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Jon K. Kitna (born September 21, 1972 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Central Washington.

Kitna has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions.

College career

He attended Central Washington University and was quarterback for the Wildcats from 1992-1995. In 1995 the Wildcats won the NAIA National Football Championship with Kitna as their quarterback.

Professional career

Barcelona Dragons

Kitna was named the World's Most Valuable Player in NFL Europe when he led the Barcelona Dragons to the 1997 World Bowl Championship (World Bowl V), winning 38–24 over the Rhein Fire.^[1]

Seattle Seahawks

Kitna was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. He served as a backup to Warren Moon in 1997 and 1998, but started the final five games of the 1998 season. Then, in 1999, he started 15 games for the Seahawks, leading them to a 9–7 record (Kitna going 8–7 in games started) and winning the AFC Western Division Championship. Seattle would lose a Wild Card Game to the Miami Dolphins which is noteworthy as the final game played in the Kingdome.

In 2000, Kitna opened the season with a 4 INT performance against the Miami Dolphins which opened the door for Coach Mike Holmgren to start Brock Huard. During that season Kitna and Huard rotated as starting QBs due to injury and benchings. His last win for the Seahawks came on a rain soaked Husky Stadium turf in December of that year beating the AFC Championship Game bound Oakland Raiders on a TD pass to then rookie Darrell Jackson in the final minute of play.^[2]

Cincinnati Bengals

In 2001, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals.^[3]

In 2003, Kitna played every down, and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after throwing for over 3,500 yards and 26 touchdown passes in leading the Bengals to a respectable 8–8 record, the team's first non-losing season since 1996.

Jon Kitna's secondary role with the team was to prepare young quarterback Carson Palmer (the Bengals' #1 draft pick in 2003). It was a role Kitna accepted gracefully. By 2004, Palmer was ready, leading the Bengals to another 8–8 season. Kitna was the backup for Palmer in that season. The two QB's developed a close friendship off the field, particularly because both men are avid golfers.

Kitna was unexpectedly thrust back behind center during the Bengals' AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2006. Carson Palmer went down with a knee injury on his second play from scrimmage and Kitna stepped in off the bench and into a relief role. Kitna finished 24-40 for 197 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions and a fumble as the Bengals fell to the eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31–17.^[4]

Kitna is still held with high respect among Bengals fans, with many referring to him as "The Original Savior."^[5]

Detroit Lions

Kitna signed with the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent in early 2006.^[6] He started every Lions game in 2006 and 2007, throwing for 4,000 each season--a franchise record.^[7] In 2008, Kitna was injured and placed on Injured Reserve in week 5. The team ended the regular season with an 0-16 record.^[8].

Dallas Cowboys

Kitna was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on February 28, 2009 for Anthony Henry. He is expected to be Tony Romo's primary back-up with Stephen McGee being the third-string QB. Kitna, despite being the number 2 QB, did not play a single down for the Cowboys in the 2009 regular season.

References

External links

• Jon Kitna player profile at NFLPlayers.com
• Jon Kitna Guarantee [1]
• NFL Europa Bio
• Detroit Lions