Billy Joe Tolliver
Encyclopedia
Billy Joe Tolliver is a former American football
player who played in the National Football League
(NFL) and Canadian Football League
(CFL) for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers
, Atlanta Falcons
, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates
, Kansas City Chiefs
and New Orleans Saints
. Over the course of his career, he played in 79 games, completed 891 of 1,707 passes for 10,760 yards, threw 59 touchdowns and 64 interceptions, and finished his career with a passer rating of 67.7.
A graduate of Boyd High School
and Texas Tech University
, Tolliver was selected 51st in the 1989 NFL Draft
by the San Diego Chargers. He started 19 games in two seasons at San Diego before being traded to Atlanta, where he saw playing time as a backup for three seasons. In 1994, he became one of three starting quarterbacks for Houston, then became the quarterback of the Shreveport Pirates during their final season of activity. After not seeing playing time in 1996, Tolliver played for both Atlanta and Kansas City in 1997. He then started 11 games for New Orleans in two seasons, but did not take the field in 2000. A stint with Green Bay in the 2001 offseason was the last stop in his professional career.
. During his senior season, he led the Boyd Yellow Jackets to a 15-0-1 record and the 2-A state championship. He amassed more than 1,000 rushing and passing yards, and was named Player of the Year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
. Tolliver also used his athleticism elsewhere as a three-sport athlete, averaging 15 points and 17 rebounds
in basketball and throwing 14 no-hitter
s in baseball.
After graduating from high school, Tolliver played college football at Texas Tech University
and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. His hard throwing style led Texas Tech coach David McWilliams
to say, "He throws the ball harder, and with more velocity, than anyone I've ever seen." He redshirted his freshman season in 1984, then became the starting quarterback in 1985. On November 9, 1985, Tolliver had his first breakout performance at Texas Tech as he threw for a record-setting 422 yards and five touchdowns in a 63–7 win over Texas Christian University
(TCU), a performance that helped him become a household name in Texas. As he began his sophomore season, he was considered the lone bright spot on Texas Tech's offense. Tolliver struggled at the start of the year. By the end of September, he had only completed 54 of 123 passes, and after throwing five interceptions against Baylor
, he shrugged off the bad game, saying, "even Betty Crocker
burns a cake every now and then." His fortunes continued to sink when in a game in late October against the Rice Owls
, he was benched and backup quarterback Monte McGuire rallied the team to a victory. However, Tolliver rebounded and brought his team to the 1986 Independence Bowl as Texas Tech won six games for the first time since 1978. He finished the season with 1,802 passing yards and seven touchdowns.
During Tolliver's junior year, he looked to fix his erratic passing, which he had concentrated on improving over the previous months. However, shortly before the season opener against Florida State
, he suffered a hairline fracture in his foot, leaving him doubtful for the match. He missed the first three games of the season, then returned in Texas Tech's fourth game against Baylor and completed 14 of 25 passes for 189 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 36–22 loss. Tolliver's next big performance came against TCU, the same team he defeated 63–7 as a freshman. He threw a touchdown pass to Wayne Walker in the last minute to beat TCU, 36–35. He finished the season having passed for 1,422 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games. The next season, his senior year, Tolliver and Texas Tech were looking to win the Southwest Conference. He started the season strong, throwing an 85-yard pass against Arizona
—it was the third-longest pass in school history—but the Red Raiders started with two losses. By the end of the season, Tolliver had set 16 school records, and was awarded the Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Award by the league's officials. After four seasons with the Texas Tech Red Raiders
, he set the school record for career passing yards with 6,756, career pass attempts with 1,008, career pass completions with 493, career touchdown passes with 38, season passing yards with 2,869 in 1988, and single game passing yards with 446 against Oklahoma State University in 1988, among others. Tolliver was inducted into Texas Tech's Hall of Honor in 2002.
in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft
. The Chargers wanted Tolliver, and they traded third, fourth, and seventh-round picks in exchange for the New York Giants
' second-round pick in order to draft him. Tolliver was signed on July 31, 1989 after a short holdout. He was to compete for the starting job alongside Mark Malone
and David Archer
, a spot which eventually went to Jim McMahon
after the Chargers traded for him. As the 1989 season began with McMahon as the helm, Tolliver was slated to play the second half of the final preseason game against the Phoenix Cardinals. After 13 completions in 23 attempts, Tolliver ran the ball late in the game, and ended up with a broken collarbone, sidelining him for at least six weeks. After spending the first seven games on the injured reserve list, Tolliver was taken off the list and named the starter for the game against the Seattle Seahawks
on October 29, replacing a disappointing Jim McMahon at quarterback. In Tolliver's first start, he only played three quarters, throwing six completed passes in 17 attempts for 41 yards and throwing an interception in a 10-7 loss. Tolliver subsequently lost the starting job back to McMahon. However, in late November, Tolliver was given the starting job back, and remained the starting quarterback the rest of the season. Tolliver finished the season having played five games with 89 completions in 185 attempts, 1097 yards, five touchdown
s, eight interceptions, and a 57.9 quarterback rating.
As the 1990 season began, Jim McMahon was released by the team, leaving Tolliver as the starting quarterback as training camp rolled around. After training camp and a preseason where Tolliver started and was relieved by quarterbacks Mark Vlasic
and John Friesz
, Chargers coach Dan Henning
named Vlasic as the starting quarterback against the Dallas Cowboys
in the season opener, saying that he was "steadier" than Tolliver. After a loss against Dallas, Tolliver regained his starting job back in game two against the Cincinnati Bengals
. Despite some shaky performances in the following weeks, the Chargers' coaching staff stuck by their quarterback, saying that "The last thing we need around here is more change." Through eight games, Tolliver had thrown more touchdown passes than Dan Marino
, the two throwing eight and seven, respectively. Tolliver played nearly the rest of the season as the starting quarterback, but was replaced by rookie Friesz for the final game of the season against the Los Angeles Raiders, the Chargers making this move because, according to coach Henning, "Tolliver has to work on his shortcomings." Tolliver finished the season having completed 216 of 410 passes, thrown for 2,574 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, and posting a QB rating of 68.9.
Despite Tolliver having the confidence of Dan Henning, Chargers GM Bobby Beathard
and owner Alex Spanos
were unsatisfied with his production during the 1990 season, and they may have been looking towards Friesz as the future quarterback. Tolliver was the leading man for the starting quarterback position as training camp for the 1991 season began, with Friesz battling Bob Gagliano
for the backup spot. However, Tolliver's preseason ended such that Friesz was named the starting quarterback for the 1991 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
for a fifth-round draft pick. f Tolliver was the backup quarterback behind Chris Miller and alongside rookie Brett Favre
. Tolliver did earn some playing times, playing portions of seven games throughout the season. Tolliver's breakthrough as a Falcon came against the San Francisco 49ers
on November 3, 1991. Miller was injured in the second quarter, and Tolliver was brought in for the rest of the game. With one second left, he lobbed a 44-yard Hail Mary pass
to Michael Haynes
, which was caught for a touchdown and sealing a 17–14 upset victory. Due to his performance and Miller's injury, Tolliver was given his first start the following week against the Washington Redskins
. After a 56-17 blowout loss, Tolliver got his second start of the season against the Green Bay Packers
, as a result of Miller suddenly running a fever
. Tolliver finished the regular season having completing 40 of 82 passes, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and earning a QB rating of 75.8.
After the Falcons traded Favre to the Packers, Miller and Tolliver were the only quarterbacks on the roster. After Wade Wilson signed with the team, the two shared the role of backup to Miller. Tolliver played two of the first eight games, then was named the starting quarterback when the Falcons lost Miller for the season as a result of reconstructive surgery
on his left knee. Tolliver's first start of the season came against the 49ers. He completed 16 of 25 passes, but threw three interceptions in a 41-3 blowout. The next week, against the Cardinals, Tolliver was benched for the final series as Wilson led the team to victory and Tolliver argued with coach Jerry Glanville
. Despite the conflict and a shoulder injury, Glanville gave Tolliver the start the following week against the Buffalo Bills
. He played a few more games before being replaced by Wilson for the rest of the season, partially as a result of Wilson throwing five touchdown passes in his first start en route to a 35-7 Falcons victory. Tolliver finished the season with five touchdowns, five interceptions, about 55% of his passes completed, and a 70.4 QB rating.
After the 1992 season, Tolliver was a restricted free agent
. Wilson signed a contract with the Saints, and to replace him the Falcons signed Bobby Hebert
shortly afterwards. Tolliver signed a one-year contract in August, after holding out for a time. Tolliver started the 1993 season as the third-string quarterback, behind Hebert and Miller. However, Miller re-injured his left knee in late September, making Tolliver the main backup to Hebert. Tolliver made his first start against the Los Angeles Rams, but got injured in his second start, against the Saints. The Falcons signed Chris Hakel as a result of the injury. Tolliver finished the season in occasional relief for Hebert, who remained bothered by injuries. Tolliver finished the season having played seven games and thrown for just under 500 yards. After the season ended, Tolliver was again a free agent. He was not signed by the Falcons, and as the season began, he was looking for a team.
In early September 1994, Tolliver was signed to a contract by the Houston Oilers. He was originally the third-string quarterback, but ineffectiveness by Bucky Richardson
led Tolliver to relieve him in a game against the Cleveland Browns
. Tolliver played well enough to be considered for the starting job the following week, due to Cody Carlson
dealing with injuries. Tolliver made his first start in a game against the Raiders, but played inconsistently over seven starts and was replaced by Richardson in the season finale against the New York Jets
. After finishing the season, Tolliver became a free agent and left the NFL.
of the Canadian Football League
before the 1995 season began. Early in the season, Tolliver got to compete against former teammate David Archer in the San Antonio Texans
' CFL debut. He finished the season having thrown for 3,767 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. After the team folded following a 5-13 season, Tolliver was again without a team. In October 1996, Tolliver rejoined the Falcons as the third-string quarterback, this time sitting behind Bobby Hebert
and Browning Nagle
. He spent the 1996 season on the bench, and did not take a snap in a game. He was re-signed by Atlanta in April and given a one-year contract worth $325,000.
Tolliver was slated to compete with Tommy Maddox
for the backup quarterback spot at Atlanta as training camp rolled around. Halfway through August, Maddox was released, and Tolliver was made the primary backup behind Chris Chandler
. Tolliver played his first NFL game since 1994 on September 7, 1997 against the Carolina Panthers
. He completed 7 of 17 passes for 79 yards. After relieving Chandler again the following week, Tolliver was slated to start the next game against the 49ers, in what became his only starting appearance of the season. He was slated to start again against the Denver Broncos
, but instead came in late in the game. He was almost able to lead the Falcons to a comeback victory over the Broncos, completing six of nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, but he instead lost to the then-undefeated Broncos as the team remained winless. When Chandler went down with an injury in late October, coach Dan Reeves
chose to start Tony Graziani
. Shortly after wards, Tolliver was released by the Falcons. In early November, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac
was lost for the season due to a broken collarbone. As a result, the Chiefs signed Tolliver to a two-year contract as the third-string quarterback to replace him. Tolliver finished the season having completed 64 passes in 116 attempts for 677 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Only one of the 116 attempts came as a Kansas City quarterback. The 1998 preseason began with Tolliver competing with Pat Barnes for the third-string quarterback job, but this ended when Tolliver was released by the Chiefs in August.
was lost for the season due to a ruptured achilles tendon, the Saints signed Tolliver to a two-year deal. After four starts by Danny Wuerffel
, Saints coach Mike Ditka
decided to give Tolliver the start against the Atlanta Falcons
. After starting for four weeks and having a few impressive performances, Tolliver was benched in favor of Kerry Collins
, who finished the season as starting quarterback. Tolliver finished the year with one of his most statistically impressive seasons, completing 110 of 199 passes for 1,427 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions, and finishing with a QB rating of 83.1.
Tolliver started the 1999 season as the backup behind Hobert. Hobert started the first four games but was injured, leaving Tolliver to start against the Tennessee Titans
on October 17, and the Giants the week after. Hobert started the next game, but suffered a pinched nerve in his neck, leaving Tolliver to make his third start of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Against the 49ers, he scored the third and fourth rushing touchdowns of his career en route to a 24-6 victory. However, the next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars
, Tolliver suffered a torn MCL
, and it looked like he would miss the rest of the season. A couple of weeks later, Tolliver had bounced back from his injury by "treating himself with some WD-40
" and was named the starter in the December 12 game against the St. Louis Rams
. Tolliver again was injured the following week against the Baltimore Ravens
, however, putting an end to his season.
Throughout the 1999 season, Tolliver remained a vocal supporter of coach Ditka despite the Saints' 3-13 record, saying "I think he's a heck of a football coach, a great motivator. We just got to start buying what he's selling." Ditka was fired by the Saints, but as training camp for the 2000 season began, Tolliver was the Saints' backup quarterback behind Jeff Blake
. However, on August 1, the Saints made a trade for quarterback Aaron Brooks. This left Tolliver to compete for the third-string spot alongside Jake Delhomme
. As the final cuts were made to reduce the Saints' roster to 53 players, Tolliver was among those cut. When the Saints lost Jeff Blake for the season in mid-November due to a dislocated foot, Tolliver was signed back on by the Saints, though he did not play a game that season. In July 2001, Tolliver was signed by the Green Bay Packers. This briefly reunited him with Brett Favre, with whom he was fellow teammates in Atlanta. However, he was cut in the preseason when Doug Pederson
won the backup job, and this stint marked the end of Tolliver's professional career.
er and has played many celebrity tournaments. He is a three-time winner of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, and also won the $75,000 Isuzu Celebrity Golf Challenge in 1996. Tolliver is married; he and his wife, Sheila, have four children Austin, Mackenzie, Bryce, and Brody.
Tolliver is a regular competitor at the American Century Championship, the annual competition to determine the best golfers among American sports and entertainment celebrities. He won the tournament in 1996, 2005, and 2010 with a new point record of 84 points and has a total of ten top ten finishes. The tournament, televised by NBC in July, is played at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, NV.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) and Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL) for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. Over the course of his career, he played in 79 games, completed 891 of 1,707 passes for 10,760 yards, threw 59 touchdowns and 64 interceptions, and finished his career with a passer rating of 67.7.
A graduate of Boyd High School
Boyd High School (Texas)
Boyd High School is a 2A high school located in Boyd, Texas . It is part of the Boyd Independent School District located in southeastern Wise County.-Athletics:The Boyd Yellow Jackets compete in the following sports -...
and Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, Tolliver was selected 51st in the 1989 NFL Draft
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
by the San Diego Chargers. He started 19 games in two seasons at San Diego before being traded to Atlanta, where he saw playing time as a backup for three seasons. In 1994, he became one of three starting quarterbacks for Houston, then became the quarterback of the Shreveport Pirates during their final season of activity. After not seeing playing time in 1996, Tolliver played for both Atlanta and Kansas City in 1997. He then started 11 games for New Orleans in two seasons, but did not take the field in 2000. A stint with Green Bay in the 2001 offseason was the last stop in his professional career.
High school and college
Tolliver played high school football at Boyd High SchoolBoyd High School (Texas)
Boyd High School is a 2A high school located in Boyd, Texas . It is part of the Boyd Independent School District located in southeastern Wise County.-Athletics:The Boyd Yellow Jackets compete in the following sports -...
. During his senior season, he led the Boyd Yellow Jackets to a 15-0-1 record and the 2-A state championship. He amassed more than 1,000 rushing and passing yards, and was named Player of the Year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News, which is published from the eastern half of the Metroplex. It is owned...
. Tolliver also used his athleticism elsewhere as a three-sport athlete, averaging 15 points and 17 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
in basketball and throwing 14 no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s in baseball.
After graduating from high school, Tolliver played college football at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. His hard throwing style led Texas Tech coach David McWilliams
David McWilliams
David McWilliams is an Irish journalist and economist. McWilliams has worked with as an economist with Central Bank of Ireland and as a banker with UBS bank and the Banque Nationale de Paris...
to say, "He throws the ball harder, and with more velocity, than anyone I've ever seen." He redshirted his freshman season in 1984, then became the starting quarterback in 1985. On November 9, 1985, Tolliver had his first breakout performance at Texas Tech as he threw for a record-setting 422 yards and five touchdowns in a 63–7 win over Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
(TCU), a performance that helped him become a household name in Texas. As he began his sophomore season, he was considered the lone bright spot on Texas Tech's offense. Tolliver struggled at the start of the year. By the end of September, he had only completed 54 of 123 passes, and after throwing five interceptions against Baylor
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
, he shrugged off the bad game, saying, "even Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker AKA: batter witch is a cultural icon, as well as brand name and trademark of American Fortune 500 corporation General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was...
burns a cake every now and then." His fortunes continued to sink when in a game in late October against the Rice Owls
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
, he was benched and backup quarterback Monte McGuire rallied the team to a victory. However, Tolliver rebounded and brought his team to the 1986 Independence Bowl as Texas Tech won six games for the first time since 1978. He finished the season with 1,802 passing yards and seven touchdowns.
During Tolliver's junior year, he looked to fix his erratic passing, which he had concentrated on improving over the previous months. However, shortly before the season opener against Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, he suffered a hairline fracture in his foot, leaving him doubtful for the match. He missed the first three games of the season, then returned in Texas Tech's fourth game against Baylor and completed 14 of 25 passes for 189 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 36–22 loss. Tolliver's next big performance came against TCU, the same team he defeated 63–7 as a freshman. He threw a touchdown pass to Wayne Walker in the last minute to beat TCU, 36–35. He finished the season having passed for 1,422 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games. The next season, his senior year, Tolliver and Texas Tech were looking to win the Southwest Conference. He started the season strong, throwing an 85-yard pass against Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
—it was the third-longest pass in school history—but the Red Raiders started with two losses. By the end of the season, Tolliver had set 16 school records, and was awarded the Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Award by the league's officials. After four seasons with the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
, he set the school record for career passing yards with 6,756, career pass attempts with 1,008, career pass completions with 493, career touchdown passes with 38, season passing yards with 2,869 in 1988, and single game passing yards with 446 against Oklahoma State University in 1988, among others. Tolliver was inducted into Texas Tech's Hall of Honor in 2002.
San Diego Chargers
Tolliver was selected by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
. The Chargers wanted Tolliver, and they traded third, fourth, and seventh-round picks in exchange for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' second-round pick in order to draft him. Tolliver was signed on July 31, 1989 after a short holdout. He was to compete for the starting job alongside Mark Malone
Mark Malone
Mark M. Malone is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.-Playing career:Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California...
and David Archer
David Archer
David Mark Archer is a former professional American football player. A 6'2" undrafted quarterback from Snow College and Iowa State University, Archer played six seasons in the National Football League from 1984 to 1989 for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and...
, a spot which eventually went to Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
after the Chargers traded for him. As the 1989 season began with McMahon as the helm, Tolliver was slated to play the second half of the final preseason game against the Phoenix Cardinals. After 13 completions in 23 attempts, Tolliver ran the ball late in the game, and ended up with a broken collarbone, sidelining him for at least six weeks. After spending the first seven games on the injured reserve list, Tolliver was taken off the list and named the starter for the game against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on October 29, replacing a disappointing Jim McMahon at quarterback. In Tolliver's first start, he only played three quarters, throwing six completed passes in 17 attempts for 41 yards and throwing an interception in a 10-7 loss. Tolliver subsequently lost the starting job back to McMahon. However, in late November, Tolliver was given the starting job back, and remained the starting quarterback the rest of the season. Tolliver finished the season having played five games with 89 completions in 185 attempts, 1097 yards, five touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, eight interceptions, and a 57.9 quarterback rating.
As the 1990 season began, Jim McMahon was released by the team, leaving Tolliver as the starting quarterback as training camp rolled around. After training camp and a preseason where Tolliver started and was relieved by quarterbacks Mark Vlasic
Mark Vlasic
Mark Richard Vlasic is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for six seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
and John Friesz
John Friesz
John Melvin "Deep" Friesz is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots....
, Chargers coach Dan Henning
Dan Henning
-External links:...
named Vlasic as the starting quarterback against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the season opener, saying that he was "steadier" than Tolliver. After a loss against Dallas, Tolliver regained his starting job back in game two against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. Despite some shaky performances in the following weeks, the Chargers' coaching staff stuck by their quarterback, saying that "The last thing we need around here is more change." Through eight games, Tolliver had thrown more touchdown passes than Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
, the two throwing eight and seven, respectively. Tolliver played nearly the rest of the season as the starting quarterback, but was replaced by rookie Friesz for the final game of the season against the Los Angeles Raiders, the Chargers making this move because, according to coach Henning, "Tolliver has to work on his shortcomings." Tolliver finished the season having completed 216 of 410 passes, thrown for 2,574 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, and posting a QB rating of 68.9.
Despite Tolliver having the confidence of Dan Henning, Chargers GM Bobby Beathard
Bobby Beathard
Bobby Beathard is a former general manager in the National Football League. Over the course of his 38 years in the NFL, his teams competed in seven Super Bowls , beginning with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1966, Miami Dolphins in 1972 and 1973, Washington Redskins in 1982, 1983, and 1987, and the San...
and owner Alex Spanos
Alex Spanos
Alexander Gus Spanos is an American real estate developer and self-made billionaire of Greek origin who founded the A. G. Spanos Companies and owns the San Diego Chargers.-Early life:...
were unsatisfied with his production during the 1990 season, and they may have been looking towards Friesz as the future quarterback. Tolliver was the leading man for the starting quarterback position as training camp for the 1991 season began, with Friesz battling Bob Gagliano
Bob Gagliano
Robert Frank "Bob" "The Goose" Gagliano , is a former professional American football player. He began his career playing quarterback for Glendale Community College. He then played for United States International University in San Diego, and Utah State University...
for the backup spot. However, Tolliver's preseason ended such that Friesz was named the starting quarterback for the 1991 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Falcons and Oilers
Just a few days after losing the starting job, Tolliver was traded to the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a fifth-round draft pick. f Tolliver was the backup quarterback behind Chris Miller and alongside rookie Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
. Tolliver did earn some playing times, playing portions of seven games throughout the season. Tolliver's breakthrough as a Falcon came against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
on November 3, 1991. Miller was injured in the second quarter, and Tolliver was brought in for the rest of the game. With one second left, he lobbed a 44-yard Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
to Michael Haynes
Michael Haynes (wide receiver)
Michael David Haynes is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northern Arizona.Haynes also played for the New Orleans Saints....
, which was caught for a touchdown and sealing a 17–14 upset victory. Due to his performance and Miller's injury, Tolliver was given his first start the following week against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. After a 56-17 blowout loss, Tolliver got his second start of the season against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, as a result of Miller suddenly running a fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
. Tolliver finished the regular season having completing 40 of 82 passes, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and earning a QB rating of 75.8.
After the Falcons traded Favre to the Packers, Miller and Tolliver were the only quarterbacks on the roster. After Wade Wilson signed with the team, the two shared the role of backup to Miller. Tolliver played two of the first eight games, then was named the starting quarterback when the Falcons lost Miller for the season as a result of reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery is, in its broadest sense, the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body, although Maxillo-Facial Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.Other...
on his left knee. Tolliver's first start of the season came against the 49ers. He completed 16 of 25 passes, but threw three interceptions in a 41-3 blowout. The next week, against the Cardinals, Tolliver was benched for the final series as Wilson led the team to victory and Tolliver argued with coach Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville is a former American football player and current head coach of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League, former NASCAR driver and owner, and sportscaster in the United States. He served the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986 to 1990 and the Atlanta Falcons from...
. Despite the conflict and a shoulder injury, Glanville gave Tolliver the start the following week against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played a few more games before being replaced by Wilson for the rest of the season, partially as a result of Wilson throwing five touchdown passes in his first start en route to a 35-7 Falcons victory. Tolliver finished the season with five touchdowns, five interceptions, about 55% of his passes completed, and a 70.4 QB rating.
After the 1992 season, Tolliver was a restricted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Wilson signed a contract with the Saints, and to replace him the Falcons signed Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
shortly afterwards. Tolliver signed a one-year contract in August, after holding out for a time. Tolliver started the 1993 season as the third-string quarterback, behind Hebert and Miller. However, Miller re-injured his left knee in late September, making Tolliver the main backup to Hebert. Tolliver made his first start against the Los Angeles Rams, but got injured in his second start, against the Saints. The Falcons signed Chris Hakel as a result of the injury. Tolliver finished the season in occasional relief for Hebert, who remained bothered by injuries. Tolliver finished the season having played seven games and thrown for just under 500 yards. After the season ended, Tolliver was again a free agent. He was not signed by the Falcons, and as the season began, he was looking for a team.
In early September 1994, Tolliver was signed to a contract by the Houston Oilers. He was originally the third-string quarterback, but ineffectiveness by Bucky Richardson
Bucky Richardson
John "Bucky" Powell Richardson is a former quarterback for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the NFL's Houston Oilers.-High School and College:...
led Tolliver to relieve him in a game against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Tolliver played well enough to be considered for the starting job the following week, due to Cody Carlson
Cody Carlson
Matthew Cody Carlson is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 3rd round of the 1987 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 203-lb...
dealing with injuries. Tolliver made his first start in a game against the Raiders, but played inconsistently over seven starts and was replaced by Richardson in the season finale against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After finishing the season, Tolliver became a free agent and left the NFL.
CFL and return to NFL
Tolliver signed a three-year contract worth about $1 million with the Shreveport PiratesShreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
before the 1995 season began. Early in the season, Tolliver got to compete against former teammate David Archer in the San Antonio Texans
San Antonio Texans
The San Antonio Texans were a Canadian Football League team that played in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in the 1995 CFL season. They had relocated from Sacramento, California, where the team had been called the Sacramento Gold Miners...
' CFL debut. He finished the season having thrown for 3,767 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. After the team folded following a 5-13 season, Tolliver was again without a team. In October 1996, Tolliver rejoined the Falcons as the third-string quarterback, this time sitting behind Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
and Browning Nagle
Browning Nagle
Browning Nagle was a quarterback for the National Football League's New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Atlanta Falcons. He also played as a quarterback for the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators and Buffalo Destroyers.-Career:...
. He spent the 1996 season on the bench, and did not take a snap in a game. He was re-signed by Atlanta in April and given a one-year contract worth $325,000.
Tolliver was slated to compete with Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
for the backup quarterback spot at Atlanta as training camp rolled around. Halfway through August, Maddox was released, and Tolliver was made the primary backup behind Chris Chandler
Chris Chandler
Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...
. Tolliver played his first NFL game since 1994 on September 7, 1997 against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He completed 7 of 17 passes for 79 yards. After relieving Chandler again the following week, Tolliver was slated to start the next game against the 49ers, in what became his only starting appearance of the season. He was slated to start again against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but instead came in late in the game. He was almost able to lead the Falcons to a comeback victory over the Broncos, completing six of nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, but he instead lost to the then-undefeated Broncos as the team remained winless. When Chandler went down with an injury in late October, coach Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
chose to start Tony Graziani
Tony Graziani
Anthony Robert Graziani was an American football quarterback who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League, and the Los Angeles Avengers and Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Graziani played college football at the University of Oregon...
. Shortly after wards, Tolliver was released by the Falcons. In early November, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac
Elvis Grbac
Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
was lost for the season due to a broken collarbone. As a result, the Chiefs signed Tolliver to a two-year contract as the third-string quarterback to replace him. Tolliver finished the season having completed 64 passes in 116 attempts for 677 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Only one of the 116 attempts came as a Kansas City quarterback. The 1998 preseason began with Tolliver competing with Pat Barnes for the third-string quarterback job, but this ended when Tolliver was released by the Chiefs in August.
Later career
After Saints quarterback Billy Joe HobertBilly Joe Hobert
Billy Joe Hobert is a former professional American football quarterback. While at the University of Washington, he led the Huskies to a national championship in 1991, during his redshirt sophomore season...
was lost for the season due to a ruptured achilles tendon, the Saints signed Tolliver to a two-year deal. After four starts by Danny Wuerffel
Danny Wuerffel
Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
, Saints coach Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
decided to give Tolliver the start against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After starting for four weeks and having a few impressive performances, Tolliver was benched in favor of Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, who finished the season as starting quarterback. Tolliver finished the year with one of his most statistically impressive seasons, completing 110 of 199 passes for 1,427 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions, and finishing with a QB rating of 83.1.
Tolliver started the 1999 season as the backup behind Hobert. Hobert started the first four games but was injured, leaving Tolliver to start against the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on October 17, and the Giants the week after. Hobert started the next game, but suffered a pinched nerve in his neck, leaving Tolliver to make his third start of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Against the 49ers, he scored the third and fourth rushing touchdowns of his career en route to a 24-6 victory. However, the next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Tolliver suffered a torn MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
, and it looked like he would miss the rest of the season. A couple of weeks later, Tolliver had bounced back from his injury by "treating himself with some WD-40
WD-40
WD-40 is the trademark name of a United States-made water-displacing spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, San Diego, California. It was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion, and later was found to have numerous household...
" and was named the starter in the December 12 game against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. Tolliver again was injured the following week against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, however, putting an end to his season.
Throughout the 1999 season, Tolliver remained a vocal supporter of coach Ditka despite the Saints' 3-13 record, saying "I think he's a heck of a football coach, a great motivator. We just got to start buying what he's selling." Ditka was fired by the Saints, but as training camp for the 2000 season began, Tolliver was the Saints' backup quarterback behind Jeff Blake
Jeff Blake
Jeff Bertrand Coleman Blake is a retired American football quarterback who played in the National Football League. Although he finished his career with the Chicago Bears, he was formerly a quarterback for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona...
. However, on August 1, the Saints made a trade for quarterback Aaron Brooks. This left Tolliver to compete for the third-string spot alongside Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
. As the final cuts were made to reduce the Saints' roster to 53 players, Tolliver was among those cut. When the Saints lost Jeff Blake for the season in mid-November due to a dislocated foot, Tolliver was signed back on by the Saints, though he did not play a game that season. In July 2001, Tolliver was signed by the Green Bay Packers. This briefly reunited him with Brett Favre, with whom he was fellow teammates in Atlanta. However, he was cut in the preseason when Doug Pederson
Doug Pederson
Doug Irvin Pederson is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He spent most of his career as a member of the Green Bay Packers, serving as a backup to Brett Favre...
won the backup job, and this stint marked the end of Tolliver's professional career.
Personal life
Tolliver was named after his uncle Joe and aunt Billie. He is an avid golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er and has played many celebrity tournaments. He is a three-time winner of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, and also won the $75,000 Isuzu Celebrity Golf Challenge in 1996. Tolliver is married; he and his wife, Sheila, have four children Austin, Mackenzie, Bryce, and Brody.
Tolliver is a regular competitor at the American Century Championship, the annual competition to determine the best golfers among American sports and entertainment celebrities. He won the tournament in 1996, 2005, and 2010 with a new point record of 84 points and has a total of ten top ten finishes. The tournament, televised by NBC in July, is played at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, NV.