Chad Pennington Franchise QB
Jets quarterback who led the team to a division title in 2002 and set a team record for passer rating.
James Chadwick Pennington (born June 26, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy as a senior, and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. Pennington spent his first eight seasons with the Jets and was a member of the Miami Dolphins in his last three.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Franchise Quarterback
- Drafted
- 2000 NFL Draft (1st Round)
- Key season
- 2002 (Division title, playoff win) and 2004 (playoff win)
- Reputation
- High Football IQ and Accuracy
- Status
- Retired Legend
Lore & Background
Pennington led the league twice in completion percentage and once in passer rating. He helped clinch a division title with the Jets in 2002 and the Dolphins in 2008, both of which are the most recent for either franchise, as well as the only times from 2001 to 2019 that the AFC East was not won by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Pennington was also the first player to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year multiple times, receiving the award in 2006 and 2008. At the time of his retirement, he held the NFL record for completion percentage.
Reader's Guide
Pennington was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft, 18th overall and the first quarterback taken. After making only three appearances during his first two seasons, he emerged as the Jets' starting quarterback in 2002, leading the team to a 9–7 record and an AFC East division championship. He set a team record with a 104.2 quarterback rating that season. In 2003, he suffered a fracture-dislocation on his left hand in a preseason game, missing the first six games. In 2004, he signed a team-record contract and led the Jets to a 10–6 record and a wild card berth, but suffered a rotator cuff injury. He underwent surgery on his right shoulder in February 2005 and again in October 2005 after another tear. In 2006, he trained with new throwing coaches and competed for the starting job under new head coach Eric Mangini.
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