Tim Couch

For the American politician, seeTim Couch (politician).

Tim Couch

Couch in 2018
No. 2
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1977-07-31)July 31, 1977 Hyden, Kentucky,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Leslie County (Hyden)
College:	Kentucky(1996–1998)
NFL draft:	1999/ round: 1 / pick:1
Career history
Cleveland Browns(1999–2003) Green Bay Packers(2004)* Jacksonville Jaguars(2007)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
NFL All-Rookie Team(1999) Quarterback of the Year(1998) ConsensusAll-American(1998) SEC Player of the Year(1998) First-teamAll-SEC(1998) Second-team All-SEC (1997)
Career NFL statistics
Pass attempts: 1,714 Pass completions: 1,025 Completion percentage: 59.8 TD–INT: 64–67 Passing yards: 11,131 Passer rating: 75.1
Player stats atPFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Timothy Scott Couch(born July 31, 1977) is an American former professionalfootballquarterbackwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for five seasons with theCleveland Browns.He playedcollege footballfor theKentucky Wildcats,where he set theSoutheastern Conferencerecord for single-season passing yards and won theQuarterback of the Yearas a junior. Selectedfirst overallby the Browns in the1999 NFL draft,Couch was the franchise's first draft pick following their reactivation as anexpansion team.

Couch threw for over 11,000 passing yards and helped the Browns qualify for the postseason in 2002, but his career would be cut short by injuries. Following attempted comebacks with theGreen Bay PackersandJacksonville Jaguars,he retired after failing to make the final roster for either team. Although Couch was unable to duplicate his college success, he was the first quarterback to lead the Browns to the playoffs since their NFL return and the only to do so between 2002 and 2003.

Early life

Couch was born inHyden, Kentucky.As aprepquarterback at Leslie County High School in Hyden, he set a number of national high school records: most pass completions (872), passing yardage (12,104), touchdown passes (132), and passing percentage for a season (75.1).After his senior season in 1995, he was the recipient of Kentucky's "Mr. Football"award.ESPNranked Couch as the sixth-best high school athlete ever.Couch also starred on the Leslie County High School basketball varsity team. He scored 36 points per game as a junior, which was the highest average in the state.Couch finished his high school career with 3,023 points.

College career

Couch attended theUniversity of Kentucky,where he played for theKentucky Wildcats footballteam from 1996 to 1998. During his 1996 freshman year under head coachBill Curry,he split time as the starting quarterback withBilly Jack Haskins.Curry was fired after a 1–6 start that season, and replacementHal Mummeannounced early that Couch would be the starter in his new pass-orientedair raid offense.In 1997, Couch set several school records as the previously anemic Kentucky offense topped national offensive rankings and finished 5–6 on the season, including a win over #20Alabama.During the1998 season,Couch led Kentucky to seven wins (including a win on the road at #21LSU)and a spot in theOutback Bowl(in which Couch completed 30 of 48 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns, though Kentucky lost toPenn State26–14).Following his junior season in 1998, Couch announced he would leave Kentucky to enter the NFL Draft early.

Couch's career totals at Kentucky included completing 795 of 1,184 passes (0.671 completion rate) for 8,435 yards (including 4,275 passing yards during the 1998 season alone) and 74 touchdowns (including a 97-yard touchdown pass toCraig Yeastagainst Florida on September 26, 1998). Couch still holds theNCAArecord for completion percentage in one game (minimum of 40 completions) at 83.0% againstVanderbilt(44 of 53) in 1998 and for completions per game (36.4, 400 in 11 games) that same season. He also left Kentucky holding NCAA records for most completions in a season (400 in 1998), most completions in a two-year period (793 in 1997–1998), most completions per game in a two-year period (34.7, 1997–1998) and career completion percentage (67.1%). His 1998 record of 4,151 offensive yards in a season stood for nine years as aSoutheastern Conference(SEC) record untilFloridaquarterbackTim Tebowbroke it with 4,181 yards in2007.His 1998 total of 4,275 passing yards was an SEC record, until broken byJoe Burrowof LSU.

College statistics

Kentucky Wildcats
Season	Passing							Rushing
	Cmp	Att	Yds	Pct	TD	Int	Rtg	ATT	Yds	TD
1996	32	84	276	38.1	1	1	67.2	24	-26	0
1997	363	547	3,884	66.4	37	19	141.4	66	-125	3
1998	400	553	4,275	72.3	36	15	153.3	64	-124	1
Career	795	1,184	8,435	67.1	74	35	141.7	154	-275	4

Awards and honors

• Second-team All-SEC (1997)
• First-team All-SEC (1998)
• First-team All-American (1998)
• SEC Player of the Year (1998)
• Heisman Trophyfinalist (1998)

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Vertical jump	Wonderlic
6 ft4+1⁄8in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	31 in (0.79 m)	9+7⁄8in (0.25 m)	5.08 s	1.73 s	2.85 s	4.34 s	31.0 in (0.79 m)	22
All values fromNFL Combine

Couch's college success culminated in his selection as the number one overall selection in the NFL draft by theCleveland Browns,who were returning to the NFL as anexpansion teamin 1999 following the original team's1996 relocation to Baltimore.Couch took over forTy Detmeras the team's starting quarterback in the second game of his rookie season. He spent five seasons as a starting quarterback for Cleveland, eventually facing competition from journeyman backupKelly Holcombduring his final two seasons.

Couch's tenure in Cleveland ranged from leading the team to a playoff appearance, to boos and inconsistent play, which was partially a result of being constantly plagued by injuries. He managed only one 300-yard passing game in his professional career. He missed the final nine games of the 2000 season with a broken thumb. The high point of Couch's career came in 2002, when he threw for 2,842 yards and 18 touchdowns in leading the upstart Browns to a 9–7 record and a playoff appearance.However, he suffered a broken leg in the final game of the regular season and was forced to watch as Holcomb threw for over 400 yards in a loss to thePittsburgh Steelersin theWild Cardround of the playoffs. This was the beginning of a quarterback controversy in Cleveland that would not be resolved until a year later when head coachButch Davistapped Holcomb as his starter. Couch's 2003 season often included playing behind an offensive line hampered by injury.Couch is considered byFox Sportsto be one of the NFL's biggest draft busts in its history after being taken #1, immediately ahead of fellow quarterbackDonovan McNabb,only to falter through most of his career. However, Couch's career has been defended by former Browns offensive coordinatorBruce Arians.

Notable moments and achievements

Hail Mary passes

Couch had several notable moments for the Browns, including two "Hail Mary" passes. In 1999 against theNew Orleans Saints,his last-second touchdown pass toKevin Johnsongave the Browns their first win.Three seasons later, inJacksonvillehe tossed a game-winning pass on the last play of the game toQuincy Morgan.Couch holds the distinction of being the only quarterback in NFL history to throw two game-winning passes of 50 yards or more with 0:00 left on the clock.

2002 season

Although the 2001 Browns had raised eyebrows with their defense, having recorded 43 sacks and a league-best 33 interceptions, the offense was once again moribund. The run game was pitiful and the offensive line was porous. At the start of the 2002 preseason, star linebackerJamir Millerwent down with a career-ending Achilles tendon injury. However, the team, led by Couch, won 9 games, including five in the final two minutes and seven by 10 points or less, and made a wildcard playoff spot.Those thrillers included a 31–28 overtime win overTennesseein which Couch threw for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns, a last minute touchdown and two-point conversion passes from Couch toDennis Northcuttagainst the Jets, the "Hail Mary" against the Jaguars, and a final-minute drive againstBaltimorewhere Couch threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight endMark Campbellafter being pinned inside his own 5-yard line with 0 timeouts and 1:30 left in regulation.

Attempted comebacks

After the Browns released Couch in 2004, he signed as afree agentwith theGreen Bay Packers.Couch went on to have a disappointing training camp.Couch struggled with arotator cuffinjury, that would eventually require surgery, and was sidelined for the entire year.

Couch was released by the Packers during their final cutdown to 53 players prior to the season. Couch filed a grievance with theNFL Players Unionagainst the Packers because they failed to attempt an injury settlement prior to his release.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in February 2005, Couch auditioned for theChicago Bearsmidway through the 2005 season and theCincinnati Bengalsin December 2005. The Bears observed that his arm was not back to NFL shape during their workout and did not sign him. The Bengals did not pursue Couch, althoughJon Kitnawas not re-signed after his contract expired in early 2006.

Couch participated in tryouts with theTennessee Titansin January 2006. He also had workouts with theMiami Dolphins,Pittsburgh Steelers,and theHouston Texans.All three teams stated that despite good workouts, they were not interested in pursuing him. Couch ended up missing the entire 2006 season due to another shoulder surgery.

ESPN reported on July 20, 2007, that Couch had contacted all 32 NFL teams to see if any teams were interested in him for the 2007–2008 season. On July 29, 2007, Couch agreed to a two-year contract with theJacksonville Jaguars.

Couch was brought in to compete for the third-string quarterback position withQuinn GrayandLester Ricard.He played in one preseason game against theMiami Dolphinsand was 2-of-4 for 11 yards. On August 18, Couch failed to make the third string and was released. The next week, the Jaguars released former starterByron Leftwichand Lester Ricard, leaving them without a third-string quarterback.

All-time Browns rankings

As of the end of the 2022 NFL season, Couch's career passing ranking among other Cleveland Browns quarterbacks with at least 700 pass attempts.

• Pass attempts - 6th
• Pass completions - 5th
• Completion percentage - 2nd
• Yardage - 6th
• Touchdowns - 9th
• Interceptions - 7th
• Wins - 9th

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	Games		Passing							Rushing
		GP	GS	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	TD
1999	CLE	15	14	223	399	55.9	2,447	15	13	73.2	40	267	1
2000	CLE	7	7	137	215	63.7	1,483	7	9	77.3	12	45	0
2001	CLE	16	16	272	454	59.9	3,040	17	21	73.1	38	128	0
2002	CLE	14	14	273	443	61.6	2,842	18	18	76.8	23	77	0
2003	CLE	10	8	120	203	59.1	1,319	7	6	77.6	11	39	1
Career		62	59	1,025	1,714	59.8	11,131	64	67	75.1	124	556	2

Awards and honors

• NFL Rookie of the Month (October 1999)
• AFC Offensive Player of the Week (9/22/02)

Broadcasting career

In 2002, Couch played himself in an episode ofThe Jerseycalled "Cheers, Jeers and Tears"where cheerleading captain Hillary Lighter uses a magical jersey as she jumps into Couch's body to get advice/lessons from professional cheerleaders on new cheers, shocking his coach and fellow players.

Couch worked forFox Sports Southfor five years as an analyst on the weekly showSEC Gridiron Live.He also served as the color analyst for the SEC Regional Network football package, typically found on Fox Sports Net affiliates in most SEC territories. Affiliates includedSun Sports,Fox Sports South,Fox Sports Southwest Plus,Fox Sports Houston,Fox Sports Midwest Plus,Fox Sports North Plus,andFox Sports San Diego.

On April 11, 2018, the Browns announced that Couch would be calling their 2018 preseason games alongsideJay Crawford.

Personal life

Couch's son Chase graduated from high school in the spring of 2024. In January 2023, Chase received a verbal scholarship offer to play football at Kentucky.

Currently Couch and an older brother Greg are part owners of Meridian Wealth Management, a nationwide company based in Lexington.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromNFL.com·ESPN·CBS Sports·Yahoo! Sports·SI.com·Pro Football Reference
• Media related toTim Couchat Wikimedia Commons