did not realize the break was a short one, and once the game resumed was overheard saying "USC thugs, man" over the air. This was explained as a joke which was not intended for airing. LenDale White is a former player for Beuerlein's college rival, the University of Southern California
. He also occasionally works on college football games for CBS.
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...
, and currently is an NFL and college football analyst for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
Education
Beuerlein led Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
's Servite High School
Servite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's championship in 1982. In 1982 his Servite team played Ohio's famed Archbishop Moeller High School. Moeller won 27-15, but Beuerlein's performance at Servite, and in the game with Moeller, caught the eye of Notre Dame's new head coach Gerry Faust
Gerry Faust
Gerard Anthony "Gerry" Faust is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1981 to 1985 and at the University of Akron from 1986 to 1994, compiling a career college football record of 73–79–4...
, who had previously coached Moeller. Beuerlein attended Notre Dame the following year.
In a 1986 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Beuerlein was on the receiving end of one of the more notable sacks in college football history. Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...
, who would go on to a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
NFL career, knocked Beuerlein unconscious with a hit that was featured by sports artist Daniel Moore
Daniel Moore
Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore is a U.S. poet, essayist and librettist. In 1970 he embraced the Sufic tradition of Islam and changed his name to Abdal-Hayy...
in the painting "The Sack." Even after his NFL career ended, Beuerlein would claim that "The Sack" was the hardest he'd ever been hit. He graduated with a degree in American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
.
NFL career
Beuerlein was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft1987 NFL Draft
The 1987 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987...
, but suffered a season ending injury in pre-season play. He made his NFL debut the following year, splitting quarterback duties with Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder
Jay Brian Schroeder is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Los Angeles Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals .He attended Palisades High School and was a high school football teammate of actor...
for the next two years. The Raiders finished third in the AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
division both years.
Beuerlein's limited playoff experience came with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, after being traded to them 1991, in relief of an injured Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
. He started in a win against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, throwing 180 yards, and a touchdown, with no interceptions. The following week, he started but was relieved by Aikman after the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
jumped too far ahead for the Cowboys. On his last play as a Cowboy, Beuerlein fumbled the ball on a botched handoff to Derrick Gainer, in Beuerlein's second play of the game. The Cowboys would go on to win 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
.
He would play with the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1993, passing for his first of three 3000 yard season.
In 1995 he was the first selection in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft
1995 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1995 National Football League Expansion Draft was held on February 15, 1995. The two new expansion teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars alternated picks from lists of unprotected players from existing franchises. Existing NFL teams made six players available, and the new...
by the 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...
. He was the starting quarterback for the first game in team history. He would later lose his starting job to Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
.
In 1996 he was acquired by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, where he remained for the next five years. Beuerlein holds many Panthers passing records. Many of these include single-season records set during 1999, probably his most successful year in the NFL, for passing yards (4,436), touchdowns (36), attempts (571), and completions (343). He made the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
that year as well, the only time in his career.
He holds three of the top four single-game passing yard totals in Carolina team history (373, 368, and 364). His 5 touchdown passes in the last week of the 1999 season are still a team record.
He set career records with the Panthers included most attempts (1,723), completions (1,041), passing yards (12,690), passing touchdowns (86), highest completion percentage (60.4%), and highest passer rating (87.7). They have all since been broken by former Panthers starting quarterback Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
.
His 36 touchdown passes was second only to Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
in the NFL in 1999, and , is tied for the ninth highest single-season total in league history. His 4,436 passing yards led the league, as did his 343 completions.
Beuerlein finished his career with the Denver Broncos in 2002 and 2003, playing in twelve games over two years mostly as a backup. However, before retiring in 2004, he signed a token one-year deal with Carolina, saying he wanted to retire as a Panther.
Fitness Equipment and Solutions
In 2003, Beurlein partnered with fitness solutions provider Wilkins Fitness Enterprises in North Carolina, the largest distributor of fitness equipment, accessories, flooring and solutions in the Carolina's. With their recent national expansion in 2010, Wilkins Fitness Enterprises became the largest fitness company in the United States representing over 300 companies products and working a range of customers including gyms, YMCAs, corporations, multi-family, apartments police and fire stations, resorts, hospitals, rehab centers, schools, universities, truck stops, military, senior assisted living, and professional sports teams. Their chairman, Ron Wilkins, was recently named as Chair of the Fitness Industry Dealer Association.Football analyst
In 2004, Beuerlein joined CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
as a game analyst
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for The NFL on CBS. He made a notable gaffe during a November 25, 2007 telecast of a game between the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
: After the Titans' LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
and Bengals' Marvin White
Marvin White
Marvin L. White is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
had an altercation that resulted in offsetting personal fouls, the Bengals called a brief timeout resulting in a commercial break. Beuerlein did not realize the break was a short one, and once the game resumed was overheard saying "USC thugs, man" over the air. This was explained as a joke which was not intended for airing. LenDale White is a former player for Beuerlein's college rival, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He also occasionally works on college football games for CBS.
External links
- Pro Football Reference.com - career statistics
- - footage of Beuerlein getting sacked by Cornelius BennettCornelius BennettCornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...
on 10-4-1986 (on YouTube)