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    Prep Rally

    Former NFL QB expected to take reins of alma mater’s football program

    By Cameron Smith | Prep Rally – Tue, Jan 24, 2012 2:57 PM EST

    It's not official yet, but it sure looks like another former NFL star is heading back to high school football.

    Former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna — Getty ImagesFormer NFL quarterback Jon Kitna — Getty Images

    As first reported by the Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma (Wash.) Lincoln High alumnus and longtime NFL quarterback Jon Kitna officially began a part-time teaching position at the school on Monday. While nothing is official, it's widely believed that Kitna -- who is known to have applied for the football coaching position -- will become the next head coach at the school he once graduated from.

    "Nothing is set in stone," a source told the News Tribune, "but you can connect the dots."

    Those dots include prior comments from school administrators that "in-building applicants" will be given priority to fill the open coaching position. Now that Kitna is an in-building applicant -- he is officially a math teacher at the school as of Monday -- one would assume that makes him an ideal fit.

    [Also: Dolphins legend Mark Duper survives football-sized tumor]

    Kitna retired after 15 NFL seasons (with Seattle, Cincinnati, Detroit and Dallas) earlier in January at the end of the 2011-12 regular season. He finished with 169 career touchdowns, but he told the News Tribune that he and his wife were convinced their true calling was to teach and coach football at the high school level.

    "My wife and I always felt like these years in the NFL have prepared us for what our real calling in life is going to be as teachers and running a high school football program," Kitna told The News Tribune in December. "I don't think there's anything that has changed from that. God has used my time in the NFL to train me to be ready to train young men to be authentic, real leaders, and to have a positive impact on society. And I want to use the avenue of football to do that. So I am very clear, and my wife is very clear in our calling."

    Comments like that have made Kitna's move back to Washington largely well received, though at least one commenter on the News Tribune's Prep Blog questioned the ethics of creating a position for someone who has already made a significant fortune in his life, all while others wait in line for any full-time teaching positions.

    "I get it, it's Jon Kitna, he will be a great asset to the football program at Lincoln, but I think it is ridiculous that he automatically gets a teaching job when there are tons of teachers out there trying to get job day after day," News Tribune user Bosox44 commented on the blog. "And a guy that doesn't need the money and didn't even have to try for the job gets it. He is taking a career away from someone.

    "I get that he has to have a life after football but he got the teaching job because of his name. If he wants to coach then fine but leave the teaching job to someone who deserves/needs it, someone who I assume has been searching for a long time, not because they aren't fully qualified but because there just aren't enough teaching jobs out there."

    Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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    Watch Full Count!
     
    • Who
      Who  •  3 months ago
      In this story retired NFL player Kitna is taking a teaching job and looking to coach high school football.

      In another story Terrel Owens is crying he squandered away the $80 mil he earned over his career, has no friends, and all his problems are someone else's fault.
      • Elliott
        Elliott 3 months ago
        When financial planners and investors make mistakes with someone else's money it does not mean they squandered it.
      • unknown
        unknown 3 months ago
        TO is an idiot.
      • American born n' bred
        American born n' bred 3 months ago
        Elliot...T.O. was #$%$ rich! Chicken today...feathers tomorrow!
    • Mike
      Mike  •  Costa Mesa, California  •  3 months ago
      Kitna is a class act and a great athlete! Any young football player would benefit from his knowledge.
      • Kevin
        Kevin 3 months ago
        Mike, your from Cali, love our Browns and posted a great comment...you are the man!
      • Connor
        Connor 3 months ago
        a great athlete? Tim tebow was better in one seasons than all of Jon's in the nfl. I mean come on, any quarterback after 15 years can throw that many touchdowns hahahahaaha
      • jdc
        jdc 3 months ago
        Kitna was a great athlete and a class act. Tebow seems to be a good guy, but he can't touch Kitna's throwing ability (although he is abetter running back) and it will be another 14 years before anyone can say he is better than Kitna.
    • just the facts
      just the facts  •  Seattle, Washington  •  3 months ago
      This guy is authentic. I will bet he is a great teacher and a pretty fair coach.
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        KITNA will be the same kind of teacher as he was a Quarterback 3rd class or less the sorry part of this is that he will be imparting 3rd class tactics to young people .. Being nice does not make you a good teacher
      • chris n
        chris n 3 months ago
        3rd class or less dont last 15 years in the NFL. Your just a jelous idiot that has amounted to nothing in life. You should save your disrespect for the mirror.
      • Cycllyn
        Cycllyn 3 months ago
        Charlie Browne, evidently you know little about sports. The best and most successful coaches have never been the best players or stars. They are the utility player the ones in the trenches; jacks of all trades. Look it up. They know better how to understand and develop a player, because they were not naturally gifted themselves. The naturally gifted have no understanding or patience with a developing athlete, because most often, they have no point of reference.
    • VK
      VK  •  Allen, Texas  •  3 months ago
      Too bad more pro athletes don't do this. I think it's wonderful and wish him well. The kids on his team will learn things normally taught well beyond HS.
      • Ken
        Ken 3 months ago
        I am betting VK that alot more do it but we don't know about it. There are so many a part of a team and only a few make it to making it to the media like ESPN. Others though studied other things than sports in college and went into business or other choices. Some studied to be Drs. When alot of these guys retire, you don't here much of what they will do. Kitna is proberly well built compared to othe average male teacher. With that said perhaps some of these bad #$%$ kids taking up space hoping to harass a teacher will think twice.
      • john s
        john s 3 months ago
        do you really want some of these pro's teaching?
      • Dan
        Dan 3 months ago
        Most pro athletes have trouble spelling their own name and you want them to teach.
    • Buff111
      Buff111  •  3 months ago
      After I retired from the USAF, I became a teacher. I recommend it to anyone who wants to make a difference; it's very rewarding.
      • Ken
        Ken 3 months ago
        Good show my friend. almost went AF, but some reason I got wrong info to what I wanted in the AF was not offered.So i went army. I found out different later on. Thanks for serving.

        I see too many people today want a job handed to them and that even perhaps if unqualified. I hear of many firms Even from ABC news on companys are hiring but not enough qualified are good enough for the job. They lack the skills they ask for. CNC operators and other types of Machinist. Good money in that field. The medical field is screaming for nurses. Many jobs open their with 12 hour shifts.
      • Hypnotist
        Hypnotist 3 months ago
        I taught night classes at USC and it was a very rewarding endeavor. It almost didn't seem like work, even after putting in 9-hour days in my day job.
      • unknown
        unknown 3 months ago
        My wife and 2 other ladies are RNs for our local school district at an annual salary of $1/yr. The school was struggling financially, it is her way of giving back.
    • cedric
      cedric  •  Sioux Falls, South Dakota  •  3 months ago
      Funny how a good chunk of this article is actually kind of negative--about a positive person wanting to have a positive influence on young athletes. Journalist a real funny bunch.
    • Troy
      Troy  •  Ocala, Florida  •  3 months ago
      If he is a quakified teacher, why shouldn't he go for it? Besides being good for the kids and the school district, GOOD LUCK TO HIM!!!!!
    • press watch pro
      press watch pro  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      so was that one guy the reporter cause he sure didn't give any name in a quote except an internet appelation - no it was the reporter trying to drum up crap for a crappy shot at a guy who is doing a good thing.
    • Andy
      Andy  •  Montgomery, Alabama  •  3 months ago
      So, according the the one poster, an ex-NFL player shouldn't seek a job doing something he loves and feels led to do because he made some money as a player? What a stupid statement.
    • Justin
      Justin  •  Rancho Cucamonga, California  •  3 months ago
      Kitna didnt automatically get the job nor did his name land him the job. he built his resume just like anybody else. His name is well known precisely because of his resume. To say he doesnt deserve the job because he already has money and he is taking a career away from somebody else is ridiculous. His resume is stronger than the next guy so he gets the job, sounds fair to me. I think he will be great, being an NFL quarterback for 15 years will make him a great role model for the kids and he can teach plenty of life lessons and inspire hope to those kids.
    • One Way
      One Way  •  3 months ago
      Good for you Jon. Thanks for what you did for us in Cincinnati when you were here.
    • Maria
      Maria  •  Austin, Texas  •  3 months ago
      You hear about high teacher turnover rates because of high stress and low pay. Well.... he'd love to do it and he's already been paid well so they money is not an issue. What's the problem?
    • Joe M
      Joe M  •  Encinitas, California  •  3 months ago
      As a teacher, I say, if he is qualified to teach and coach football, more power to the man. Most districts require their coaches to teach at least one class, PE, or health, meaning they must have a teaching credential, if not he could be an assistant coach. The man is a class act, and I doubt very much he would not want the position given to him, but rather earned on his merit and interview selection process. Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise or brands him as a disingenuous person that would use his name and fortune to buy into something. Sorry, he's Jon Kitna, not Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney.

      God Bless Jon for wanting to give back and not wanting to idly waste your days chasing skirts, wearing trendy clothes or hanging out in night clubs.
    • At 72
      At 72  •  Chandler, Arizona  •  3 months ago
      This is special. Jon and his wife are giving back and doing what makes them feel good. It's not for the money for sure.
    • tommy
      tommy  •  Aurora, Colorado  •  3 months ago
      good for him, i am glad he is giving back...still good people out there! I would be stoked to play for him!
    • Phillip
      Phillip  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 months ago
      WHY CAN'T WE GET PEOPLE LIKE THIS TO RUN FOR CONGRESS??????
    • Billy
      Billy  •  Columbia, Maryland  •  3 months ago
      that reporter who questioned Kitna is the biggest idiot I have ever heard of.The man is not teaching in order to take away another teachers salary(he doesn't need it) he is doing it because it is his calling in life.How many of us out there would give up a glamorous,high paying job in order to better the lives of kids! I gave up a chance to play professional football to teach and to this day I never once regret it even though I live paycheck to paycheck.
    • P S
      P S  •  3 months ago
      Kitna was always a class guy during his NFL career. This High School is lucky to have him.
    • laser pass
      laser pass  •  Massillon, Ohio  •  3 months ago
      he is better than the other ones thats why hes being hired
    • DavidJ
      DavidJ  •  San Francisco, California  •  3 months ago
      how did BoSox find something negative in this story? Amazing. Let's assume you're correct...it's a created position. THEN it didn't exist 2 weeks ago, so no- it did not deprive a new candidate of a job. Because without Kitna, the job did not exist. Personal aside- newly created positions are the best. Aim for one whenever you can.
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