BERNIE KOSAR, KEN ANDERSON, AND RODNEY PEETE TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL QUARTERBACK CLUB HALL OF FAME

-DJ Lagway, Gatorade National Player of the Year, named the High School Quarterback of the Year

The National Quarterback Club (NQBC) announced today that Bernie Kosar, Ken Anderson, and Rodney Peete will be inducted into the National Quarterback Club Hall of Fame at the 2024 NQBC Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, February 23.

DJ Lagway, the recently named Gatorade National Player of the Year, will also be recognized during the event as the National High School Quarterback of the Year. The NQBC will also name the National Quarterback of the Year in the professional and college ranks in the near future.

A reception will begin at 5:00 PM at The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, with the awards dinner and induction ceremony commencing at 6:30 PM. Popular comedian Jill Kimmel, sister of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, will serve as emcee for the evening.

Tickets for the dinner and ceremony are available at: https://e.givesmart.com/events/z4q/ or info@nationalqbclub.com.

ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:

Bernie Kosar

The Youngstown, Ohio, native made a significant impact both at the collegiate level and during his 12-year NFL career, primarily with his beloved childhood team, the Cleveland Browns. Kosar rose to fame during his college career at the University of Miami, leading the school to a thrilling 31-30 victory in the 1983 Orange Bowl and securing the Hurricanes first-ever national championship. He earned Most Valuable Player honors for his performance against top-ranked Nebraska, throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Following his time at Miami, Kosar entered the 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft and was chosen with the first overall selection by the Browns, where he spent nearly nine seasons (1985-93). He quickly became the team's starting quarterback and played a pivotal role in the Browns' success during the late 1980s. Known for his intelligence on the field and ability to read defenses, Kosar led the Browns to multiple playoff appearances and three AFC Championship games.

Kosar threw for 23,301 yards and 124 touchdowns during his professional career with the Browns (1985-93), Dallas Cowboys (1993), and Miami Dolphins (1994-96). He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1987 and was the backup quarterback for the Cowboys, who won Super Bowl XXVIII. 

Ken Anderson

The four-time Pro Bowler and 1981 Most Valuable Player (MVP) played the entirety of his 16-season NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals (1971-86). Renowned for his exceptional accuracy and decision-making on the field, Anderson owns the franchise record with 32,838 yards and ranks second with 197 touchdown passes, trailing only Carson Palmer (204). 

Anderson's most memorable season came in 1981, when he led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance, throwing for 300 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. In the subsequent season, the third-round selection from Augustana College established an NFL record with a 70.55% completion percentage. This record remained unbroken for over 25 years until Drew Brees (70.6) surpassed it in 2009.

Beyond his on-field achievements, Anderson's contributions to the game extended to coaching, as he later served as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for various teams, leaving a lasting impact on the development of young quarterbacks in the NFL. 

Rodney Peete

The Mesa, Arizona, native rose to prominence during his collegiate years (1985-88) at the University of Southern California (USC), finishing his Trojan career as the school's all-time leader in completions (630), pass attempts (1,081), passing yards (8,225), and total offense (8,640).

As a senior, Peete led USC to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Rose Bowl opposite the University of Michigan. He also won the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation's best upperclassman quarterback in his final season and finished second to Barry Sanders in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Peete’s teams would win both head-to-head matchups in the UCLA–USC rivalry against Troy Aikman's UCLA squads, including a 31-22 victory on November 21, 1988, when Peete had been hospitalized with the measles leading up to the highly-anticipated Top 10 clash.

Following USC, Peete embarked on a professional career that spanned over 16 seasons (1989-2004), including his first five with the Detroit Lions (1989-93). The sixth-round draft pick finished his NFL career with 76 passing touchdowns and 16,338 yards in 104 games (87 starts).

Since his retirement, Peete has become a prominent sports broadcaster and philanthropist, further solidifying his impact on the football community and beyond.

DJ Lagway

The University of Florida signee accounted for 5,561 total yards and 74 touchdowns as a senior at Willis (Texas) High School in 2023, leading the Wildkats to their first district title since 2002. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 4,604 yards with 58 touchdown passes and added 957 yards and 16 scores on the ground in his award-winning campaign.

Lagway was ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in his class by 247Sports (10th overall) and ESPN (17th). The five-star prospect and Elite 11 quarterback is a mid-year enrollee at Florida and is expected to participate in the Gators’ spring practices.

His father, Derek, played running back at Baylor University from 1997-2001.

About the National Quarterback Club:

The National Quarterback Club is guided by a comprehensive mission, a clear vision, and consistent values. Through its various award programs, the club recognizes outstanding athletes for their qualities and achievements on and off the playing field and serves as a model for comprehensive excellence in athletic achievement, academic success, and greater social affinity.

In 1985, the National Quarterback Club began a tradition of hosting annual fundraising events to honor the National Quarterback of the Year in the professional, collegiate, and high school ranks. Annual awards dinners have been hosted in great sports cities such as Washington D.C., Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Green Bay, Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Houston, and Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information on the NQBC, please visit www.nationalqbclub.com or follow @nationalqbclub on Instagram or X (formally Twitter).