| Rex Grossman heads into his third season in the league looking to establish himself as a starting quarterback. The 2003 first round pick (22nd overall) has started six games in two seasons with a 3-3 record. Just the eighth QB ever drafted by the Bears in the first round and only the fourth since 1951.
2004: Became Bears seventh different opening-day starting QB in as many seasons when he started the 2004 season opener under center. Started the first 3 games of the season, and led Chicago in passing yards per attempt (7.23) and ranked 2nd among Bears QBs in completion pct. (56.0%), and QB rating (67.9)...Ranked third in passing yards (607)... Sustained season-ending torn ACL in right knee in Week Three while diving for the goal line on his first career TD run.
2003: Started the final 3 games of the season for Chicago, before leaving with a finger injury the season finale. Connected on 7 plays of 20 or more yards in 10 quarters of rookie action. Led Chicago in passing yards per attempt (6.07), INTs per attempt ratio (1.4%), passer efficiency rating (74.8) and tied for the team lead in TDs per attempt ratio (2.8%). Did Not Play as the backup QB in Games 6-8, 12-13 and inactive as third QB in Games 1-5, 9-11.
COLLEGE: Finished his career at Florida (1999-2002) among the all-time passing leaders at UF and the SEC while leading the Gators to 3 bowl games and a 23-9 overall record in his 3 years as a starter. The 2001 Heisman trophy runner-up and Associated Press National Player-of-the-Year concluded his career with 9,164 passing yards, 677 completions, 1,110 attempts, 77 TD passes and the lowest career INT percentage in Gator history (3.24). Also ranks 2nd with a 61.0 career completion percentage. Just the fifth sophomore in NCAA history to finish in the top two in Heisman voting. Led the SEC in passing as a sophomore and junior and tossed an NCAA-record 55 TD passes as a freshman and sophomore. Started 32-of-37 games played at UF and threw for 300 yards a school-record 17 times. All-SEC second- team pick as a junior started all 13 games and set school records with 287 completions and 503 attempts. As a sophomore earned first-team All-SEC honors and the SEC Offensive Player-of-the-Year award while throwing for a Gator-record 3,896 yards (2nd in SEC) and career-high 34 TDs (6th in SEC) while starting 11-of-12 games. Also led the NCAA in pass-efficiency rating (170.8), passing yards per game (354.2), yards per pass attempt (9.86) and yards per play (9.10). Threw for over 300-plus yards in 10-of-11 games and at least 3 TD passes in 7-of-11 regular-season games. As a redshirt freshman, became first freshman QB in UF history to be named first-team All-SEC while starting 8-of-12 games played, including the Nokia Sugar Bowl. Majored in travel and tourism.
PERSONAL: Passed for 7,518 yards and 97 TDs at Bloomington South (Ind.) H.S. during his prep career. Led team to the 1998 state 5A title, passing for 3,080 yards and 34 TDs as a senior. Honored as the 1998 Indiana Player-of-the-Year by USA Today and Parade All-America team. Son of Daniel and Maureen Grossman. Father and grandfather, Rex, both played football at Indiana University. |