# Charlie Whitehurst
**Charlie Whitehurst** (Charles David Whitehurst, born 1982 in [Green Bay, Wisconsin](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-wisconsin)) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) quarterback who played eleven NFL seasons as a career backup, appearing in 25 regular-season games with 9 starts for the Chargers, Seahawks, Titans, Colts, and Browns between 2006 and 2016[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/). Known by the nickname "Clipboard Jesus," he became one of the league's most recognizable backup quarterbacks[3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cleveland-browns-get-to-know-new-qb-charlie-whitehurst).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, Green Bay, Wisconsin; 6'5", 226 lbs[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/) |
| Draft | 3rd round, 81st overall, 2006 NFL Draft, San Diego Chargers, from Clemson[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) |
| NFL teams | Chargers (2006, 2013), Seahawks (2010–11), Titans (2014), Colts (2015), Browns (2016)[5](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/how-many-teams-has-charlie-whitehurst-played-for) |
| Career passing | 219 of 396 (55.3%), 2,463 yards, 11 TD, 8 INT, 74.9 passer rating[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/) |
| Starting record | 2–7 as a starter[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) |
| Clemson career | 9,665 passing yards and 817 completions, both third in ACC history at the time; 46 school records[6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft) • [7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648) |
| Family | Son of David Whitehurst, Packers quarterback from 1977 to 1983[7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648) |
## College career at Clemson
Whitehurst was a four-year starter at Clemson from 2002 to 2005, winning 25 games and throwing for 9,665 yards[7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648). He graduated with 46 school records, including career passing yards, completions, touchdowns, and 300-yard games[7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648). At the time of the 2006 draft he ranked third in ACC history in both career passing yards (9,665) and completions (817), behind [Philip Rivers](https://www.edgepedia.org/philip-rivers), who was first in both categories[6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft).
He never lost to [South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-carolina). As the starting quarterback from 2002 to 2005 he beat the Gamecocks four straight years, the first time in the history of the rivalry series that a starting quarterback had a perfect 4–0 record[8](https://data.clemsontigers.com/pdf/football/2025-26/Supplement.pdf). He was also one of only two ACC quarterbacks, along with Rivers, to beat Florida State twice[6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft).
An honor roll student, he earned a degree in marketing in December 2004, a full year before his eligibility expired[9](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/v0q1mnwdg9i2gidi3hzr.pdf). In 2007, while on the Chargers roster, he contributed $50,000 to Clemson's West Zone facility initiative[10](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2007/10/20/whitehurst-contributes-50000-to-west-zone-initiative).
## NFL career
**San Diego years.** The San Diego Chargers selected Whitehurst in the third round (81st overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, making him the first Clemson quarterback drafted since Steve Fuller in 1979[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) • [6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft). He spent four seasons (2006–09) as a backup behind Philip Rivers and did not attempt a regular-season pass, appearing in two games in 2006 as a reserve[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/).
**Seattle trade.** In 2010 the Chargers traded Whitehurst to the [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks) in exchange for a 2011 third-round draft pick, with the two teams also switching their second-round picks in the 2010 draft[9](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/v0q1mnwdg9i2gidi3hzr.pdf). The price drew wide comment, since Whitehurst had never thrown a regular-season NFL pass[11](https://amp.nfl.com/news/nevermind-the-future-seahawks-need-whitehurst-here-and-now-09000d5d81d52ad6). His most significant NFL moment came in the 2010 regular-season finale, when he started for Seattle and completed 22 of 36 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown in a 16–6 win over the Rams that clinched the [NFC West](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfc-west) title for a 7–9 Seahawks team[9](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/v0q1mnwdg9i2gidi3hzr.pdf). Across 2010 and 2011 he appeared in 9 games with 4 starts for Seattle[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/).
**Return to San Diego and Tennessee.** Whitehurst returned to the Chargers for 2012 and 2013, again backing up Rivers, and saw action in two games in 2013 without recording passing statistics[7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/). In March 2014 the [Tennessee Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/tennessee-titans) signed him as an unrestricted free agent on a two-year, $8 million contract, reuniting him with head coach [Ken Whisenhunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-whisenhunt), who had been the Chargers' offensive coordinator[7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648) • [12](https://www.rotowire.com/football/player/charlie-whitehurst-4825). The 2014 season was his most extensive playing time: he appeared in 7 games with 5 starts, completing 105 of 185 passes for 1,326 yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, a 87.4 passer rating, his best statistical season[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/).
**Final seasons.** He appeared in 4 games with the [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts) in 2015, placed on injured reserve late in the year with a pulled hamstring[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/). In September 2016 the [Cleveland Browns](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-browns) signed the 34-year-old as an emergency backup amid a run of quarterback injuries; he appeared in one game, completing 14 of 24 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, and was later released with an injury settlement[3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cleveland-browns-get-to-know-new-qb-charlie-whitehurst) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/).
## Career totals and playing style
Over 11 NFL seasons Whitehurst played in 25 games with 9 starts, going 2–7 as a starter[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/). His career passing line was 219 completions on 396 attempts (55.3%) for 2,463 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, with a 74.9 passer rating[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/). He added 156 rushing yards on 56 carries with 2 touchdowns[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/).
His career illustrates the economics of the NFL backup quarterback. He earned more than $17 million over roughly a decade while starting only nine games, and his 2014 Titans contract paid $8 million over two years for a backup role[13](https://as.com/us/us/2017/03/21/nfl/1490084125_456669.html) • [12](https://www.rotowire.com/football/player/charlie-whitehurst-4825). Commentators and fans gave him the nickname "Clipboard Jesus," a reference to his appearance and to the clipboard carried by quarterbacks who rarely play[3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cleveland-browns-get-to-know-new-qb-charlie-whitehurst). Coaches valued him for his preparation and system knowledge; Whisenhunt noted that Whitehurst understood the offense well enough to operate with fewer practice reps[14](https://www.ksl.com/article/sports/nfl/backup-qb-has-possibly-nfls-toughest-easiest-job/31839204).
## Family
Football was a family business. His father, David Whitehurst, was an eighth-round pick of the [Green Bay Packers](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-packers) in 1977 and played quarterback for the Packers from 1977 to 1983[6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft) • [7](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648). Charlie was born in Green Bay during his father's Packers preseason camp, and David later served as his son's youth football coach and adviser[6](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft) • [15](https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/05/04/whitehurst). Whitehurst attended Chattahoochee High School in [Alpharetta, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/alpharetta-georgia), where he lettered in football and baseball[9](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/v0q1mnwdg9i2gidi3hzr.pdf).
## References
1. [Charlie Whitehurst Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College, Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm)
2. [Charlie Whitehurst Stats Summary, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/stats/)
3. [Cleveland Browns: Get to know new QB Charlie Whitehurst, FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cleveland-browns-get-to-know-new-qb-charlie-whitehurst)
4. [Charlie Whitehurst Stats, News and Video, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/charlie-whitehurst/)
5. [How Many Teams Has Charlie Whitehurst Played For, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/how-many-teams-has-charlie-whitehurst-played-for)
6. [Whitehurst Taken in Third Round of NFL Draft, Clemson University Athletics](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2006/04/29/whitehurst-taken-in-third-round-of-nfl-draft)
7. [Titans Agree to Terms with QB Charlie Whitehurst, Tennessee Titans](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-qb-charlie-whitehurst-12750648)
8. [Tiger Timeline, Clemson Football 2025-26 Supplement](https://data.clemsontigers.com/pdf/football/2025-26/Supplement.pdf)
9. [Charlie Whitehurst player profile, Tennessee Titans media guide](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/v0q1mnwdg9i2gidi3hzr.pdf)
10. [Whitehurst Contributes $50,000 to West Zone Initiative, Clemson University Athletics](https://clemsontigers.com/news/2007/10/20/whitehurst-contributes-50000-to-west-zone-initiative)
11. [Nevermind the future, Seahawks need Whitehurst here and now, NFL.com](https://amp.nfl.com/news/nevermind-the-future-seahawks-need-whitehurst-here-and-now-09000d5d81d52ad6)
12. [Charlie Whitehurst NFL Stats & News, RotoWire](https://www.rotowire.com/football/player/charlie-whitehurst-4825)
13. [La feliz y lucrativa vida de los QBs suplentes en la NFL, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2017/03/21/nfl/1490084125_456669.html)
14. [Backup QB has possibly NFL's toughest, easiest job, KSL.com](https://www.ksl.com/article/sports/nfl/backup-qb-has-possibly-nfls-toughest-easiest-job/31839204)
15. [MMQB Mailbag: Making sense of the Charlie Whitehurst experiment, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/05/04/whitehurst)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Quarterbacks › 2010s quarterbacks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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