Pat Haden

Infobox NFLretired


position=Quarterback
number=11
birthdate=birth date and age|1953|1|23
Westbury, New York
debutyear=1975
finalyear=1981
draftyear=1975
draftround=7
draftpick=176
college=USC
teams=
* Southern California Sun (1975)
* Los Angeles Rams (1976-1981)
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=52-60
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=9,296
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=69.6
nfl=HAD484505
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (1977)
* All-Pro selection (1977)

Patrick Capper Haden (born January 23, 1953 in Westbury, New York, United States) is a sportscaster and former professional American football player. He played quarterback for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1981.

High School career

He was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 1995. Haden played high school football at powerhouse Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California. During his senior year, he lived with then-USC football coach John McKay's family. He was highly sought after and was recruited by many schools, including Notre Dame.

College career

At University of Southern California he made it to three Rose Bowl appearances, and two national championships. In the final game of his college career, the 1975 Rose Bowl, he was named co-MVP. Haden also was a recipient of the Today's Top V Award in 1975, which honored five senior student-athletes. He was put into the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1995.

Professional career

Haden played one season in the World Football League for the Southern California Sun, which allowed him to go to attend school at Oxford University under his Rhodes Scholarship. His decision to go to the United Kingdom for schooling hurt his NFL possibilities and he dropped to the 7th round of the NFL Draft. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?lg=NFL&yr=1975 1975 NFL Draft on databaseFootball.com ] ]

Haden made the Los Angeles Rams' roster in 1976 as the third quarterback behind James Harris and Ron Jaworski. When both Harris and Jaworski were injured, Haden was pressed into duty in the fifth game of the season. He responded by playing mostly mistake-free football, letting running backs Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti shoulder the offensive load, passing only occasionally. He led the Rams to the NFC Western Division title and a 14-12 upset of the defending NFC champion Dallas Cowboys in the opening round, but the Rams fell to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

Even as Haden played well, the Rams wanted experience and a stronger arm at the quarterback position for the 1977 NFL season. Both Harris and Jaworski left for other teams as free agents, so the Rams decided to give creaky veteran Joe Namath a chance. Namath started the first four games, but it was evident his knees couldn't take it anymore, so the Rams went back to Haden. Haden led the Rams to eight victories in the last 10 games, winning the NFC West and making the playoffs once again. Their first-round opponent was once again the Vikings at home, but the Rams lost 14-7 in the Mud Bowl.

Haden was rewarded with the starting position from day one in 1978. The Rams started fast, going 8-0, but tailed off to 12-4, still winning their third straight NFC West Division title. Haden threw a pair of touchdown passes and led the Rams to a 34-10 victory against the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys, however, walloped the Rams 28-0 in the 1978 NFC Championship Game on their way to the Super Bowl. Haden was voted the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club NFC Player of the Year of the 1978 season.

Haden began the 1979 season as the starter, but a broken finger midway through the season sidelined him in favor of Vince Ferragamo. Ferragamo ended up leading the Rams to Super Bowl XIV.

Because of Rams' coach Ray Malavasi's policy of giving an injured starter his job back, Haden began the 1980 season as the starter with Ferragamo as the backup. Haden was largely ineffective in the first two games and was benched while Ferragamo passed for a then Rams-record 30 touchdown passes.

Ferragamo, however, bolted the Rams for the Canadian Football League. Haden once again went into the 1981 season as starter, but was injured midway through that season before deciding to retire.

Personal

Following is sports career, Haden, who was a Rhodes Scholar and received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from University of Southern California Law School became a partner for a venture capital firm in Los Angeles: Riordan, Lewis & Haden, along with former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Haden also serves as a commentator for NBC Sports' coverage of Notre Dame college football, and held similar duties for their Arena Football coverage from 2003 through 2006 and FOX Sports BCS bowl coverage in 2008. His position as the Notre Dame color commentator is ironic in that he, as USC's quarterback in 1974, helped orchestrate one of Notre Dame's greatest losses (and, conversely, one of USC's greatest wins). The Trojans won 55-24 despite trailing 24-0 at one point and 24-6 at halftime. Haden admits that his mother wanted him to go to Notre Dame and always lights a candle in her memory at the grotto whenever he is on campus. Haden is also a member of the USC Board of Trustees. [http://www.usc.edu/about/administration/trustees/ Board of Trustees] , University of Southern California, "Accessed April 13, 2008."]

Haden also previously was a color man for CBS' college football coverage (being one of a three-man booth with former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian and play-by-play man Brent Musburger), and provided color commentary for TNT's Sunday night football coverage and Westwood One's radiocasts, primarily working the Sunday night schedule which immediately followed his TV commitments (at the time, TNT and ESPN split the Sunday night games between them, with TNT broadcasting the first half of the season and ESPN the second half).

References

External links

* [http://www.usclegends.org/pat-haden.php Pat Haden] Profile at USC Legends
* [http://www.rosebowllegends.org/pat-haden.php Pat Haden] Profile at Rosebowl Legends

See also