Despite an injury-laden career, New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is one of the strongest passers in the NFL, notable for his extraordinary accuracy and on-field intelligence. Born on June 26, 1976 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pennington attended the Webb School of Knoxville before excelling in college ball at Marshall University in West Virginia. As a collegiate QB, Pennington holds a Mid-American Conference career touchdown pass record with 103 TD passes, in addition to school records for passing yards and touchdowns. His senior year 13-0 record is practically unparalleled in the school’s history, and Pennington helped the team win three Mid-American titles. An accomplished student-athlete, Pennington was a Heisman finalist and a Rhodes Scholar finalist in his senior year, graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Pennington’s NFL career started slowly despite a first-round draft pickup by the Jets in 2000. The talented, quick-witted passer was benched for much of his first two seasons, but in 2002 replaced a struggling Vinny Testaverde as starting QB. Under Pennington’s confident leadership the team won the AFC East championship, the team’s second title in a long thirty years. Though Testaverde started the first five games of the season, Pennington nonetheless threw over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Now a bona fide NFL superstar, Pennington’s injury woes began in the 2003 preseason with a fracture on his non-throwing hand. Pennington missed the first six games of the season, during which time the Jets managed only one victory. The team’s rebound upon his return was pithy, and they finished 2003 with a 6-10 record. The QB’s next two seasons were similarly up-and-down, with numerous gaps in play due to shoulder injuries punctuated by a few terrific streaks. Pennington’s future with the team is uncertain after a recent contract restructuring, but he has started the 2006 season in top form, boasting back-to-back games with 300+ passing yards for the first time in his career.