Every humid morning that summer in 1997, Jonathan Quinn clocked in at Roadway Express in Nashville for another long day of unloading trucks.
With wife Casi at home with the first of their four children, Quinn made supporting his family a higher priority than training for his final year at Middle Tennessee State.
He had heard whispers that a strong senior season might pique the interest of NFL scouts, but pro football was always the backup plan for the guy who would make a fine living as an NFL backup.
“I had no idea it would turn out the way it did,” Quinn said.
Seven summers later as the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback, Quinn finds himself in the same mind-set. He may not take a snap this season if starter Rex Grossman stays healthy, or he could wind up leading the offense if Grossman gets injured.
Quinn has looked methodical at times, reading coverages and choosing receivers during training camp, but the Bears still believe they hired the right man when they signed the 29-year-old last March.
“What he’s done pretty well in terms of the whole camp is been extremely accurate and … is doing a great job of sitting in the pocket and not getting rattled by the rush,” offensive coordinator Terry Shea said.
At Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Quinn had two non-descript seasons that barely raised an eyebrow before setting school and conference records as a senior. He dazzled scouts at the NFL combine by running a 4.57 40-yard dash and displaying arm strength 10 weeks after having surgery.
Jacksonville drafted Quinn in the third round in 1998. He has started just three games in six seasons with the Jaguars and Chiefs. Nonetheless, the Bears put immense stock in the word of Shea, who was impressed with Quinn during two seasons in Kansas City.
“My perception of him from the moment I was with him in Kansas City was where did he get that athleticism?” Shea said of Quinn. “He surprises you once he gets out with the ball as a runner. I think we have a real gem.”
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The spin on Quinn
Some things you should know about Jonathan Quinn and some things we just plain fudged:
Jonathan Quinn is also a yacht designer. (See www.jqbltd.com. OK, it’s a different JQ.) But if he were a designer, that would come in handy for those nights on Lake Michigan spent discussing the nuances of the QB waggle versus the bootleg: “Does a lineman always pull in a ‘waggle,’ or can it be the same as a naked bootleg? It’s ponderous, just ponderous. More cognac?”
Can’t come to grips that he’ll never court Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He’s from Turlock, Calif.; she’s from Boston and, well, the 1860s. Dag nab you, Byron Sully, you lucky cuss.
Jonathan Ryan Quinn and wife Casi have three sons, Dakota, Colton and Aidan, and a daughter, Ellie. Hmm, the kids all have Old West names. Coincidence, Dr. Quinn?
He’s no relation to actor Anthony Quinn, but he’d agree that Anthony did fine work in “The Greek Tycoon.” He was a peasant, a pirate, a shark. What he couldn’t buy with money he stole with charm.
Was voted into the Berlin Thunder Hall of Fame (yes, they have one) this year, along with Bears teammate Ahmad Merritt. Quinn won a World Bowl championship in 2001.
From a 2001 Q&A on the Jaguars’ Web site:
Q: What has been the funniest experience you’ve had in Amsterdam?
Jonathan Quinn: Amsterdam is a wild city, but I haven’t seen much. … I haven’t seen the red-light district or the coffee shops or anything you often hear about. So my stories are lame. Sorry to disappoint you.
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
