After 21 years, Vinny takes his final snap
By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published December 31, 2007
TAMPA - Quarterback Vinny Testaverde took a knee on the final play of the game, symbolically closing out his 21-year career in the place it began, with a full-circle trip to Tampa.
It won't be his last.
Testaverde, 44, was the Panthers' inactive third quarterback Sunday but took the field for the final play. He said Saturday that he will retire. In the coming months, Testaverde will move his family from Long Island in New York to Tampa.
"It's a little ironic. It wasn't planned, believe me," Testaverde said of his final game coming in Tampa. "It's a great feeling to come back here and end it here. I got some cheers, which was a little different than when I was here before."
After winning the 1986 Heisman Trophy at Miami, Testaverde was the Bucs' top draft pick in 1987. But his six seasons were marked by poor play and criticism. In his first season as a starter, Testaverde threw 13 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, still the team's single-season record.
"I'm proud of the fact that I was able to hang in there through some tough times," he said. "I've had some great moments."
After leaving the Bucs in 1993, Testaverde remade his career. He moved to Cleveland and made his first Pro Bowl in 1996 after the franchise moved to Baltimore.
Two years later, he made the Pro Bowl with the Jets.
And he made stops in Dallas and New England late in his career.
Testaverde was out of the league at the start of 2007, but his phone rang after a rash of quarterback injuries. He turned down an offer from Arizona, then signed with Carolina on Oct. 10 after injuries to Jake Delhomme and David Carr.
Four days later, Testaverde started and beat the Cardinals, becoming the oldest starting quarterback to win a game at 43.
He started five more games, completing 94 of 172 passes for 952 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. But his body took a beating. Achilles' tendon and back injuries limited him in the final month of the season.
"The questions I asked were, 'Am I healthy? Am I contributing?'" Testaverde said. "Mentally, physically, I felt it was time. I didn't want to press my luck anymore. My body doesn't hold up the way it used to.
"Now I can change my number so nobody can call me."
Testaverde holds an NFL record for throwing at least one touchdown pass in 21 straight seasons. He ranks sixth in the NFL for career attempts (6,701), completions (3,787) and yards passing (46,233).
His 22-of-25 performance against the Packers on Sept. 13, 1992, remains one of the best by a Bucs quarterback, setting records for completion percentage (88.0) and yards per attempt (14.5). And he shares the franchise record of four 300-yard passing games in a season with Doug Williams and Brad Johnson.
Fast Facts
Vinny Testaverde
Position: Quarterback
Ht./wt.: 6-5, 233
Age: 44
College: University of Miami
NFL experience: 21 years
46,233 Passing yards
275 Touchdowns
267 Interceptions