Caleb Hanie
Encyclopedia
Caleb Jeffrey Hanie is an American football
quarterback
for the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played high school football
for Forney High School
in Forney, Texas
and led his team to consecutive top 3 finishes in class 3A in 2002 and 2003. He played college football
at Colorado State
. He entered the 2011 season as the back-up to Jay Cutler
. Due to Cutler's broken thumb in November, Hanie became the starting quarterback.
as a free agent
following the 2008 NFL Draft
on April 28, 2008. He made the Bears' 53-man roster prior to the start of the 2008 season
.
He made his first regular season contribution as a Bear towards the end of their blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
on October 25, 2009. He completed one of two passes for two yards. He went on to make another appearance against the Baltimore Ravens
on December 20, 2009, completing two of five passes for eight yards. During that game, he also threw his first career interception on an acrobatic play by Dominique Foxworth. On October 3, 2010 Bears starter Jay Cutler
and backup Todd Collins both suffered injuries in a game against the New York Giants
, and Hanie entered the game as an emergency quarterback. He went three of four for 36 yards, but the Bears still suffered their first loss of the 2010 season. On October 10, 2010, with Cutler on the bench due to a concussion suffered the previous week, Todd Collins started the game but proved ineffective, throwing four interceptions. Hanie entered the game in the third quarter and went two of three for 19 yards. The Bears won the game 23–6, primarily on points scored in the early part of the first quarter, and scored two fourth-quarter field goals on drives led by Hanie.
as an emergency quarterback in the third quarter after starter Jay Cutler
left with a second-degree sprain of his MCL and second-string quarterback Todd Collins left with a shoulder injury. He led the Bears to a touchdown in his first series on the field but was later intercepted by defensive lineman B. J. Raji
, who returned the pick for a touchdown. On the following drive, Hanie led the Bears to a second touchdown in only eighty-one seconds of game time. He later threw another interception, this time to Sam Shields
, with 37 seconds left in the game. Overall, Hanie completed 13 passes in 20 attempts for 153 yards and 1 TD, with 2 interceptions. The Bears lost to the Packers 21–14.
for the second position on the depth chart. Against the San Diego Chargers in week 11, starting quarterback Jay Cutler suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand. The following day, the Bears reported that Cutler would need to have surgery on the thumb, possibly ending his season. Hanie was named the starter for the Bears until Cutler's return.
On November 27, 2011 Hanie started his first NFL game against the Oakland Raiders. He threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in the 25-20 loss, snapping the Bears' 5-game winning streak. Hanie became the first quarterback since 1983 to throw a postseason touchdown before a regular season touchdown.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of 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...
. He was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for Forney High School
Forney High School
Forney High School is a public secondary school in Forney, Texas, United States that houses grades 9 through 12. It is a part of the Forney Independent School District and serves Forney, Talty, the small Kaufman County portion of Mesquite, and some surrounding unincorporated areas of Kaufman...
in Forney, Texas
Forney, Texas
Forney is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States and has been named by the Texas legislature as the "Antique Capital of Texas". The population was 5,588 at the 2000 census...
and led his team to consecutive top 3 finishes in class 3A in 2002 and 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
. He entered the 2011 season as the back-up to Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. Due to Cutler's broken thumb in November, Hanie became the starting quarterback.
Chicago Bears
Hanie was signed by the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a 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....
following the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
on April 28, 2008. He made the Bears' 53-man roster prior to the start of the 2008 season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
.
He made his first regular season contribution as a Bear towards the end of their blowout loss to 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...
on October 25, 2009. He completed one of two passes for two yards. He went on to make another appearance 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...
on December 20, 2009, completing two of five passes for eight yards. During that game, he also threw his first career interception on an acrobatic play by Dominique Foxworth. On October 3, 2010 Bears starter Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and backup Todd Collins both suffered injuries in a game against 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...
, and Hanie entered the game as an emergency quarterback. He went three of four for 36 yards, but the Bears still suffered their first loss of the 2010 season. On October 10, 2010, with Cutler on the bench due to a concussion suffered the previous week, Todd Collins started the game but proved ineffective, throwing four interceptions. Hanie entered the game in the third quarter and went two of three for 19 yards. The Bears won the game 23–6, primarily on points scored in the early part of the first quarter, and scored two fourth-quarter field goals on drives led by Hanie.
2010 NFC Championship Game
Hanie entered the 2010 NFC Championship Game2010–11 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2010 season began on January 8, 2011 and led up to Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas....
as an emergency quarterback in the third quarter after starter Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
left with a second-degree sprain of his MCL and second-string quarterback Todd Collins left with a shoulder injury. He led the Bears to a touchdown in his first series on the field but was later intercepted by defensive lineman B. J. Raji
B. J. Raji
-Green Bay Packers:Raji was selected ninth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was worked into defensive coordinator Dom Capers' brand new 3-4 scheme during the start of the Packers 2009 season, and was regarded as a defensive corner. Raji held out during the 2009 training...
, who returned the pick for a touchdown. On the following drive, Hanie led the Bears to a second touchdown in only eighty-one seconds of game time. He later threw another interception, this time to Sam Shields
Sam Shields
Samuel George Shields III is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2010...
, with 37 seconds left in the game. Overall, Hanie completed 13 passes in 20 attempts for 153 yards and 1 TD, with 2 interceptions. The Bears lost to the Packers 21–14.
2011 season
After a back and forth preseason, Hanie won a battle with Nate EnderleNathan Enderle
Nathan Enderle is a professional football player, a quarterback with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played college football at Idaho, where he was a four-year starter.-Early years:...
for the second position on the depth chart. Against the San Diego Chargers in week 11, starting quarterback Jay Cutler suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand. The following day, the Bears reported that Cutler would need to have surgery on the thumb, possibly ending his season. Hanie was named the starter for the Bears until Cutler's return.
On November 27, 2011 Hanie started his first NFL game against the Oakland Raiders. He threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in the 25-20 loss, snapping the Bears' 5-game winning streak. Hanie became the first quarterback since 1983 to throw a postseason touchdown before a regular season touchdown.