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Former Stanford and NFL quarterback Turk Schonert died Thursday of a heart attack in South Carolina. He turned 62 on Jan. 15. Originally drafted in the ninth round in 1980 by the Chicago Bears, Schonert spent most of his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals and was on both Super Bowl teams in 1981 and 1988.
Schonert, who also spent a year with the Atlanta Falcons and later coached in the NFL, set a then Stanford season record for completion percentage in 1979, completing .670 of his passes (148 of 221) under Rod Dowhower, who led the Cardinal to a 5-5-1 season. It still ranks fifth all-time, just ahead of current Menlo School girls basketball coach John Paye’s .669 effort in 1985.
Schonert, who led the NCAA in passing as a senior when the NCAA switched to passing efficiency ratings, also ranks fourth on the single-season passing efficiency list with his 163.2 rating in 1979. Only Kevin Hogan and Andrew Luck have rated higher in a season.
A two-time All-American at Servite High in Anaheim, Schonert played behind Guy Benjamin and Steve Dils under Bill Walsh. John Elway was Schonert’s back-up.
Schonert completed 61.7 percent of his passes in the NFL (311 of 504) for 3,788 yards and 11 touchdowns.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports