Jared Raymond Lorenzen (February 14, 1981 – July 3, 2019) was an
American footballquarterback and administrator who played in the
National Football League (NFL) for four seasons with the
New York Giants. He played
college football at the
University of Kentucky, where he set the school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns, and was signed by the Giants as an
undrafted free agent in 2004. At 285 lb (129 kg), Lorenzen was the heaviest quarterback to play in the NFL. He was nicknamed "the Pillsbury Throwboy" and "Hefty Lefty" because of his weight and being left-handed.[1][2]
Lorenzen struggled with his weight throughout most of his life, which was exacerbated following a leg injury that ended his playing career. Amid various health complications deriving from his weight, he died in 2019 at the age of 38.
Early years
Lorenzen attended
Highlands High School in
Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and was a
letterman in
football,
basketball, and
baseball. In basketball, he was a three-year letterman and helped lead his team to Kentucky Sweet 16 appearances.[4] As a junior, he passed for a Northern Kentucky-record 2,759 yards and 37 touchdowns in 13 games.[5] As a senior in 1998, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,393 yards, 45 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 904 yards (8.4 average per carry) and 15 TDs in leading Highlands to a 15–0 season[6] and No.19 national ranking as a senior, earning him the
Mr. Football Award.[7] Five games into his senior season, Lorenzen committed to the
University of Kentucky.[5]
College career
When Lorenzen arrived at the
University of Kentucky, he
redshirted as a true freshman. As a redshirt freshman, he was named the team's starting quarterback by
Wildcats head coach
Hal Mumme ahead of returning starter
Dusty Bonner.[8] The move caused Bonner to transfer.[9] Lorenzen's career at Kentucky was marked by two head coaching changes; Mumme departed as an investigation into
NCAA rules violations brought down his staff and resulted in the program being placed on probation with scholarship limitations. After Lorenzen helped lead the team to a 7–5 record in 2002, head coach
Guy Morriss left to become the head coach at
Baylor University and was replaced by
Rich Brooks, who designed plays in which Lorenzen lined up as a receiver while
Shane Boyd played quarterback. Despite all the turmoil, Lorenzen set school records in total offense, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, eclipsing many marks set by 1999 NFL No. 1 overall draft pick
Tim Couch.[10]
In the 2006 preseason, Lorenzen led his team to victory by engineering a game-winning drive against the
Baltimore Ravens.[14] Following that performance and an impressive training camp he was officially named the Giants' backup quarterback three weeks later.[15]
Lorenzen made his first appearance on the field in a Giants uniform on December 30, 2006. During this game, he was used for one play, a
quarterback sneak to make a first down on a third-and-one.[16]
Lorenzen made his second appearance on Sunday, January 7, 2007, in the Giants' wild card loss against the
Philadelphia Eagles. On the Giants' opening drive, he lined up at quarterback on a third-and-one and got the first down, "shifting the pile" in the process, on the way to a Giants touchdown.[17]
Lorenzen's first significant regular season appearance occurred on September 9, 2007, when he took over for the injured Manning in the fourth quarter of the season opener against the
Dallas Cowboys.[18] Lorenzen made both his first regular season pass and rush, but failed to earn a first down. He played again the following week, against the
Green Bay Packers, completing three passes in five attempts for 21 yards.[19] This proved to be his final appearance in the NFL, as Manning's injury did not cost him any further playing time and Lorenzen did not see further action in the 2007 season.[19][20] He continued to serve as Manning's backup for the remainder of the season, which concluded with the Giants winning
Super Bowl XLII against the then-undefeated
New England Patriots and Lorenzen earning a
championship ring.
After the team's Super Bowl win, Lorenzen was released by the Giants on June 23, 2008.[21]
Indianapolis Colts
On July 24, 2008, Lorenzen was signed by the
Indianapolis Colts.[22] He played during the preseason,[20] but was waived during the final cuts for the 53-man roster.[23]
Kentucky Horsemen
On February 10, 2009, Lorenzen was assigned to the
Kentucky Horsemen of the
AF2 league.[24] The team went bankrupt and was dissolved in October 2009.[25]
Coaching
After the Horsemen folded, Lorenzen retired as a player. On March 23, 2010, he was hired as the quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Highlands High School, in
Fort Thomas, Kentucky.[26]
Northern Kentucky River Monsters
In 2011, Lorenzen returned to professional football, this time working as the general manager of the
Northern Kentucky River Monsters of the
Ultimate Indoor Football League.[27] Still wanting to compete on the field, Lorenzen resigned as GM to become the team's starting quarterback.[28] Lorenzen had a highly successful season, throwing for 81 touchdowns and winning the league's MVP award.[29][30]
After gaining some positive press for his return to football, Lorenzen was named commissioner of the league after the 2011 season.[3]
Lorenzen returned to the River Monsters, by this point a member of the
Continental Indoor Football League, on December 17, 2013.[33] In Lorenzen's first game of the season, Lorenzen showed that he still had plenty of skill, side-stepping defenders. Lorenzen's play was filmed and the videos ended up all over the internet, overshadowing the River Monsters' 36–20 victory over the
Bluegrass Warhorses.[34] The following week, however, Lorenzen broke his
tibia in a 42–30 loss to the
Erie Explosion, ending his pro playing career.[35][36]
Post-football career
Lorenzen was a guest host of the Lexington-based radio show
Kentucky Sports Radio, mainly during UK football season. In 2015, he started a T-shirt company, ThrowboyTees.[37]
On July 28, 2017, Lorenzen launched "The Jared Lorenzen Project", where he chronicled online his attempts at fighting his obesity, weighing over 500 pounds (230 kg).[38][39] By April 2018, Lorenzen had lost over 100 pounds (45 kg).[40] His story was documented by
ESPN in July 2018.[41]
Death
Lorenzen died on July 3, 2019, at age 38,[42] from an acute infection, complicated by heart and kidney problems.[43]
^
abNeil Schmidt (October 1, 1998).
"Highlands QB commits to UK". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from
the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^Neil Schmidt (December 23, 1998).
"Lorenzen is Mr. Football". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from
the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^Jack Thompson (June 11, 2000).
"Qb Bonner Leaves Kentucky". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^Michael Conroy (February 21, 2004).
"Lorenzen hopes to make it big in NFL". www.lubbockonline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^"Jared Lorenzen Stats". www.sports-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Archived from
the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.