A Star Is Born: When Backup Quarterbacks Deliver in the Clutch
These reserves went from the bench to big time.
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When Backup Quarterbacks Deliver in the Clutch - Injury is a part of football and when a starting quarterback goes down, a backup is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight and expected to perform. While some backups fold like a newspaper page, others step up and instantly become stars. Cardale Jones was pushed into Ohio State’s starting QB role and responded with three straight victories to lead the Buckeyes to a national title win Monday night. Jones joins legends like Kurt Warner and Tom Brady, going from reserves to the men leading their teams to victory. Keep reading as we highlight QBs who delivered in the clutch. (Photos from LefT: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, Joe Robbins/Getty Images, Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
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Cardale Jones - When Ohio State starting quarterback J.T. Barrett broke his ankle during the Buckeyes-Michigan game on November 29, Cardale Jones, a third-string QB, was thrust into the starting role. So, how did he respond? By leading Ohio State to a Big Ten title, an upset of No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and the College Football Playoff national championship win over Oregon. Despite his name catching national-level attention, Jones says he’s not ready for the NFL yet. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Kurt Warner - The story of Kurt Warner is storybook material. The former supermarket clerk went from being a reserve to the ringmaster of the NFL’s Best Show on Turf. When St. Louis Rams starter Trent Green suffered a season-ending knee injury during the 1999 pre-season, Warner came alive as the starter, guiding the high-scoring Rams to a shocking 13-3 season, which ended with a victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Warner was also named the game’s MVP. From backup QB to Super Bowl MVP — the kind of stuff dreams are made of.
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Tom Brady - Drew Bledsoe was a solid NFL quarterback, but when he suffered internal bleeding from taking a big hit from the New York Jets in Week 2 of the 2001 season, Tom Brady slid into the New England Patriots starting role and has never left. Brady led the Pats to the first of three Super Bowl victories that season. Sometimes a star and legend are born at the same time. (Photo: Brian Snyder /Landov)
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Terry Bradshaw - Terry Bradshaw lost his starting job to Joe Gilliam in 1974, but when he earned it back, his star was re-born. That same season, Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl win...his first of four titles as the quarterback of the Steelers. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis)
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