40 Facts About Vinny Testaverde

Vinny Testaverde played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1986.

Vinny Testaverde was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Vinny Testaverde then joined the New York Jets, where he achieved his greatest success.

Vinny Testaverde was known for his strong arm and high volume, but was known for his high interception totals.

Vinny Testaverde threw more than 20 interceptions in four of his 21 seasons, including his second season with the Buccaneers, in which he threw 35 interceptions.

Vinny Testaverde then went to Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia for a post-graduate year of college preparatory work.

Vinny Testaverde accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami, where he played for the Miami Hurricanes football team from 1982 to 1986.

Vinny Testaverde redshirted as a freshman, backed up Bernie Kosar for the next two seasons, and became the starter in 1985.

Vinny Testaverde played an important part in the University of Miami's history as one of the top collegiate football programs of the 1980s and 1990s.

Vinny Testaverde was selected as the first overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL Draft.

In 1988, a radio station in Tampa rented a billboard that had Vinny Testaverde standing in front of a blue background.

Vinny Testaverde signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 1993.

Vinny Testaverde would be present for the controversial Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore following a series of franchise relocations throughout the league.

Vinny Testaverde scored the first touchdown in the history of the Ravens on a nine-yard run.

Vinny Testaverde ended the season with over 4,000 yards passing, 33 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.

Vinny Testaverde made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 1996 with the Ravens.

Vinny Testaverde scrambled six times on a 1st-and-10 and gained a new first down five times.

Vinny Testaverde signed a restructured four-year contract with the Ravens ahead of the 1997 season.

However, Vinny Testaverde did not perform as well in 1997 as he did the previous year.

Vinny Testaverde threw 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and was replaced by backup Eric Zeier after suffering an injury.

Vinny Testaverde had been tackled and the ball was not across the goal line when this happened, but because Vinny Testaverde's helmet had crossed the line the game's head linesman, Earnie Frantz, ruled the play a touchdown.

However, in the first game of the season, against the New England Patriots, Vinny Testaverde suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and did not play the rest of the season.

In 2001, Vinny Testaverde led the Jets back to the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the Oakland Raiders.

Vinny 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 for allegedly failing a drug test, Vinny Testaverde was given the starting quarterback job.

At the time, Vinny Testaverde's 3,532 passing yards and 297 completions were the third-best total of his career and the third-most passing yards in Dallas Cowboys franchise history.

Vinny Testaverde tied the franchise record for 300-yard passing games in a season with three and became the fifth quarterback in league history to pass for over 300 yards at 40 years old.

Vinny Testaverde was named the Jets' starting quarterback in week five of the 2005 season, in a home game against the team that originally drafted him, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Vinny Testaverde kneeled down for the final play in a victory against the Packers on November 19,2006.

Vinny Testaverde threw a touchdown pass to Troy Brown on December 31,2006, against the Tennessee Titans, giving him at least one touchdown pass for the twentieth straight season, extending his NFL record.

On May 29,2007, Vinny Testaverde stated his interest in returning to the Patriots for the 2007 NFL season, and on July 13,2007 confirmed this with Sporting News Radio.

Vinny Testaverde officially signed a 1-year contract for $825,000 on August 18,2007, but was released on September 1,2007.

Vinny Testaverde has thrown touchdown passes to 71 different players, a record since broken by Tom Brady.

In that game, Vinny Testaverde led the Panthers in the longest opening drive for a touchdown in franchise history, consisting of 18 plays and lasting for 11 minutes and one second.

Reports said that Vinny Testaverde would be out for at least a week.

On December 2,2007, Vinny Testaverde became the second-oldest starting quarterback in NFL history at 44 years and 19 days old.

Vinny Testaverde threw two touchdown passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the Panthers' win, breaking his own record for the oldest starter to win an NFL game.

Vinny Testaverde announced his plans for retirement on December 29,2007, which would take effect after the final game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 30.

Vinny Testaverde is considered to be one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs in NFL history.

Vinny Testaverde has thrown for more yards and touchdowns in the NFL than any other eligible quarterback who is not in the Hall of Fame.

Vinny Testaverde is currently the Quarterbacks Coach at Jesuit High School of Tampa, where his son Vincent Jr.