NFF National Scholar-Athletes

Chris Weinke

  • School
    Florida State
  • Induction
    2000

The first three-year starter at quarterback for College Football Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State, Chris Weinke completed 650-of-1,107 passes for 9,839 yards and 79 touchdowns, all school records. He led the Seminoles to a 32-3 record, three ACC titles and a BCS National Championship in 1999 after a 46-29 victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl capped off a perfect 12-0 season. In 2000, Weinke won the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Trophy and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award after throwing a NCAA-leading 4,167 passing yards. Named Player of the Year by College Football News and Chevrolet, he was a First Team All-America and All-ACC selection. The ACC overall and Offensive Player of the Year, Weinke led the conference in completions (266), passing yards (4,167), touchdowns (33) and passer rating (163.1). A three-time Academic All-ACC selection, he was a regular member of the Dean’s List and the ACC Honor Roll. In 2001, Florida State retired his jersey No. 16.

Weinke was selected in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and served as the team’s primary starter as a rookie, throwing for 2,931 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 128 yards and six touchdowns. He was replaced by Jake Delhomme in 2002 and saw limited action in his last five seasons with the Panthers. Weinke signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007 and retired following the 2007 NFL season. He completed 386-of-709 passes for 3,904 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career. After four years as the football director and head football coach at the IMG Academy, Weinke served as the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams for two seasons, and is now the running backs coach at the University of Tennessee.