Mike Kerrigan

Kerrigan played high school football at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago. He was recruited by Yale, Weber State, and Utah, but opted to attend Northwestern as a walk-on. After sitting his entire freshman season, Kerrigan became the team's starting quarterback the second game of his sophomore season. In his first ever college game, Kerrigan led Northwestern to a 27-22 victory over Wyoming. Kerrigan was awarded a scholarship following the game. This would be the only victory for Kerrigan in his college career as the Wildcats lost their next 32 games - an NCAA Division I record. As he did not play his freshman year, Kerrigan was eligible to return for the 1982 season, however coach Dennis Green wanted to go in a different direction at quarterback, so Kerrigan opted to try professional football.{{cite news |last1=Shaughnessy |first1=Dan |title=At last, back with a winner |work=The Boston Globe |date=July 27, 1982}} In his three seasons as Northwestern's quarterback, Kerrigan attempted 379 of 797 passes for 4094 yards, and threw 23 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.{{cite web |title=Mike Kerrigan |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-kerrigan-1.html |website=Sports Reference - College Football |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=31 May 2021}} He set Northwestern's single-season records for completions (173) and passing yards (1816) during his junior year.

Kerrigan went undrafted in 1982, however, at the urging of director of player development Dick Steinberg, the New England Patriots signed Kerrigan as an undrafted free agent. He beat out Steve Sandon and Lou Pagley for the third-string quarterback position. He made the team again in 1983 and saw his first professional action on December 19, 1983, replacing Tony Eason during the fourth quarter of the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks. He went 6 for 14 for 72 yards with an interception and rushed once for 14 yards in a 24–6 loss.{{cite web |title=New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks - December 18th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312180sea.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=31 May 2021}} He was cut following the 1984 preseason and tried out for the Los Angeles Rams and the Edmonton Eskimos before returning to the Patriots following an injury to Eason. When Eason returned three weeks later, Kerrigan was released again. When Raymond Berry took over as head coach later that season, he decided to add a third quarterback and brought back Kerrigan.{{cite news |last1=Borges |first1=Ron |title=Kerrigan's back |work=The Boston Globe |date=November 9, 1984}} Kerrigan appeared in one game versus Indianapolis, completing one pass for 13 yards, leading the offense on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive.{{cite web |title=New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts - November 18th, 1984 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198411180clt.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=31 May 2021}} He was released by the Patriots on June 20, 1985.{{cite news |last1=Lorenz |first1=Rich |title=Massimino Says 'No' to the Nets |work=Chicago Tribune |date=June 21, 1985}}

In 1986, Kerrigan signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and competed with Tom Porras, Mark Casale, and Wilson Fraylon for the backup quarterback job.{{cite news |last1=Frayne |first1=Trent |title=Fire stirs in old 'Rider's broadening belly |work=The Globe and Mail |date=May 24, 1986}} He won the second-string job and replaced Ken Hobart as starter in the team's fifth game of the year.{{cite news |last1=MacLeod |first1=Rex |title=Ticats' Kerrigan aims to recover from 'worst' game |work=Toronto Star |date=November 22, 1986}} He was named an Eastern Division All-Star by the Football Reporters of Canada and led the Ti-Cats to a 39–15 upset victory over the 12-point favourite Edmonton Eskimos in the 74th Grey Cup. He was named the game's most valuable offensive player. It was Hamilton's first Grey Cup title since 1972, and their first win over Edmonton since 1977.{{cite web |title=HISTORY Grey Cup 1986 |url=http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1986 |website=CFL |publisher=Canadian Football League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213105016/http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1986 |access-date=13 December 2010|archive-date=2010-12-13 }} Both Kerrigan and Hobart missed much of the 1987 due to injury, which led to Tom Porras receiving most of the playing time that year.{{cite news |last1=Shoalts |first1=David |title=The future of Canada's pro football is now |work=The Globe and Mail |date=June 16, 1988}} Kerrigan entered the 1988 season in a competition with Hobart, Porras, and rookie Terry Andrysiak. The Ti-Cats opted to release Hobart and have Kerrigan and Porras split time as starter.{{cite news |title=Veterans Reaves, Hobart among final CFL cuts |work=Montreal Gazette |date=July 10, 1988}} On October 1, Kerrigan separated his shoulder and missed the rest of the season.{{cite news |last1=Shoalts |first1=David |title=Dorsey waiting for NFL to call |work=The Globe and Mail |date=October 6, 1988}} Although he missed the last six games, Kerrigan finished fourth in the league in passing yards (2,764) and second in completion percentage (55%). The team struggled without Kerrigan and Porras was released after the season, which allowed Kerrigan to enter the 1989 season without competition for the starting job.{{cite news |last1=Scanlan |first1=Wayne |title=CFL TRAINING CAMPS; Argos' Fenerty and 'Cats' Kerrigan are back |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=June 22, 1989}} He completed 248 of 486 passes for 3,635 yards and 20 touchdowns, ranking him fourth among CFL quarterbacks.{{cite news |title=Ticats re-sign quarterbacks Kerrigan, Dillon |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=May 3, 1990}} He again led the Tiger-Cats to the league championship. In the 77th Grey Cup, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 303 yards and tied the game with 34 seconds left with a touchdown pass to Tony Champion. However, the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the game 43–40 on a last second field goal.{{cite news |last1=Gatecliff |first1=Jack |title=Tiger-Cats lost thriller in '89 cup |work=The Standard |date=November 21, 1998}}{{cite web |title=HISTORY Grey Cup 1989 |url=http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1989 |website=CFL |publisher=Canadian Football League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930030054/http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1989 |access-date=30 September 2015|archive-date=2015-09-30 }} Kerrigan struggled in 1990 and was benched in favor of backup Todd Dillon shortly into the 1991 season.{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=Paul |title='Demeaning' Argo ads have Ticats snarling |work=Toronto Star |date=July 13, 1991}} On May 9, 1992, The Tiger-Cats signed Damon Allen, ending Kerrigan's first stint in Hamilton.{{cite news |title=Carousel continues, Ti-Cats sign Allen |work=Daily News (Halifax) |date=May 10, 1992}}

On June 4, 1992, Kerrigan signed with the Toronto Argonauts. He was signed by Toronto general manager Mike McCarthy, who had also brought Kerrigan to Hamilton when he was the Tiger-Cats director of player personnel.{{cite news |last1=Ralph |first1=Dan |title=Kerrigan accepts Argo deal Toronto to open training camp with five quarterbacks |work=The Globe and Mail |date=June 5, 1992}} Kerrigan began the season as a third-string quarterback behind Rickey Foggie and John Congemi.{{cite news |title=Last-place Argos seek rebound against Riders |work=Daily News (Halifax) |date=August 26, 1992}} On August 27, Kerrigan came off the bench to lead Toronto to a 24 to 16 comeback victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders. He threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Darrell K. Smith put the Argonauts ahead by one point with a minute left in the fourth quarter.{{cite news |last1=Millson |first1=Larry |title=Kerrigan creates benchmark win |work=The Globe and Mail |date=August 27, 1992}} Kerrigan made his first start for the Argonauts in the following week's Labour Day Classic. It was Kerrigan's first game at Ivor Wynne Stadium since leaving the Tiger-Cats. Hamilton won the game 27 to 24, with Kerrigan throwing an interception that set up the game-winning touchdown.{{cite news |title=Near-record crowd watches as Ticats defeat Argonauts |work=Kitchener - Waterloo Record |date=September 8, 1992}} Kerrigan returned to the bench the following week due to a strained knee tendon.{{cite news |last1=Ireland |first1=Joanne |title=Argos get new quarterback |work=Edmonton Journal |date=September 12, 1992}} In 1993, the Argonauts brought in Tracy Ham to be the starter and Kerrigan beat out Chris Flynn for the backup job.{{cite news |title=Flynn flunks test, cut loose by Argos |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=June 14, 1993}} On July 28, Kerrigan completed 13 of 20 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Ham in a 39 to 36 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, which led to Kerrigan taking over as starter.{{cite news |last1=Matsumoto |first1=Rick |title=Kerrigan wants the ball |work=Toronto Star |date=July 30, 1993}} Kerrigan started three games before missing the rest of the season with a broken collarbone.{{cite news |title=B.C. pivot shatters CFL passing mark |work=Kitchener - Waterloo Record |date=August 13, 1993}} Kerrigan was brought back in 1994 and won the starting job.{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=Paul |title=Argo hopefuls await final cuts O'Billovich faces thankless task of paring roster |work=Toronto Star |date=June 27, 1994}} Kerrigan started six games before being benched in favor of Reggie Slack.{{cite news |last1=Matsumoto |first1=Rick |title=Kerrigan sits as Slack grabs Argo QB job |work=Toronto Star |date=August 17, 1994}} Slack started the next two games before coach Bob O'Billovich decided to return Kerrigan to the starting role.{{cite news |last1=Matsumoto |first1=Rick |title=Argo QB carousel wheels Kerrigan to front once again |work=Toronto Star |date=September 2, 1994}} In his return as starter, Kerrigan led Toronto their first Labour Day victory over Hamilton in seven years.{{cite news |last1=Brunt |first1=Stephen |title=Argos wound Hamilton pride Kerrigan's three touchdown passes end seven-year Labour Day jinx |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 6, 1994}} Kerrigan made one more start before another collarbone injury ended his season.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Allan |title=Argos take experience into playoffs |work=Kingston Whig - Standard |date=November 8, 1994}} On April 24, 1995, Kerrigan was released by the Argonauts after they acquired Kent Austin via trade.{{cite news |last1=Christie |first1=James |title=Austin eager to add another ring in Toronto |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 25, 1995}}

On May 3, 1995, Kerrigan signed with the Tiger-Cats.{{cite news |title=Football Kerrigan a Ticat |work=The Globe and Mail |date=May 4, 1995}} He spent the year as the third string QB behind Anthony Calvillo and Steve Taylor.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=Brock walks but Mike bounces back: Fired Argo coach Faragalli named to replace Brock |work=The Spectator |date=September 26, 1995}} In the team's playoff game against the Calgary Stampeders, Kerrigan came off the bench and completed 23 of 36 for 244 yards and a touchdown.{{cite news |title=Ticat tales |work=The Spectator |date=November 6, 1995}} Kerrigan was waived by the Ti-Cats on May 29, 1996.{{cite news |last1=Kernaghan |first1=John |title=QB rules blamed as Cats drop Kerrigan |work=The Spectator |date=May 30, 1996}} On August 12, Kerrigan returned to the Tiger-Cats, this time as a quarterback coach. He, along with offensive line coach John Salavantis and receivers coach Terry Greer shared offensive coordinator duties following the dismissal of John Jenkins.{{cite news |last1=Rauw |first1=Murray |title=Kerrigan settles into new Tiger-cats' job |work=Calgary Herald |date=August 13, 1996}} He returned to active roster on August 29 as the backup to Marvin Graves following injuries to Matt Dunigan and Anthony Calvillo.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=Kerrigan back in uniform: Veteran quarterback suits up for backup role |work=The Spectator |date=August 30, 1996}} He took over the starting role for the team's September 8 game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=Kerrigan calm as he preps for start |work=The Spectator |date=September 6, 1996}} He continued in his dual role as coach and player until September 11, when John Jenkins was rehired as offensive coordinator.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=Kerrigan cut as coach but he'll lead offence |work=The Spectator |date=September 12, 1996}} In the team's September 15 game against the Edmonton Eskimos, Kerrigan passed Bernie Faloney as Hamilton's career passing leader.{{cite news |last=Brunt |first=Stephen |title=Tiger-Cats roar to victory Kerrigan's return to the field gives 'Cats 20-14 win over Edmonton |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 16, 1996}} Anthony Calvillo took over the starting job following his return from injury, but Kerrigan remained with the team as the backup.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=A.C. knocking on playoff door: Anthony Calvillo will lead the regrouping Ticats in a crucial match against Montreal Sunday |work=The Spectator |date=September 27, 1996}} He was released by the team prior to the start of the 1997 season.{{cite news |last1=Dickins |first1=Jeff |title=Cats say goodbye to veterans: Linebacker Gerhart released as coach seeks younger players |work=The Spectator |date=April 26, 1997}}

Kerrigan married a member of Brock University's food services department that he met while the Tiger-Cats held training camp there.{{cite news |title=Ticats move training camp |work=Toronto Star |date=April 24, 1992}} During his playing career, Kerrigan resided in St. Catharines and had an antique business in Stoney Creek, Ontario.{{cite news |last1=York |first1=Marty |title=CFL notes Tiger-Cats grab Kerrigan after Argo release |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 26, 1995}} After his football career ended, Kerrigan returned to Illinois to become an auto parts salesman.{{cite news |last1=York |first1=Marty |title=AT LARGE Veteran quarterbacks quickly disappearing from CFL |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 29, 1997}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerrigan, Mike}}

Category:1960 births

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Category:Players of American football from Chicago

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