Jon Kitna

Jon Kitna
Name	Jon Kitna
Birth date	25 September 1972
Birth place	Tacoma, Washington
Occupation	American football coach and former quarterback
Alma mater	Central Washington University

Jon Kitna (born September 25, 1972) is an American former professional quarterback and current football coach known for a journeyman career in the National Football League and subsequent coaching at the high school and collegiate levels. He played collegiately at Central Washington University before joining the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, later starting for the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, and finishing with the Dallas Cowboys. After retirement he coached at Marin Catholic High School, Saint Patrick High School (Chicago), and served as an assistant at Fresno State and in other coaching roles.

Early life and high school

Born in Tacoma, Washington, he attended Lincoln High School where he played multiple sports including football, basketball, and baseball. During his senior year he passed for prolific yardage and led his team to regional play while earning attention from smaller collegiate programs such as Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Western Washington University. Kitna's high school teammates and opponents included athletes who later joined National Football League rosters and Pacific-10 Conference programs, and he graduated amid local coverage from outlets like the Tacoma News Tribune.

College career

At Central Washington University he was a four-year starter for the Wildcats, compiling school records and conference honors in the NCAA Division II ranks. His collegiate career included matchups against teams from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and appearances in games covered by regional media and evaluated by scouts from the National Football League Scouting Combine and pro personnel departments. Teammates and opponents from that era later played for franchises such as the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers, and coaches at Central Washington included staff with ties to programs like Boise State and Washington State.

Professional playing career

Undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and later spent time on practice squads and developmental rosters before joining the Cincinnati Bengals as a starter following injuries and roster changes. In Cincinnati he replaced veterans and led comeback victories against teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, posting passing yardage that drew comparisons to other journeyman starters on rosters including the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans. He later joined the Detroit Lions where he started amid quarterback injuries, producing seasons with multiple 3,000-yard passing totals and facing defenses from the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers. Kitna concluded his playing career with the Dallas Cowboys as a backup working behind quarterbacks who had connections to franchises like the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, and he retired having played games broadcast on ESPN, NBC Sports, and regional networks.

Coaching career

After retirement he transitioned to coaching at the high school level, leading programs such as Marin Catholic High School and St. Patrick High School (Chicago) where his teams competed against rivals from the West Catholic Athletic League and local Chicago Public League powerhouses. He later accepted a collegiate role as an assistant at Fresno State and participated in staff development alongside coaches with ties to the Pac-12 Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Big Sky Conference. Kitna has also been involved in quarterback development clinics that included attendees from NFL training camps, XFL tryouts, and regional combines, working with personnel affiliated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and various NFL franchises.

Personal life

Kitna is married and has children who attended schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago, and he has participated in community events with organizations such as local chapters of United Way and youth sports charities. He has been publicly involved in mentoring programs that connect former professional athletes with students at Marin Catholic High School and has maintained relationships with former teammates and coaches from the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys.

NFL statistics and honors

Across his NFL career he accumulated passing yardage, touchdown totals, and quarterback ratings recorded in league statistical archives and media guides from Pro Football Reference and NFL.com. Honors and recognitions include team captaincies, postseason roster inclusions, and local awards from community organizations and media outlets such as the Cincinnati Enquirer and Detroit Free Press. He has been profiled in publications covering NFL starting quarterbacks, backup specialist careers, and transitions from player to coach within the National Football League Players Association community.

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Central Washington Wildcats football players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Cincinnati Bengals players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Dallas Cowboys players