Trent Dilfer

Trent Farris Dilfer (born March 13, 1972 in Santa Cruz, California) is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. He previously played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Related Topics:
March 13 - 1972 - Santa Cruz, California - American football - Quarterback - Cleveland Browns - Seattle Seahawks - Baltimore Ravens - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Dilfer attended Aptos High School in California, and upon graduation attended Fresno State. He is married to Cassandra Dilfer, a former Fresno State swimmer, and they have three daughters (Madeline, Victoria & Delaney) and a son (Trevin).

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On April 27th, 2003 the Dilfers lost their son, Trevin Scott Dilfer, whom passed away in a California hospital after a 40-day battle with heart disease at the age of 5. On June 2nd, 2003 Trent made his first public comments regarding his family's loss, and still grieving, openly wept.

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Dilfer's professional football career began when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their 1st pick in the 1994 draft (6th overall) after his junior season at Fresno State. Dilfer is the only Tampa Bay quarterback to ever go to the Pro Bowl, which some say was a reward for a highly efficient season in the Buccaneers' limited offense. In the first 12 games of that year Dilfer passed for 2213 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. However, Dilfer's performance was perceived to decline in his last four games. In the playoffs the Buccaneers defeated their NFC Central rivals, the Detroit Lions, before losing to their long-time division rivals, and defending Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers. While with the Bucs, he won more games than any quarterback in franchise history and took the team to their first playoff game in 15 years.

Related Topics:
Pro Bowl - Offense - Passed - Touchdown - Interception - Playoffs - NFC Central - Detroit Lions - Division - Super Bowl - Green Bay Packers

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Dilfer threw for 21 touchdowns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in both the 1997 and the 1998 NFL seasons. In the 1996-1999 NFL seasons, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dilfer averaged 2,729 yards a season and had a total of 58 touchdowns.

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After the 1999 season the Bucs granted unconditional free-agent status to Dilfer on Feb. 11th, 2000, rather than pay him a 4.6 million dollar bonus due in March. He signed with the Ravens on March 8th, 2000 and became the backup for Tony Banks. After two straight losses and four straight weeks without an offensive touchdown, Banks was 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 the Ravens would lose that season, 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 also gave Dilfer a 45-39 record as a starter at that point.

Related Topics:
1999 - Tony Banks - Wild card

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In the playoffs, Dilfer went 3-0, and the Ravens advanced to Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa to meet the New York Giants. Halfway through the first quarter Dilfer connected 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 Baltimore a 10-0 lead. The Ravens eventually won easily, 34-7. Dilfer's game stats were: 12 completions for 153 yards and 1 TD.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl XXXV - Tampa - New York Giants - Brandon Stokley - Jason Sehorn - Qadry Ismail - Field goal - Halftime

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Surprisingly, Dilfer was released after the season. He was seen as a "caretaker" quarterback, due to the strength of the Ravens' defense (sport), and Head Coach Brian Billick's run-heavy offence. He was replaced by Kansas City Chiefs' Pro Bowler Elvis Grbac. In 2001 Grbac's passer rating was 5.5 points lower than Dilfer's was in 2000.

Related Topics:
Defense (sport) - Brian Billick - Kansas City Chiefs - Pro Bowler - Elvis Grbac - 2001 - Passer rating

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On August 3rd, 2001 the Seattle Seahawks signed Dilfer as a back-up quarterback to then starter Matt Hasselbeck. He saw his first action when Hasselbeck injured his groin week three against the Oakland Raiders. Dilfer started and won the next two games, before being replaced by a healthy Hasselbeck. Dilfer came on in a relied role against the Washington Redskins, when Hasselbeck struggled. He continued as the starter when Hasselbeck suffered a seperated left shoulder. Dilfer started the final two games of the season, and with Seattle in the playoff hunt, won them both. He ended the season by throwing five touchdowns and two interceptions in two three-point victories. The Seahawks' AFC wild-card hopes ended when the Ravens beat the Minnesota Vikings 19-3 on Monday Night Football. At the end of the season, Dilfer's passer rating was 92.0 and he had won 15 straight starts.

Related Topics:
Matt Hasselbeck - Washington Redskins - Minnesota Vikings - Monday Night Football

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Partially because the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, Hasselbeck, was coming off a season where he went 5-7 as a starter and threw eight interceptions and seven touchdowns, Dilfer was re-signed by the team to a four-year deal on March 1st, and was slated as the starter heading into training camp. However, in an exhibition game against Indianapolis, Dilfer sprained his medial collateral ligament in his right knee. With the injury, Dilfer lost the starting job to Hasselbeck. Dilfer returned to the starting position against the Arizona Cardinals with a 13-24 loss. On October 28, 2002, in week 8, he mysteriously suffered a season-ending torn achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys on the synthetic turf at Texas Stadium. At that point in the season, the Seahawks were 2-5.

Related Topics:
Medial collateral ligament - Arizona Cardinals - Achilles tendon - Dallas Cowboys - Texas Stadium

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In 2003, Dilfer was used sparingly in a relief roles, and primarily used to mentor Hasselbeck.

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In 2004, Dilfer started only two games and won them both: 11/28 vs Miami Dolphins 24-17 and 12/26 vs Arizona Cardinals 24-21.

Related Topics:
Miami Dolphins - Arizona Cardinals

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In March 2005, Dilfer was traded to the Cleveland Browns where he was named the starting quarterback for the 2005 NFL season and is mentoring the home-town favorite rookie quaterback Charlie Frye.

Related Topics:
March 2005 - Cleveland Browns - Charlie Frye

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Trent remains a very popular figure with Baltimore Ravens fans both for his play during the 2000 season and for his charitable activities.

Related Topics:
Fans - 2000 - Charitable

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