Trent Jason Green (born July 9, 1970) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fifteen seasons. He played college football for Indiana University. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft, and also played for the BC Lions, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Miami Dolphins. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans and was selected to two Pro Bowls with the Chiefs.
Green is one of 13 quarterbacks to have completed a 99-yard pass play in the NFL. Since his retirement from playing Green has worked as an NFL color analyst on radio and television.
Early life
Green grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.
College career
Green played college football for the Indiana University Hoosiers. In 1991 Indiana played in the Copper Bowl and dominated a highly regarded Baylor team 24-0. Led by Green, it was one of the most impressive performances by any team during the 1991 bowl season. During Green's four-year career he threw for 5,400 yards with 23 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He graduated with a degree in business.
Professional career
Early career (San Diego Chargers, BC Lions, Washington Redskins) In 1993, Green was drafted as the twenty-sixth pick in the eighth round and 222nd overall by the San Diego Chargers. He spent a year as a backup and saw no playing time. After being cut in 1994 by the British Columbia Lions of the CFL, he joined the Washington Redskins. Outside of one pass thrown in 1997, he would not see NFL action until 1998, when he threw for 3,441 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Green's breakout season came just in time, as he became an unrestricted free agent after the 1998 season. He rejected a four-year, $12 million offer from the Redskins.
First stint with Rams
On February 15, 1999, Green agreed to a four-year, $17.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams which included a $4.5 million signing bonus. In 1999, Green was slated to be the starter for the Rams, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason game on a hit by Rodney Harrison of the Chargers. Kurt Warner took over for Green, and led the Rams to a 13–3 season, culminating in a 23–16 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
In 2000, Green began the season as the backup to Warner. He started five games in the middle of the season while Warner was out with a broken hand. Green and Warner combined to lead the Rams to the then-highest team passing yards total in NFL history. With Warner back at quarterback, the Rams were defeated in the wild card round by the New Orleans Saints.
Kansas City Chiefs
Green was traded in 2001 to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 12th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft.
During his first season in Kansas City, Green struggled. He threw for 3,783 yards and 17 touchdowns, but also threw 24 interceptions. Green displayed marked improvement in 2002, throwing 26 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions as the Chiefs went 8-8. Green tied the record for the longest career pass play in NFL history (99 yards) on December 22, 2002, on a pass to Marc Boerigter in a game against the San Diego Chargers. In 2003, Green had his breakout year, throwing for 4,039 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led the Chiefs to a 13–3 record and a first-round bye in the playoffs. However, in the divisional playoff game, they lost a 38–31 shootout to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The game was notable for there being no punts by either team, a first in NFL playoff history. Green was selected to his first Pro Bowl that year. The next season, the Chiefs went 7–9 as Holmes suffered a knee injury in their eighth game, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida and missed the rest of the regular season. At the time, he was leading the league in both rushing and scoring. However, Green still had a stellar year, passing for 4,591 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His passing total for 2004 was second only to Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper.