Quick Facts

Chad Pennington, dubbed “The Golden Boy,” is a former NFL American football player. He played for over eleven years before retiring.Pennington has won numerous awards and accolades during his NFL career with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

Chad is the only player in NFL history to have twice been named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Similarly, Chad was the All-Time Leader in career completion percentage with 66.0 percent at the time of his retirement.

How much is the Net worth of Chad Pennington?

Chad Pennington has amassed a sizable fortune throughout his stint as an NFL quarterback. According to his contract history from previous years, he signed a seven-year, $64.2 million deal with the New York Jets. His net worth is estimated to be $20 million USD.

Similarly, Chad inked a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $11.5 million. He made an estimated $75 million throughout his eleven years in the NFL. Additionally, he serves as a commentator for FOX Sports and as the Sayre School’s Director of Football.

Childhood, Family, and Education

Chad Pennington was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 26th, 1976, to proud parents Elwood and Denise Pennington. His father was a football coach and physical education teacher at Knoxville’s Halls High School. Similarly, his mother is a teacher at Webb School of Knoxville, a private coeducational school. Additionally, he has a younger sister, Andrea Pennington.

Chad has been an avid sports fan since he was a child. He began his high school career by playing basketball and eventually switched to football during his freshman year.Chad is a Cancer according to the horoscope. Cancerians are primarily recognized for their protective and perceptive natures.

Education

Additionally, Chad enrolled in the Webb School of Knoxville in eighth grade. He participated in a variety of sports there, including basketball, football, and baseball. He was, however, more passionate about football and realized that he would have a better chance of receiving college offers if he played.

Additionally, Chad was recruited by two colleges: the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee State University. Chad chose to attend the training camp at Marshall University, his parents’ alma school. Meanwhile, Jim Donnan, the head football coach at Marshall University, notices Pennington and offers him a scholarship.

What is the Professional Career of Chad Pennington?

The NFL Draft

Chad was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the NFL Draft 2000 as the 18th overall and first quarterback. Pennington was one of six quarterbacks selected by the Patriots prior to Tom Brady.

Jets of New York

Pennington had only three appearances in his first two seasons before taking over as the starting quarterback in the fifth round. Additionally, Chad assisted in guiding the Jets from 1–4 to 9–7 and won the AFC East division championship. Similarly, his quarterback rating of 104.2 set a new team record during the season.

Unfortunately, when playing against the New York Giants in the fourth pre-season game, Chad was hit by Giants linebacker Brandon Short and sustained a fracture-dislocation of his left hand. Chad missed the first six games of the 2003 regular season due to his injuries. Additionally, the severity of his injuries and hasty rehabilitation process resulted in his wrist never being the same.

As a result, his once-exceptional play-fake became totally commonplace. Prior to the 2004 season, the New York Jets signed Pennington to a seven-year, $64.2 million contract. Similarly, while playing against the Buffalo Bills, he hurt his rotator cuff, forcing him to miss three games.

Conflict with New York’s media

Chad was embroiled in a fight with the New York media throughout the 2004 season. Additionally, on December 20, 2004, Chad chastised the assembled journalists during news conferences. He explained to them that covering the Jets and being surrounded by a group of professional athletes on a daily basis is not a right, but a privilege for the media.

Surgery

On February 4th, 2005, during the NFL’s 2005 season, Chad underwent surgery on his right shoulder owing to a torn right rotator cuff and a massive bone spur on the same shoulder. Furthermore, Chad’s poor performance against the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins in the games after his operation fueled speculation that he was not entirely recovered from his injury.

However, Chad and Jets coach Herman Edwards rejected the idea, stating that it was due to a lack of preseason work. Additionally, Pennington underwent right shoulder surgery on October 6th, 2005. The club anticipated that with additional time spent in rehabilitation, he would have improved his control and strength in his throws.

Following Surgery

Pennington returned to the 2006 season following surgery and trained with new throwing coaches. At the time, the Jets hired Eric Mangini as their new coach. Mangini emphasized to both the team’s players and the press that the quarterback situation is unsettled and that all four of their quarterbacks have an equal chance of starting.

Additionally, to protect Chad’s shoulder, the Jets’ medical team limited his tosses. Additionally, Chad won the Jets’ preseason quarterback battle and started the 2006 season. He threw back-to-back 300-yard passes for the first time in his career, and his outstanding performance won Chad AFC Offensive Player of the Week accolades.

Additionally, despite criticism for his lack of arm strength, he improved significantly and won the Comeback Player of the Year title.

Dolphins of Miami

Chad was waived by the Jets following their acquisition of Brett Favre. Six teams reportedly shown interest in signing Pennington following his release. Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings were two of them. Pennington, too, inked a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins on August 8th, 2008.

Chad got MVP recognition from multiple major media publications while representing the Dolphins in his position during the team’s ten-win comeback. Additionally, Chad was named Comeback Player of the Year for the second time in his career following the conclusion of the 2008 regular season.

Third Surgery of Pennington

On September 27th, 2009, Chad hurt the same shoulder on which he had two operations while playing against the San Diego Chargers in the third quarter. Additionally, the Dolphins stated that the results of his MRI revealed a ruptured capsule in his throwing shoulder. As a result, Chad decided to have a third shoulder surgery.

Chad added that he was unsure whether he would be able to play again, but he would do everything possible to rehab the shoulder and return to the NFL. Additionally, the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve.

Injury That Ends a Career

Following his third injury, the Dolphins re-signed Chad to a one-year agreement worth $5.75 million if he starts as quarterback, $4.2 million if he is moved, or $2.5 million as Chad Henne’s backup quarterback.

Additionally, the Dolphins named Chad as the starting quarterback for the game against the Tennessee Titans on November 10, 2010. Regrettably, he sustained another major shoulder injury. This injury was potentially career-ending.

Although Chad attempted another NFL comeback in 2011. However, on March 31st, 2011, he tore his ACL.

He stated that he would join Fox Sports as an analyst for the 2011 NFL season. He formally announced his retirement on February 9th, 2012, following his fourth shoulder surgery.

Chad Pennington | Achievements and Awards

• Two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2006, 2008)
• Finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 1999
• Runner-up in the NFL in terms of completion percentage in 2002 and 2008.
• 1999 William V. Campbell Trophy
• 1999 MAC Most Valuable Player
• NFL’s All-Time Passer Ratings Leader – 2002
• 1999 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year
• 2002 PFWA Most Improved Player
• The 47th “Perfect Game” in NFL history occurred on November 16, 2003.

Professional Affiliations

Chad Pennington and his wife Robin founded the 1st and 10 Foundation in 2003. This foundation’s objective was to foster community stability by supporting programs and organizations that aim to improve the quality of life in Tennessee, the New York metropolitan area, and West Virginia.

Additionally, the foundation has donated over half a million dollars to numerous philanthropic organizations since its inception.

Chad Pennington | Football Coach

Pennington was hired as the football coach at The Sayre School in 2018. Chad and his wife discovered Sayre while seeking for a good school for their children and immediately fell in love with it. The institution, however, did not have a football program. He claimed during an interview with Jim Gehman of Jets.com –

“I truly liked everything Sayre had to offer except for the lack of a football program, which is how I came up with the notion of reestablishing the football program….. I began the meeting with Rob Goodman, the head basketball coach, and Rich Little, the athletic director. And then, as the discussions progressed, we submitted the concept to the headmaster and subsequently to the board.”

Pennington believes that football has an unmatched capacity to strengthen the school by increasing fellowship and community spirit. As a result, he began his career as a football coach, a position his father held for nearly 30 years. He guided the team to a 3-5 record in his first year as a coach. He is currently employed for the Sayre School as the Director of Football.

Chad Pennington | Husband and Children

Chad Pennington is married to Robin Hampton, his college sweetheart. On March 1, 2001, the pair married. Cole Pennington, Luke Pennington, and Gage Pennington are their three sons.

Cole, like his father, is a football player who plays quarterback for Syre School. Additionally, he has a scholarship offer from Marshall University, the alma school of his parents and grandparents.

Body Measurement: Height and Weight

Chad, a.k.a. “The Golden Boy,” celebrated his 47th birthday in 2023. He has an athletic frame and stands at a height of 6′ 3″ (1.91 m), weighing approximately 230 pounds (104 kgs). Additionally, he possesses dark brown eyes and golden hair.

you may also like Bart Starr.