Biography Erik Wilhelm

1 biography

1.1 years
1.2 collegiate career
1.3 nfl career
1.4 post-nfl football

biography
early years

erik bradley wilhelm born november 19, 1965 in american city of dayton, ohio.

wilhelm began playing high school football @ gladstone high school in gladstone, oregon, located 12 miles south of portland, state s biggest city. during first 3 seasons left-handed quarterback developed , emerged fledgling star, gaining honors junior in 1982 when named class-aa oregon all-state team.

in summer of 1983 wilhelm s family moved lake oswego, oregon, portland suburb, erik enrolling @ lakeridge high school senior year. there won role of starting quarterback, taking on school s graduated class-aaa all-state quarterback, todd beahm. highly touted wilhelm s collegiate options broad , accepted scholarship oregon state university in corvallis, oregon, enrolled in fall of 1984.

collegiate career

throughout 1970s , 1980s few programs on ncaa division 1 landscape compared oregon state beavers misfortune , ineptitude on gridiron. 1985, erik wilhelm s freshman year, beaver fans had suffered through 14 straight losing seasons, compiling mere 15 wins in 10 seasons running 1975 1984. freshman wilhelm rapidly thrust starting role.

early season wins against idaho , cal strong-armed wilhelm running head coach dave kragthorpe s past-oriented offense had stoked hope in team. chimera faded, however, when promising wilhelm lost season due injury — , event punctuated brutal 4 game swoon included merciless 63-0 thrashing @ hands of university of southern california. freshman qb, unknown rich gonzales, lead 38-point underdog beavers sensational 21-20 road victory on mighty university of washington in october third , final win of year.

during partial 1985 season wilhelm completed 60% of passes, throwing 890 yards , passed 9 touchdowns, suffering 14 interceptions, team s 2 victories greatest accomplishment.

wilhelm s career collegiate mad bomber begin in earnest in sophomore 1986 campaign, when topped 60% completion rate , led not pacific-10 conference entire ncaa division-i in attempts (470) , completions (283). victories on cal, boise state, , byu highlight wilhelm , osu s 3-8 season, during southpaw threw conference best 2,871 yards. poor ratio of 8 touchdown passes offset 17 interceptions prove main blemish on otherwise promising year.

the 1987 season marked drop in completion percentage more 60% 53.4% improvement in passing touchdown efficiency, wilhelm connecting 17 touchdown strikes while suffering 21 picks. wilhelm s 226 attempts , 423 completions in support of coach kragthorpe s air force offense nevertheless led pac-10, did 2,736 yards gained through air. set school record single game passing yardage in october 10 victory on university of akron, racking 461 yards in air. team whole took step backwards, however, finishing 2-9 overall , winless in pac-10 conference action.

it in senior year, 1988, wilhelm s skills in west coast offense became apparent. throwing career-best 2,896 yards year, wilhelm topped 62% in completion percentage , tossed 18 touchdowns against 9 interceptions. 275 completions on 442 attempts again lead pac-10 conference, completion total third nationwide among division-i quarterbacks. wilhelm s personal improvement led improvement in team s fortunes well, lowly beavers finishing 4–6–1 season — best won-loss record school since team s 5-6 showing in 1971.

wilhelm finish time @ osu 9,393 yards gained in air. continues hold record of dubious distinction of 2014, career leader pac-8/pac-10/pac-12 conference interceptions thrown 61.

nfl career

following success of san francisco 49ers , so-called west coast offense, national football league began move towards more pass-centric game, thereby putting premium on quarterback accuracy , arm strength. standing tall @ 6 3 , impressive collegiate credentials completion percentage , passing yards in pro-style offense, erik wilhelm represented tantalizing prospect, despite propensity throwing interceptions , poor win-loss record of team. consequently, wilhelm drafted in 3rd round 83rd overall pick of 1989 nfl draft nfl s cincinnati bengals. draft class topped number 1 overall pick troy aikman of ucla bruins, pac-10 quarterback. wilhelm 7th quarterback selected in draft.

the bengals being led established nfl star, norman boomer esiason — 1988 nfl mvp — wilhelm threw ball left-handed. adding left-handed backup in wilhelm allowed bengals not additional depth, luxury of leaving offensive line protections unchanged should wilhelm enter game, right tackle rather left tackle being responsible critical task of blindside protection on passing plays. wearing number 12, wilhelm saw limited action backing esiason in 6 games during 1989 rookie season, completing 30 of 56 passes 4 touchdowns, @ cost of 2 interceptions.

the durable esiason remain bengal throughout wilhelm s initial stint bengals, ended @ end of 1991 season. during these 3 years wilhelm start 1 game, throwing no td passes in 1991 loss. end initial tenure bengals completing 66 of 117 passes attempted in 17 game appearances, matching 4 touchdown passes 4 picks.

for 1992 season wilhelm moved phoenix cardinals relegated third on depth chart behind starter chris chandler , backup timm rosenbach, latter pac-10 quarterback selected in 1989 draft.

following unsuccessful time in phoenix, wilhelm returned bengals 1993 season, beginning second of 3 stints on team. wilhelm threw 6 passes in mop-up duty in 2 nfl games during 1993 , 1994 seasons, completing 4 of these 63 yards.

in 1995 wilhelm moved again, time new york jets, failed make single game appearance. third , final stint in cincinnati followed in 1996 , 1997, wilhelm seeing action reserve in 3 games, going 7-for-13 1 touchdown pass , 2 interceptions. failed make team in 1998, ending nfl career having made single start, throwing 912 yards , 5 touchdowns in 22 games, finishing nfl quarterback rating of 71.1.

post-nfl football

after being cut nfl, wilhelm returned pacific northwest, settling in southwest washington city of vancouver, north of portland, oregon. there worked in partnership mother residential property manager.

wilhelm still aspired return national football league, believing still had sufficient range of skills play @ level, , next 3 years worked out view returning professional game, playing flag football stay in shape , regularly throwing balls friend chad carlson, former player in canadian football league. carlson, formerly played wide receiver short-lived portland forest dragons of arena football league (afl), learned of franchise coming portland part of new indoor professional football league (ipfl) , persuaded wilhelm join him in trying out team.

in 2000 wilhelm joined portland prowlers of ipfl team s starting quarterback. wilhelm found camaraderie of ipfl fulfilling, if not financially lucrative, noting in 2000 interview:

m enjoying tremendously because s guys coming together, bonding , going common goal win games , learn offense together, practice together, beat other team. whether have success or fail, together. there s nothing can replace that. s why guys play football. no matter if s nfl , re getting paid whole bunch of money or league re gettin beer , pizza money.

wilhelm led prowlers 11-5 record , 2000 ipfl championship game, in process setting league record touchdown passes in single season @ 62. wilhelm s squad lost championship in shootout, 53-48, falling victim quarterback john fourcade , mississippi fire dogs @ portland s memorial coliseum.

wilhelm moved rival arena football league 2001 season, joining afl s los angeles avengers. in los angeles wilhelm led avengers 5-9 record in 2001 arena football league season, missing playoffs. season mark end of wilhelm s professional football career.