Athletes - Vinny Testaverde

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	Athletes - Vinny Testaverde

Vincent Frank Testaverde (born November 13, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American football quarterback. He played in two Pro Bowls (in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens, and 1998 with the New York Jets). Following a year with the Dallas Cowboys, Testaverde returned to the Jets in 2005 and, at the age of 41, was named the team's starting quarterback in the season's fifth week.

He is widely anticipated to announce his retirement from football following the 2005 season.

Winning the Heisman, first round NFL pick

Testaverde was a star quarterback at the University of Miami, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1986 on his way to becoming the University of Miami's all-time leader in career touchdown passes (46). He was the first overall draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL draft.

In 1988, Testaverde became the Bucs' starting quarterback, throwing a 47.6% completion rate for 3,240 yards and 13 touchdowns, but with 35 interceptions. His numbers continued to improve and, by the 1992 season, his last with Tampa Bay, Testaverde threw for a 57.5% completion rate for 2,554 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets

Testaverde then spent five seasons with the Cleveland Browns, three in Cleveland, followed by two with the Baltimore Ravens, before finally settling with the New York Jets in 1998. In his first season with the Jets, Testaverde flourished, completing 61.5% of his passes with 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, arguably his best season in the NFL. However, in many of his remaining seasons with the Jets, Testaverde was hampered by injuries.

Dallas Cowboys

Despite his injuries, Testaverde's performance with the Jets endeared him to coach Bill Parcells, who retired from coaching in 1999. One year after Parcells was lured out of retirement by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, he brought Testaverde to his new team in 2004.

Testaverde initially was signed to be a backup and mentor to young Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter. But after Carter was abruptly cut by the Cowboys, Testaverde was given the starting quarterback job. While many questioned Testaverde's ability to still play in the NFL, the protection schemes and play calling allowed him to showcase his arm with mixed results. He was able to throw for significant yardage, but led the league in interceptions, getting picked off on 4 % of his passes.

Testaverde's one-year contract with the Cowboys expired early in 2005. The Cowboys chose to instead sign Parcells' 1993 number one draft pick, Drew Bledsoe, as their top quarterback, leaving Testaverde without a contract.

Back with the New York Jets

As injuries on September 25 knocked both Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler out for the 2005 season, the New York Jets re-signed Testaverde on September 27, 2005. Testaverde was named the Jets' starting quarterback in week five of the 2005 season, in a home game against the Tampa Bay Bucanneers.

On December 26, against the New England Patriots on the final ABC telecast of Monday Night Football, Testaverde set a new NFL record for most consecutive seasons with at least one touchdown pass, 19, by throwing a 27-yard pass to Laveranues Coles to secure the record. That pass is also notable as being the last touchdown pass thrown on Monday Night Football while it was still broadcast by ABC. This would also most likely be Testaverde's last ever pass in his 19 season career in the National Football League. The game was also notable because the Patriots sent in back-up quarterback Doug Flutie, making this the first game in NFL history in which two quarterbacks over the age of 40 competed (Testaverde was 42, Flutie was 43).

Career statistics

Career highlights

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