Trent Dilfer (born March 13, 1972 in Santa Cruz, California) is an american football quarterback who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns. He previously played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went to Fresno State.
Dilfer went to the Pro Bowl for a highly efficient season in the Bucs' limited offense. In the first 12 games of that year Dilfer passed for 2213 yards, 19 Touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Dilfer poor performances in his last four games, and failed to reach 100 yards passing in his last three games. In the playoffs the Bucs would defeat NFC Central rivals the Detroit Lions, before losing to fellow division rivals, and defending Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers.
After the 1999 season, Dilfer would no longer be a Buccaneer. He would sign with the Ravens and backup Tony Banks. After two straight losses and four straight weeks without an offensive touchdown, Banks would be yanked and replaced with Dilfer. The Ravens would lose their third straight game and fail to score a touchdown for the fifth straight week. It would be the last time Dilfer's Ravens would ever lose, or go without a touchdown. The Ravens finished the season winning seven straight to earn a wild card berth at 12-4. The 7-1 run would also give Dilfer a 45-39 record as a starter, at that point.
In the playoffs, Dilfer would go 3-0, and the Ravens would advance to Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, to meet the New York Giants. Dilfer's job was to avoid turnovers and to create a big play, and having 5 TD passes of over 40 yards in 2000, Dilfer showed he was more than able. Halfway through the first quarter Dilfer would connect with Brandon Stokley on a deep post for a 38-yard touchdown, badly beating Jason Sehorn. A third down 44-yard pass to Qadry Ismail would set up a field goal before halftime , to give Baltomore a 10-0 lead. The Ravens would win easily, 34-7.
Surprisingly, Dilfer was released after the season. He was seen as a "caretaker" quarterback, due to the strength of the Ravens' defense, and Brian Billick's poor passing offence. He was replaced by 2000 Kansas City Chiefs' Pro Bowler Elvis Grbac . in 2001 Grbac's passer rating was 5.5 points lower than Dilfer's was in 2000.
Meanwhile, as Grbac struggled, Dilfer was signed by the Seahawks, as Mike Holmgren needed an experienced quarterback as an insurance policy, and to help teach Matt Hasselbeck. In Week 4 and Week 5, Dilfer would lead Seattle to wins. He would replace Hasselbeck as starter for the final two games of the season, throwing 5 touchdowns and two interceptions in two 3-point victories. Dilfer's passer rating in 2001 was 92.0, and he had won 15 straight starts.
Dilfer's streak would end in 2002, and he has remained the Seahawks' backup.
In March 2005, Trent Dilfer was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Last updated: 05-27-2005 02:42:48
