# Jimmy Clausen
**Jimmy Clausen** (born 1987) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) quarterback who played at Notre Dame from 2007 to 2009 and then in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) for the [Carolina Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/carolina-panthers), Chicago Bears, and Baltimore Ravens. He entered the 2010 NFL Draft as one of the two consensus top quarterback prospects, but fell from projected top-10 status to the 48th overall pick, and his professional career produced 2,520 passing yards and 7 touchdowns across 21 games.[1](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf) • [2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClauJi00.htm) • [3](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987[1](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf) |
| College | Notre Dame, 2007–2009, coached by Charlie Weis in a pro-style offense[4](https://www.si.com/nfl/2010/04/14/14-2top-10-quarterbacks-in-the-nfl-draft) |
| 2009 season | 3,722 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 68 percent completions[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/strong-pro-day-means-clausen-virtually-guaranteed-spot-in-top-1-09000d5d81779dcf) |
| 2010 Draft | Carolina Panthers, 2nd round, 48th overall, after projections as a top-10 pick[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClauJi00.htm) • [6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) |
| NFL career | 21 games, 255 of 472 passing, 2,520 yards, 7 TD, 14 INT, 61.9 passer rating (2010, 2014, 2015)[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career) |
| Draft-day cost of the fall | Roughly $22.6 million in expected guaranteed money as a lower top-10 pick versus about $2.6 million as the 48th pick[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) |
| Wonderlic | 23, in the 20–24 above-average band[7](https://library.bsma.edu.ge/BOOKS/organizational_behavior.pdf) |
## Notre Dame career
Clausen played in a pro-style offense under Notre Dame coach [Charlie Weis](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-weis), a background scouts regarded as unusually good preparation for the NFL, since most of the other quarterbacks in the 2010 class came from spread offenses.[4](https://www.si.com/nfl/2010/04/14/14-2top-10-quarterbacks-in-the-nfl-draft) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/news/clausen-pike-have-most-upside-crompton-kafka-are-qb-sleepers-09000d5d8176d3e2) His best statistical season was 2009, when he threw for 3,722 yards with 28 touchdowns against 4 interceptions while completing 68 percent of his passes, playing through a right big toe injury that bothered him for most of the regular season.[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/strong-pro-day-means-clausen-virtually-guaranteed-spot-in-top-1-09000d5d81779dcf) In Notre Dame's final three games of 2009 he completed 30 of 38 passes with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception when throwing from under center.[9](https://www.espn.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/43719/2010-nfl-draft-prospects-qbssam-bradford-jimmy-clausen-tim-tebow-colt-mccoy)
The season ended poorly for the team, with four straight losses, and on December 1, 2009 athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced that Weis would not return.[10](https://time.com/4006558/college-football-coach-salaries/) The following Monday, Clausen and receiver [Golden Tate](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-tate) made their early entry to the NFL Draft official.[11](https://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2026/05/29/evaluating-notre-dames-early-entries)
## The 2010 draft evaluation
**Pre-draft process.** Clausen measured 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds at the scouting combine, where he did not throw because he was recovering from a toe injury; he underwent toe surgery after the 2009 season.[12](https://www.nfl.com/news/top-quarterback-prospects-grounded-at-scouting-combine-09000d5d8169cab6) • [6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) Along with [Sam Bradford](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-bradford), he was seen as a first-round prospect, though multiple scouts described both as lukewarm ones.[12](https://www.nfl.com/news/top-quarterback-prospects-grounded-at-scouting-combine-09000d5d8169cab6) At his April 9 pro day he completed 57 of his 59 passes to a receiving corps of former Irish players, including five out of the shotgun formation and three deeper than 30 yards downfield; Notre Dame's report quoted Rams head coach [Steve Spagnuolo](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-spagnuolo) as saying he saw positive things in the workout he would not have picked up on film.[13](https://archives.nd.edu/Observer/2010-04-12_v44_122.pdf) NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks wrote afterward that the strong pro day had virtually guaranteed Clausen a top-10 selection.[5](https://www.nfl.com/news/strong-pro-day-means-clausen-virtually-guaranteed-spot-in-top-1-09000d5d81779dcf)
**Scouting views.** Evaluations split sharply. WalterFootball's scouting report called him a franchise quarterback with elite football IQ, a quick snappy release, and great accuracy, projected him as the first quarterback drafted and a top-five pick, and compared him to [Kurt Warner](https://www.edgepedia.org/kurt-warner).[14](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010jclausen.php) The Philadelphia Eagles' own scouting report reached the opposite conclusion, calling him a solid prospect but by no means a true franchise quarterback.[15](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/qb-jimmy-clausen-scouting-report-3485497) PFF later described him as the most pro-ready quarterback in the class because of the offense he ran at Notre Dame.[16](https://www.pff.com/news/scouting-corner-the-qb-carousel)
**The fall to the second round.** On draft day Clausen slid out of the first round entirely. NFL.com's Vic Carucci called the drop unprecedented for a quarterback expected to go in the top 10, noting that the Panthers ended it with the 48th pick, at least 39 spots lower than he had been projected.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) Quarterback-needy teams passed repeatedly: the Vikings with the second pick of round two, the Browns and Bills later in the round, and even the Chiefs, whose offensive coordinator was Weis himself.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) [Tim Tebow](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-tebow) was the only other first-round quarterback that year, taken 25th by Denver.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b)
The reported reasons were the toe surgery, which scouts wondered might affect his ability to step into throws, and questions about his leadership and personality within the Notre Dame program; league insiders found nothing wrong with his arm or shoulder and no character red flags of a criminal nature.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) What insiders did cite was how much he labored on longer throws, twisting his body for velocity and launching deep passes awkwardly rather than with a natural arc.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) The financial cost was large: as a lower top-10 pick he stood to receive roughly $22.6 million in guaranteed money, versus about $2.6 million at pick 48.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b) Clausen chose not to attend the draft in person.[6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b)
## NFL career
Carolina, a franchise that under general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox had been reluctant to spend picks on quarterbacks, took Clausen in the second round after cutting veteran [Jake Delhomme](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-delhomme), joining a depth chart that already included Matt Moore and Hunter Cantwell.[17](https://www.nfl.com/news/adding-clausen-pike-makes-panthers-qb-spot-crowded-competitive-09000d5d817bf674) As a rookie in 2010 he played 13 games, completing 157 of 299 passes for 1,558 yards with 3 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 58.4 passer rating.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career) The Panthers drafted [Cam Newton](https://www.edgepedia.org/cam-newton) first overall the next year, and Clausen's Carolina tenure ended after 2012.[18](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/panthers/t8fwuvtpaqyx1sklqj8a.pdf)
His later NFL appearances were brief. He played 4 games for the [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears) in 2014 and 2 in 2015, then finished the 2015 season with 2 games for the [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.edgepedia.org/baltimore-ravens).[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career) His career totals stand at 255 completions on 472 attempts for 2,520 yards, 7 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 61.9 passer rating.[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career) ProFootballHistory summarizes the arc the same way: after no feelers from other teams, Clausen had played his final down in the NFL, with 2,520 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 21 career games.[19](https://www.profootballhistory.com/jimmy-clausen/)
## Assessment
Clausen's case became a standard reference point in quarterback evaluation. The Football Outsiders Almanac account of his slide argued that "NFL readiness" is no substitute for talent.[1](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf) The contrast between his pre-draft reputation, which included a projection as the first quarterback off the board, and a career line of 7 touchdowns against 14 interceptions illustrates how heavily draft boards can weight polish and system fit, and how quickly a consensus can reverse between April 9 and April 22 of a single draft cycle.[14](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010jclausen.php) • [5](https://www.nfl.com/news/strong-pro-day-means-clausen-virtually-guaranteed-spot-in-top-1-09000d5d81779dcf) • [6](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b)
## References
1. [Football Outsiders Almanac, Quarterbacks chapter](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf)
2. [Jimmy Clausen Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClauJi00.htm)
3. [Jimmy Clausen Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-clausen/stats/career)
4. [Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated (April 14, 2010)](https://www.si.com/nfl/2010/04/14/14-2top-10-quarterbacks-in-the-nfl-draft)
5. [Strong pro day means Clausen virtually guaranteed spot in top 10, NFL.com (Bucky Brooks)](https://www.nfl.com/news/strong-pro-day-means-clausen-virtually-guaranteed-spot-in-top-1-09000d5d81779dcf)
6. [Other QBs have fallen, but Clausen's plunge raises questions, NFL.com (Vic Carucci)](https://www.nfl.com/news/other-qbs-have-fallen-but-clausen-s-plunge-raises-questions-09000d5d817c072b)
7. [Organizational Behavior (textbook), Wonderlic score table](https://library.bsma.edu.ge/BOOKS/organizational_behavior.pdf)
8. [Clausen, Pike have most upside; Crompton, Kafka are QB sleepers, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/clausen-pike-have-most-upside-crompton-kafka-are-qb-sleepers-09000d5d8176d3e2)
9. [2010 NFL Draft Prospects: QBs, ESPN SportsCenter (April 13, 2010)](https://www.espn.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/43719/2010-nfl-draft-prospects-qbssam-bradford-jimmy-clausen-tim-tebow-colt-mccoy)
10. [How College Football Coaches Became Multi-Million-Dollar Money Pits, TIME](https://time.com/4006558/college-football-coach-salaries/)
11. [Evaluating Notre Dame's early entries, National Football Post (December 8, 2009)](https://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2026/05/29/evaluating-notre-dames-early-entries)
12. [Top quarterback prospects grounded at scouting combine, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/top-quarterback-prospects-grounded-at-scouting-combine-09000d5d8169cab6)
13. [The Observer, April 12, 2010 (Notre Dame pro day coverage)](https://archives.nd.edu/Observer/2010-04-12_v44_122.pdf)
14. [2010 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jimmy Clausen, WalterFootball](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010jclausen.php)
15. [QB Jimmy Clausen Scouting Report, PhiladelphiaEagles.com (April 15, 2010)](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/qb-jimmy-clausen-scouting-report-3485497)
16. [Scouting Corner: The QB Carousel, Pro Football Focus](https://www.pff.com/news/scouting-corner-the-qb-carousel)
17. [Adding Clausen, Pike makes Panthers' QB spot crowded, competitive, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/adding-clausen-pike-makes-panthers-qb-spot-crowded-competitive-09000d5d817bf674)
18. [Carolina Panthers Career Leaders (PDF)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/panthers/t8fwuvtpaqyx1sklqj8a.pdf)
19. [What Happened To Jimmy Clausen? (Complete Story), ProFootballHistory](https://www.profootballhistory.com/jimmy-clausen/)
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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 › Quarterbacks entering the NFL 2010–2015*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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