Personal Full Name: Cade B. McNown ... Parents: Vicki Brem McNown of West Linn, OR and Mark McNown of Hollister, CA ... Born: January 12, 1977 in Portland, OR ... Has one brother (Jeff) and two sisters (Melanie and Alyssa) ... Admires Joe Montana and patterns his style of play after Steve Young ... Enjoys all sports ... At UCLA, earned spot on Director's Honor Roll in Winter 1996 with his 3.65 grade-point average ... was a History major.                           High School Years McNown lettered one year at quarterback and free safety for West Linn High and coach George Crace after three years at San Benito High in Hollister, California. The left-hander was named a Blue Chips Illustrated All-America and rated the No. 3 prospect at his position in the West as a senior in 1994. Super Prep All-Northwest. USA Today All-America honorable mention. First-team All-State at both quarterback and defensive back. Led West Linn HS to the Oregon 4A semifinal game in 1994. Co-Defensive Player of the Year and all-league honors at both positions for the Three Rivers League. Selected to the Shrine Bowl of Oregon as a quarterback. Named team's Most Valuable Offensive Player. In 1994, he passed for 1,711 yards, completing 132-274 passes for 17 touchdowns. He rushed for 631 yards on 129 carries and nine touchdowns. Also caught one pass for 20 yards. On defense, he totaled 55 tackles, 26 assisted tackles, four interceptions, four pass deflections and caused one fumble. In track and field, he set a school record in the pole vault (15-2) and recorded personal bests of 150-11 in the discus and 53-4 1/4 in the shot put. Named West Linn's Most Athletic Senior and the track team's Most Outstanding Field Athlete. He also earned all-league honors in the pole vault. As a junior in 1993, he attended San Benito High in Hollister, CA. Played four games before an emergency appendectomy ended his season. During 1992, in his sophomore year at San Benito, he earned honorable mention All-Monterey Bay League honors in football. Also lettered in track with bests of 15-0 in the pole vault (school record), 142' in the discus, 48-3 in the shot put and 6-2 in the high jump. Named All-League in the Monterey Bay League as a sophomore and junior. A two-year starter in basketball at San Benito and West Linn high schools in 1993 and 1994.  In the spring of his senior year, Cade was deciding between playing at UCLA or Washington.  At the time, McNown and Brock Huard (current Washington quarterback) were regarded as the top two high school quarterbacks in the Western United States in 1994.  Cade eventually based his decision on Huard's choice.  "It was simple," McNown said.  "We had both gotten our choices down to Washington and UCLA.  He was everyone's No.1 guy.  I just decided (that) wherever he went, I would go to the other place."  (Thank God Huard chose Washington).   The UCLA Years 1995 Season McNown became the Bruins' starting quarterback in only an amazing four games into his freshman season.  He started the season much further down on the depth chart, but won the spot from Junior Ryan Fien by outplaying Fien and because of Fien's injuries.   McNown burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 1995.  He was only the second UCLA true freshman to start at quarterback against USC (Tom Ramsey was the other in 1979), McNown completed 122 of 245 passes (49.8%) for 1,698 yards and seven scores on the year.  He also ranked second on the squad with 311 yards rushing, the most by a Bruin quarterback since Rick Bashore (317) in 1977.  His five rushing TDs tied for second in that category.  His 2,009 yards total offense ranked 12th on the UCLA season list (first among true freshmen) while his 122 completions ranked 16th (also first among true freshmen).  Under his leadership, UCLA went 7-5 and played in the Aloha Bowl.  Here are more highlights from the 1995 season....    ...Against USC, McNown led the Bruins to touchdowns on each of UCLA's first three possessions but saved his best for last ... With about two minutes remaining and UCLA protecting a 24-20 lead, McNown faced a third-and-13 at his own 29-yard line ... He kept the ball out of the shotgun, skirted around the right side and ran for 21 yards for the first down that enabled the Bruins to run out the clock ... On the day, he completed 8 of 17 passes for 131 yards, including a 59-yard pass to Jim McElroy to set up UCLA's second TD ... He also rushed for 36 net yards, including that key 21-yard run to clinch the victory ... In the Aloha Bowl, rushed for a career-high 82 net yards on 11 carries and threw a career-best three touchdown passes while completing 13 of 34 passes for 121 yards ... Against Arizona State, McNown completed 13-23 passes for 289 yards (second-highest total of his career) and ran nine times for 37 yards and a pair of touchdowns ... Versus California, he completed 13 of 24 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions) and rushed for 51 yards and one TD on six carries ... At Stanford, he completed 15 of 27 passes for 150 yards and one score ... In addition, he also rushed for 52 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown on UCLA's first series of the second half ... He completed just one of his first five passes, including an interception at his own five-yard line that set up Stanford's first score, but then completed 14 of his last 22 attempts (63.6%) ... In his second career start vs. Fresno, the left-hander connected on 18 of 22 tosses for a school true-freshman record total of 306 yards and one TD ... McNown racked up his record yardage total despite yielding to Ryan Fien with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the game ... Versus Oregon (the first start of his career), McNown completed 12 of 24 passes for 183 yards, directed three second-half touchdown drives to help the Bruins rally from a 24-10 halftime deficit to tie the game at 24-all and 31-all ... On UCLA's final possession of the game, he moved the Bruins from their own seven-yard line to the Duck one-yard line in less than one minute but UCLA could not get in the end zone to tie the game ... Selected offensive winner of UCLA's John Boncheff, Jr. Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year. 1996 Season McNown increased his yardage and touchdown passes by almost 50% in his sophomore year.  Although, he threw 12 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions and ended the year ranked 9th in the Pac-10 conference in pass efficiency.  UCLA went 5-6.    McNown saved his best game of the 1996 season for the season finale against USC.   Remember that unbelievable game?  He completed 29 of 47 passes for 356 yards and one touchdown while rallying the Bruins from a 17-point deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation to a 48-41 double-overtime victory.  Did you get that?  USC was up by 17 points with 7 minutes left in the game.  Trojan fans were celebrating the final end to the streak of 5 wins in a row at the hands of the Bruins.  With only 7 minutes left, McNown LED the Bruins to a sixth straight win over the feeble trojans.  His 29 completions tied him for second on UCLA's single-game list, trailing only Troy Aikman, and his 47 attempts tied for third in that category.  Both marks were career highs.  He also ran for two scores and 26 net yards. In the second half, he completed 16 of 25 for 259 yards and one score. On the final two scoring drives in regulation, he completed six of his last seven passes (the seventh was a spike to stop the clock) for 73 yards.  He threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Danny Farmer (Loyola High graduate...go Cubs!) early in the second half and also threw a 52-yard strike to set up his own 10-yard scoring run late in the third quarter.  His 356 passing yards against USC rank sixth in school history and he is the only Bruin ever to pass for over 355 yards twice in a career (he had 395 versus Arizona State earlier in the year).  Uhhh, wait till 1997...but first, here are some more highlights from the 1996 Season.... On the year, McNown completed 176 of 336 passes (52.4%) for 2,424 yards and 12 touchdowns, bettering his 1995 season totals in all of these categories ... Twenty of his completions traveled at least 25 yards ... His 176 completions rank eighth on that season list, his 2,424 yards put him seventh on that list and his 2,482 yards of total offense rank fifth in school history ... His 57 offensive plays against USC were one shy of Dennis Dummit's record, set in 1970 against Texas ... Co-winner of UCLA's George W. Dickerson Award for Outstanding Offensive Player vs. USC ... McNown was also impressive in the year's Arizona State game ... He set a career high (at the time) for passing yardage (395), his completions (22) and attempts (41) were career highs at the time and he tied another career best (at the time) with three touchdown passes ... His 395 passing yards rank third on that all-time UCLA list, trailing only Tommy Maddox's 409 against USC in 1990 and Steve Bono's 399 versus BYU in 1983 ... His 379 yards total offense ranked fifth at the time (sixth now) on that all-time list ... Against Washington State, he tied his career high with three touchdown passes and completed 16 of 32 passes for 230 yards ... He completed a 52-yard strike to Danny Farmer to set up a touchdown and his screen pass was turned into a 24-yard score by Skip Hicks ... At Arizona, he completed 12 of 28 passes for 205 yards and one score, a 31-yard strike to Danny Farmer ... He also completed passes of 46 and 32 yards to Jim McElroy ... McNown was also impressive in his season debut ... Against No. 2 Tennessee, he completed 16 of 24 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown ... In addition, he scrambled out of trouble several times, grossing 34 rushing yards ... His 88-yard touchdown play to Danny Farmer at Tennessee is the fifth-longest pass play in UCLA history and the longest since Wayne Cook and J.J. Stokes teamed up for a 95 yarder versus Washington in 1993 ... Against NLU, he completed 13 of 20 passes, including 12 of his first 14, for 164 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions ... Against Michigan, he suffered through his worst game of the season, completing just eight of 27 passes for 39 yards ... He also threw three interceptions, breaking a streak of 97 consecutive attempts without an interception ... At Oregon, he completed 13 of 24 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown ... On third down, he completed all six attempts for 76 yards and four first downs (the other two were double-digit completions but UCLA needed more yardage for first downs ... He also netted 29 yards on the ground, including a key first down on an option play, and his first touchdown of the year ... Three of his runs resulted in first downs and a fourth in the TD ... At California, he completed 10 of 13 second-half passes for 196 yards to finish 16 of 28 for 273 yards and a touchdown pass play to Skip Hicks which covered 63 yards ... Against Stanford, he completed just 14 of 34 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. 1997 Season 1997 is here!  9th in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency??!!  NOT!  Cade McNown led the whole NATION in passing efficiency for practically the entire season.  At the end of the year, he still leads the nation.     Before the season started, Cade spoke of the team's goal to score 30 points a game on AVERAGE.  I'll never forget the L.A. reporter who seemed to scoff at the lofty goal.  Think again buddy.  Cade spent almost all summer in the weight room.  He improved almost every phase of his game, including reading defenses, pocket presence and throwing accuracy.  His leadership skills as well as mental and physical toughness were really evident this year.  After an 0-2 start, McNown led the Bruins to a rout over a ranked Texas team and turned the Bruins' season around.  The Bruins' went on to win all their remaining games of the season, and are currently holding a streak of 9 straight wins.  UCLA went from an unranked team, to a ranking of 5th in the nation. Way to go Bruins!  1997 was truly "The Year of Cade."   : the '97 season wrap-up Warning: Watch out for falling records.  The Bruin quarterback, one of three finalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, will enter his senior season as perhaps the No. 1 contender for the Heisman Trophy. In 1997, he led the country in passing efficiency, finished eighth in the Heisman race and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News. McNown finished the regular season with a quarterback rating of 168.6, the 12th-highest in NCAA history. He was the first Bruin since Tom Ramsey in 1982 to lead the nation.  He also broke the Pac-10 record of 164.5, set by Cal's Dave Barr in 1993.   A second-team All-Pac-10 selection by the league's coaches, he was at his best during the team's 10-game winning streak. In those 10 games, McNown completed 143 of 235 passes (60.9%) for 2,459 yards (245.9 average), 22 touchdowns and four interceptions and UCLA was 10-0 in those games. During the regular season, his statistics compared favorably with the quarterbacks being mentioned as Heisman Trophy candidates.  McNown finished the season with a school-record string of 15 straight games with at least 200 yards passing, including all 12 in 1997. The previous record was seven, set by Tom Ramsey in 1982.   On the year, McNown completed 60.6% of his passes (189-of-312) for 3,116 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Fourteen of his touchdowns measured at least 30 yards, 11 measured at least 40 yards and five measured at least 50 yards. His regular-season efficiency rating of 168.6 was the best in the nation and he also ranked 18th in the nation and second in the Pac-10 in total offense (263.8). He threw more touchdown passes (24) in 1997 than he did in his first two seasons combined (19). His 24 touchdown passes rank first (tied) in UCLA history, his 3,116 passing yards rank first, his 3,142 yards of total offense rank first and his 189 completions rank fourth. He also set school records with his averages of 259.7 yards passing and 261.6 yards total offense.  His 2,877 regular-season passing yards rank 10th on the Pac-10 single-season list. His 2,902 yards total offense during the regular season rank 11th on that Pac-10 list. CADE McNOWN SNAPSHOT (through his Junior year)  First nationally in pass efficiency (168.6, Pac-10 record and 12th highest  rating in NCAA history)  Eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting  Third-team All-American  18th nationally in total offense (263.8)  Set a UCLA record with 3,116 passing yards  15 straight games of at least 200 passing yards  Set school record with five touchdown passes against Texas  Set personal best with 400 passing yards versus Tennessee,  the second-highest total in UCLA history  First in career completions (487)  First in career passing yards (7,238)  First in career total offense (7,633)  Thirty-one consecutive starts, the most by a Bruin T-formation  quarterback  In his last 10 games, completed 143 of 235 passes (60.9%) for 2,459     yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions and UCLA was 10-0 in those  games. McNown has 487 career completions to rank first on UCLA's career charts. His 7,238 career passing yards rank number one in school history as do his 7,633 yards of total offense, breaking the marks of 441, 6,168 and 6,255, respectively, set by Ramsey. His 43 career touchdown passes place him second, trailing only Ramsey's 50. He has started 32 games, including 31 straight, and has played in 35 contests. His 31 consecutive starts are a school record for a T-formation quarterback, breaking the mark of 24, held by Ramsey and Aikman.   His 7,633 yards of total offense rank 12th on the Pac-10 career list while his 7,238 passing yards rank 17th.. A duplication of 1997's stats would place him No. 1 in career total offense and No. 2 in career passing. CHARTING McNOWN (through his Junior year) Career Completions: 487, 1st; #2 Tom Ramsey 441 Career Passing Yards: 7238, 1st, #2 Ramsey 6168 Career Total Offense: 7633, 1st; #2 Ramsey 6255 Career TD Passes: 43, 2nd; #1 Ramsey 50 He has started 32 games, including 31 straight, and has played in 35 contests overall. CAREER HIGHS  (through his Junior year) Passing Yards: 400 vs. Tennessee, 1997; 395 vs. Arizona State, 1996; 356 vs. USC, 1996 Completions: 29 vs. USC, 1996; 27 vs, Tennessee, 1997; 22 vs. Arizona State, 1996 Touchdowns: 5 vs. Texas, 1997; 4 vs. Houston, 1997; 3 vs. USC, 1997, Washington, 1997, Arizona State, 1996, Washington State, 1996, Kansas, 1995 (Aloha Bowl) Click here for details on the 1997 Season Games and "The Cade Factor." Click here for McNown's complete career stats including how he measures up in the following categories: UCLA Season Passing Leaders, Career Passing Leaders, Total Offense Leaders, and Career Total Offense Leaders 1998 Season McNown, winner of the Johnny Unitas Award and the Pacific-10 Conference's career total offense leader, placed third in the Heisman Trophy balloting. In addition, he was selected first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Assn. and Associated Press and second-team All-America by The Sporting News and College & Pro Football Newsweekly. The Pac-10 co-Offensive Player of the Year, he was also one of three for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award and one of five finalists for the Football News Offensive Player of the Year Award. He led the Bruins to a 10-2 record and a berth in the 1999 Rose Bowl and his offense averaged 40.5 points (No. 5 in the nation) and 482.6 yards (No. 8 nationally) during the regular season. UCLA scored 40 points in each of the first five games, a school record, and did it seven times overall. In 12 games, McNown has completed 207 of 357 passes (58.0 percent) for 3,470 yards and 25 touchdowns. McNown had 119 completions of at least 10 yards and 31 of at least 35 yards (five each against Miami and Oregon and four vs Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl). McNown set new school records for passing yards (3,470), passing touchdowns (25) and total offense (3,652) and UCLA set team records in all three categories. In addition, he ranks fifth on the Pac-10 season total offense list and eighth on the Pac-10 season passing yardage list (the Rose Bowl is not included in those totals. He finished second in the Pac-10 in total offense (299.7 yards) and third in passing efficiency (156.9). He ranked ninth nationally in both total offense and passing efficiency. His final averages, including the Rose Bowl, were 289.2 yards passing and 304.3 yards on total offense - both new school records. In the Rose Bowl, McNown completed 19 of 34 passes for 340 yards (fourth-most in Rose Bowl history), two touchdowns and one interception. His second TD pass, a 41-yard strike to Danny Farmer, was his 25th of the year, breaking the school record of 24 he held along with Troy Aikman. Eight of his completions measured at least 20 yards, including touchdowns of 41 yards to Farmer and 38 to Jermaine Lewis. McNown accounted for 355 yards of total offense, a UCLA bowl record, as was his 340 passing yards. McNown owns six of the top 10 passing days in school history and is the only Bruin to pass for more than 355 yards in a game more than once (he has done it six times). He is also the only Bruin in school history to account for at least 360 yards total offense in a game more than once (he has done it seven times). He has also passed for at least 300 yards 10 times, another school record. McNown saved his best for his final regular-season game. Against Miami in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 5, he shattered UCLA's single-game passing record, finishing with 513 yards by completing 26 of 35 attempts. He also tied his own school record by throwing five touchdown passes. In the process, he also set a school record with 515 yards total offense. Three of his touchdown passes measured at least 59 yards -- 77 yards to Danny Farmer, 61 yards to Brian Poli-Dixon and 59 yards to Brad Melsby - and he had six completions of at least 30 yards. The 77-yard TD to Farmer was the third-longest of his career and the 12th longest in school history. He also scored once, giving him a hand in all six touchdowns. His 513 yards passing rank No. 3 on the Pac-10's single-game list and his 515 yards of total offense rank No. 2. On Nov. 21, he became the first quarterback in the history of the UCLA-USC series to win four games, leading the Bruins to a 34-17 victory at the Rose Bowl. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. The Bruins, leading 27-10 at halftime, attempted just six passes in the second half. Against Washington, he became the Pac-10's career total offense leader with 10,231 yards. On the afternoon, he completed 12 of 24 passes for 233 yards, including two passes of at least 40 yards and led the offense to seven scoring drive (two touchdowns and five interceptions). UCLA attempted just eight passes in the second half of the Husky contest. Check out the UCLA page and Honors pages for extensive coverage on the 1998 season. (most information taken from the UCLA Athletics Webpage)

The NFL Years Cade was drafted on April 17, 1999 by the Chicago Bears with the #12 overall pick.  The Bears completed a trade with the Redskins to give up their #7 position in the draft. The Redskins (#5 pick) had gotten the #12 pick from an earlier trade with the New Orleans Saints.   "To have things work out the way they did, I couldn't have pictured it, written it any better.  Going from a young Bruin to a Bear is really an exciting thing." - Cade McNown   1999 Season Became only fifth rookie starting quarterback for Chicago since 1975...Established Bears rookie records for completions (127) and passing attempts (235)...Ranks second only to Jim McMahon in passing yards and touchdowns for a rookie...One of only three rookie QBs in the 90’s to throw four TDs in one game (Bledsoe, Plummer)...Highest quarterback drafted by Bears since McMahon (5th overall) in 1983. (With Chicago) One of the most prolific rookie passers in Bears history...Set new rookie records for completions (127) and passing attempts (235)...Saw action in 15 games with six starts, including the last three contests...Completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,465 yards and eight touchdowns...Became third Bears rookie to break 1,000-yard mark in passing yards in a season...Also ranked second on the team with 160 rushing yards on 32 attempts...Opened season playing two or three series in every game, usually in second quarter...Played one series in season opener vs KC (9/12), leading Bears on 14-play, 74-yard scoring drive (FG)...Completed six of nine passes for 77 yards in NFL debut...Became first rookie QB to attempt pass in season opener since Zeke Bratkowski in 1954...Replaced injured Shane Matthews in fourth quarter at Min (10/10), finishing 9-14 for 97 yards to seal win...Earned first career start vs Phi (10/17), hitting 17-33 for 255 yards and first career touchdown pass,an 80-yard strike to Marcus Robinson...Stepped in again for injured Matthews at Was (10/31) to complete 23 of 40 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns...In third career start, suffered right knee sprain in first quarter at GB (11/7) and did not return...Did not play vs Min (11/14)...Saw limited action in Weeks 11-13...Named starter for final three games after suspension of Jim Miller...Exploded for career-highs in pass completions (27-36), passing yards (301) and touchdown passes (four) vs Det (12/19)...Also set career-highs with nine rushes for 36 yards...Became third NFL rookie QB in 1990’s to throw four TDs in game, joining Jake Plummer (1997) and Drew Bledsoe (1993)...Started at StL (12/26) but left with strained right side...Completed 20 of career-high 42 passing attempts for 196 yards vs TB (1/2/00)...Drafted in first round (12th overall) by Chicago. Games played-started: 15-6 2000 Season (With Chicago) Appeared in 10 games, making nine starts…Completed 154-of-280 passes for 1,646 yards with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions…Also rushed for 326 yards and three touchdowns on 50 attempts…Rushing figure ranked second on squad…Had best performance of season in opener at Minnesota (9-3), completing 27-of-41 passes for 290 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions…Also rushed for CAREER-HIGH 87 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries at Vikings…Threw season-long 68-yard touchdown pass at Green Bay (10- 1)…Sustained shoulder injury at Philadelphia (10-22)…Inactive vs. Indianapolis (11- 5)…Designated as third quarterback Weeks 11-14…Did not play vs. New England (12-10)…Played in final two games of year, including start in first game back, at San Francisco (12-17). 2001 Season (With Miami) Traded to the Miami Dolphins on August 22, 2001...Designated as third quarterback for all 16 regular season games and playoff game vs. Baltimore (1-13) in 2001. 2002 Season (With San Francisco) Traded to the San Francisco 49ers on June 13, 2002...Was competing to be the 49ers' third-stringer behind Jeff Garcia and Tim Rattay, before season-ending surgery was required on his left shoulder in August 2002...Released by the 49ers on May 17, 2003. You can follow Cade's NFL career on the News, Stats, Articles, and Team pages.