UCLA Football: A Quarterback Legacy

The UCLA Bruins football program boasts a rich history of talented quarterbacks. From record-breaking performances to national accolades and NFL careers, these signal-callers have left an indelible mark on the program. This article will delve into the careers of some of the most notable quarterbacks to wear the blue and gold, examining their accomplishments, statistics, and overall impact on UCLA football.

The Elite Tier

Troy Aikman (1987-88)

Without a doubt, Troy Aikman is the most high-profile member of this impressive list. The Oklahoma transfer proved to be a force during his two-year stint in Westwood. He threw for a staggering 5,298 yards to go along with 41 touchdowns. The team's record under Aikman in two seasons was an impressive 22-4.

As a junior, Aikman won the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. The next season, he won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback.

He parlayed a wonderful college career into being the top overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. A six-time Pro Bowler, Aikman helped the Cowboys to glory on the gridiron. During his career, Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles. His outstanding play made him an instant fan favorite, and he often displayed an "it" factor that helped to shape him as a special player. Aikman's career totals of 165 touchdown passes and 32,942 passing yards helped to make him an inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. The combination of both his college and professional career make him arguably the best quarterback to ever come out of UCLA. A shining example of a UCLA Bruins quarterback, Troy Aikman's awe-inspiring arm strength, and exceptional downfield vision made him a force to be reckoned with on the field. Aikman's leadership skills were evident in his ability to command respect and rally his teammates, propelling him to a successful NFL career and earning him a rightful spot among the best.

Gary Beban (1964-67)

Gary Beban's career as a Bruin should be characterized as simply fantastic. Between 1965-67, Beban amassed a 23-5-2 record. He not only threw for 23 touchdowns, but he also ran for 35 more. His total career yardage of 5,358 has him in the top five of all former UCLA quarterbacks. With his impressive skill set, he truly epitomized what a dual-threat quarterback brings to the table.

In 1967, Beban was named as a unanimous All-American. He was also the winner of the Maxwell Award, given annually to the best player in America. His best achievement was being named as the 1967 Heisman Trophy winner. To this day, he is the only UCLA Bruin to ever win the award. Dubbed "The Great One," Gary Beban's illustrious college career cemented his position as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to wear the UCLA Bruins uniform. Beban's fierce competitiveness and cerebral approach to football were immediately apparent from the moment he stepped onto the field, making him an invaluable asset to his team. With an uncanny ability to read defenses and a powerful arm to exploit weaknesses, Beban was instrumental in leading his team to victory time and again.

Beban had a less-than-stellar professional career, but that doesn't take away from his excellence as a Bruin. Notably, Gary Beban (1965-1967) remains the only Bruin to win the Heisman Trophy when he did so in 1967. The Bruins of the mid-1960s were a powerhouse under his leadership, finishing 8-2 his senior year. It did not impede Beban, though, playing with a cracked rib in what is now referred to as the "Game of the Century" against crosstown rival USC. Gary Beban’s rib injury during the 1967 season had a significant impact on UCLA’s campaign. Despite his efforts, the Bruins lost 21-20 in a game that ultimately helped USC's O.J. Simpson secure the Heisman Trophy.

Cade McNown (1995-98)

Cade McNown's four years as the Bruins signal-caller were truly outstanding. The lefty quarterback holds the all-time UCLA record with 68 career touchdown passes. He also holds the record for career passing yards (10,708) and completions (694). He led the Bruins to back-to-back double-digit-win seasons, including a Rose Bowl appearance in 1999. Suffice it to say, his college career was stellar. McNown demonstrated an awesome swagger on the field, and UCLA fans felt as if the Bruins were never out of any ballgame. A true aficionado with the football, he'd employ both intelligence and quick decision making. His ability to spread the ball around the field and utilize his teammates really did make him an incredible college player. A true testament to resilience and passion for the sport, Cade McNown's tenure as a UCLA Bruins quarterback showcased his remarkable leadership, on-field intelligence, and indomitable spirit. McNown's accuracy and strong arm set him apart, allowing him to make pinpoint throws and lead his team to countless victories. His unwavering commitment to his craft and refusal to back down in the face of adversity made him a fan favorite, and his impact on the program is still felt today. Cade McNown (1995-1998) infused UCLA football with energy and enthusiasm, taking the team to a Pac-10 title in 1998 and earning a Rose Bowl appearance. He is still the school's all-time leader in total offense and passing yards.

Unfortunately, McNown couldn't translate his brilliance from college into the professional ranks. He washed out of the NFL after two porous seasons with the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers. Despite his professional shortcomings, McNown will forever be loved by the Bruins fanbase. He reached 2,000 yards for the season in five games, the fastest of any player in UCLA history.

Notable Bruins Quarterbacks

Bob Waterfield (1942-45)

If Aikman is the best quarterback to ever come from UCLA, Waterfield is a close second. Waterfield had a solid tenure in Westwood. He led the Bruins to the Pacific Coast Conference championship in 1942. Not only was he the starting quarterback, but he was also the kicker, punter and acted as a defensive back.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1945, and became the first rookie to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Waterfield's prowess on the field stretched to the realm of kicking with fantastic results. He still holds the UCLA and Rams record for longest punts-91 and 88 yards, respectively. In Waterfield's professional career, he finished with 97 touchdowns and 11,849 passing yards.

Drew Olson (2002-05)

Drew Olson is statistically one of the top two quarterbacks to ever play for the Bruins. The Piedmont, Calif. native threw for 67 touchdowns over the course of his college career-second to McNown's 68 touchdown passes. In the 45 games Olson played in college, he had 664 completions, ranking him second in UCLA history. He also ranks second in regards to career passing yards (8,532).

Olson's senior season in 2005 was one for the ages. He not only led UCLA to a 10-2 season, but he also finished the year with 34 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. His 64 percent completion mark was also amongst the best in the nation. While not blessed with tremendous physical gifts, Olson relied on guile, moxie and intelligence to play at a high level. Despite not having any success in the professional ranks, Olson was undoubtedly the top quarterback to play at UCLA in the past decade. Throughout his career, Ramsey threw 50 touchdown passes-the third most by any UCLA quarterback in the school's history behind Olson (67) and McNown (68).

Tom Ramsey (1979-82)

Tom Ramsey captained one of the most exhilarating seasons for UCLA football to date. In the 1983 season, Ramsey led an unexpected charge to a Rose Bowl, culminating in a victory over Michigan. The arduous journey to get to the Rose Bowl included an impressive duration of strong play by the aforementioned Ramsey.

In the third game of the 1983 season, he overcame a 21-point deficit and beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. It marked the first time UCLA had ever beaten Michigan. The Granada Hills, Calif. native also took down John Elway's Stanford Cardinal squad in a thrilling shootout, 38-35. The icing on the proverbial cake was when Ramsey defeated USC, signifying a berth into the contest against Michigan. It also marked the first time that UCLA had ever played USC in the Rose Bowl.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

In terms of personal accolades, Ramsey's resume is jam-packed. Not only was Ramsey the MVP of the Rose Bowl victory over Michigan, but he was also elected to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2007. His excellence was recognized by his alma mater, as he was elected into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

John Sciarra (1973-75)

John Sciarra starred in one of the more memorable football games in UCLA's history. In 1976, the Bruins went up against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes were 15-point favorites in this game, and not many believed that the Bruins had a shot at being victorious.

Not only was Ohio State the nation's top-ranked team, but they were also undefeated. However, Sciarra re-wrote the preconceived script and led the Bruins to a triumphant 23-10 victory. The UCLA quarterback went 13-of-19 for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Although Sciarra had a pedestrian professional career statistically, he still managed to play professionally for eight years. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1991, and was an All-American in 1975.

Steve Bono (1980-84)

Steve Bono didn't display an eye-popping statistical output during his time at UCLA, but he did provide the Bruins with some great moments. Perhaps Bono's best moment in college was when he helped UCLA to win the 1985 Fiesta Bowl over the Miami Hurricanes and their star quarterback, Bernie Kosar. The slim 39-37 victory came in large part to Bono's exceptional play. Professionally, the quarterback carved out quite a nice niche for himself. The Pennsylvania native played 14 years in the NFL. He was mostly a backup, but he did earn the honor as a Pro Bowler during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995. In that season, he was also named as the AFC Player of the Year. An interesting side note is that Bono's son Christoph is currently a member of the football team at UCLA.

Billy Kilmer (1958-60)

Billy Kilmer was both an incredibly productive college and professional player. "Whiskey Red" (as he was affectionately known) played the single-wing halfback position for the Bruins. His responsibilities entailed throwing the ball, running the ball and even punting. In 1960, he led the nation in total offense. Professionally, Kilmer enjoyed a long 17-year career. His ability to throw the ball was quite evident, as he tallied 20,495 yards to go along with 152 touchdowns. Kilmer was involved in one of the more infamous plays in NFL history, where he fumbled the ball only to have former Minnesota Vikings player Jim Marshall run the wrong way with the fumble recovery.

Wayne Cook (1991-94)

Wayne Cook accomplished quite an impressive feat during his UCLA career, never losing to USC. The Trojan slayer beat the Bruins' crosstown rival twice as the starting quarterback from 1993-94. During the 1993 season, he defeated the Trojans in the final regular-season game, ultimately earning a berth to the 1994 Rose Bowl against Wisconsin. The Newbury Park, Calif. native threw for an impressive 4,723 yards during his tenure in Westwood. He also had a scintillating touchdown-to-incerception ratio, throwing for 34 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. A professional career never materialized for Cook, but he'll go down as one of the most successful quarterbacks to ever play at UCLA.

Josh Rosen (2015-2017)

Hyped as one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks to graduate from college in years, Josh Rosen (2015-2017) threw for over 9,300 yards over his three-year stint at UCLA. He was selected tenth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, but he was unable to meet the high expectations placed upon him. Rosen played college football for the UCLA Bruins, receiving Freshman All-American and Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2015.

In the season opener, Rosen completed 28 of 35 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns as UCLA defeated Virginia 34-16, and he became the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for UCLA. He was honored as the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week. In a 17-9 win over No. 18 Utah, he broke Drew Olson's decade-old school record (199) for consecutive passes without an interception. In 2016, Rosen was injured in an October 8 loss to Arizona State Sun Devils, when he threw for a then-career high 400 yards.

In the 2017 season opener at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Rosen completed 35-of-59 passes for 491 yards and four touchdowns to rally UCLA to a 45-44 win over Texas A&M, capped off by a touchdown pass to Jordan Lasley on a fake spike play with 48 seconds to go in the game. The Bruins overcame a 34-point deficit, the largest comeback in school history and the second-most ever in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The following week, Rosen was 22-of-25 for 329 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in a 56-23 win over Hawaii. It was the 12th 300-yard game of his career, breaking the school record of 11 set previously by Cade McNown. After five games, Rosen led the nation in passing yards (2,135), total offense (2,158), and touchdowns (17).

On October 28, in a 44-23 loss against Washington, Rosen was forced out of the game in the third quarter due to a concussion, which he had tried hiding from coaches after being injured on a sack in the game's opening drive. After missing one game, Rosen returned to the lineup and threw for 381 yards with one touchdown and also scored on a one-yard run in a 44-37 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils. In his first matchup against USC quarterback Sam Darnold, Rosen was 32 of 52 passing for 421 yards along with three touchdowns and an interception in a 28-23 loss to the Trojans. In the regular season finale against California, Rosen led the Bruins to a 17-9 lead at the half, but was held out the rest of the game after suffering his second concussion. After leading the conference in passing yards per game, Rosen was voted second-team All-Pac-12. He was retroactively credited with a 39-yard pass to Eldridge Massington that was originally ruled a run against Arizona State.

Considered by many to be the "most NFL-ready" quarterback prospect in the draft, Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round with the 10th overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft. On May 10, 2018, Rosen signed a four-year deal worth $17.84 million with an $11 million signing bonus. During training camp, Rosen won the backup position over Mike Glennon. On September 24, the Cardinals named Rosen the starting quarterback for Week 4. In his first career start, Rosen passed for 180 yards and a touchdown in the 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He helped the Cardinals earn their first win the following week against the San Francisco 49ers, when he completed 10 of 25 passes for 170 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie, receiver Christian Kirk. In Week 7, Rosen had two of his three interceptions returned for touchdowns, lost two fumbles, and was sacked six times in a 45-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. In Week 8, Rosen led the Cardinals to an 18-15 comeback win for a season sweep over the 49ers. He threw a career-high 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score to Kirk with 34 seconds remaining to rally the team from a 15-3 fourth-quarter deficit. In Week 13, Rosen completed 11 of 26 passes for 149 yards to upset the Green Bay Packers at home, 20-17.

With Miami, Rosen was named the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick to start the 2019 season. The Dolphins started the year 0-2, and were outscored 102-10. After relieving Fitzpatrick in both contests, Rosen was named the starter for Week 3, and threw for 200 yards as the Dolphins lost 31-6 to the Dallas Cowboys. In Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he threw for 180 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 30-10 loss. Rosen's touchdown pass was his first and only as a member of the Dolphins. Following a Week 5 bye week, Rosen started against the Washington Redskins, but was benched for Fitzpatrick after three quarters while throwing for only 85 yards and two interceptions.

On December 23, 2020, Rosen was signed by the 49ers off of the Buccaneers' practice squad following injuries to quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens, and practice squad quarterback Josh Johnson being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Rosen was active for the 49ers for their final two games, but did not see any action. Rosen made his season debut during Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he replaced Ryan for the Falcons' final drive. He made two pass attempts, both of which were incomplete, in the 48-25 loss. In Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, Rosen again relieved a struggling Ryan during the third quarter. He completed one of six passes for 14 yards and was intercepted by cornerback Jourdan Lewis in the 43-3 defeat. The following week against the New England Patriots, Rosen made a third relief appearance in the fourth quarter after Ryan threw two interceptions on consecutive drives. Rosen completed one of two pass attempts before throwing an interception to linebacker Kyle Van Noy that was returned for a touchdown.

Due to his highly touted potential, high draft pick, and lack of success to show for it, some sources have listed Rosen among the biggest draft busts in the history of the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals. The cause of his failure in the NFL has been debated among fans and analysts. Some argued that he never had a stable offensive line, a capable coach, nor a stable offensive system in Arizona and Miami before being relegated to being a backup. Others cited his lack of mobility, anticipation, and athleticism compared to many of his NFL peers and his lack of adjustment to the professional level. Regardless, he is noted to never have spent more than one full season with any team, becoming the only first-round quarterback to be jettisoned from the team that drafted him after playing only one season for it, and having been on seven teams throughout his five-year career.

Other Quarterbacks

UCLA has seen a number of other quarterbacks contribute to the program's history. This includes players like Mark Harmon, who boasted a storied career both on and off the field, combining his athletic prowess with an innate understanding of the game. Brett Hundley was known for his dual-threat capabilities and unshakable confidence. Tommy Maddox was a standout talent known for his strong arm, precision passing, and natural leadership skills. Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) (2018-2022) played five seasons at UCLA, establishing multiple school records, including career total offensive yards. His athleticism and versatility to contribute both as a passer and runner made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in recent program history.

tags: #ucla #football #quarterback #history