Erik Kramer William Erik Kramer ( born November 6 , 1964 in Encino , California ) , is a former American football quarterback . He attended John Burroughs High School in Burbank , CA . After attending Los Angeles Pierce College and playing as their quarterback , Kramer transferred to North Carolina State University where he finished a successful college football career . He was not drafted by an NFL team , but did see action in 1987 , when he played for the Atlanta Falcons as a replacement player during the NFL players strike . He would then spend some time in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders . Kramer would return to the NFL in 1991 , when he became a surprise starter for the Detroit Lions after injuries sidelined Rodney Peete . Kramer played in 13 games , led the Lions to a 12 - 4 record , their first playoff victory since the 1950s , and a trip to the NFC Championship Game . Kramer ' s nickname in Detroit was " Brass " , a media - friendly redaction of " Brass Balls " . The moniker apparently originated after Kramer called an audible on his first series as Lions ' quarterback , having just replaced the injured Rodney Peete . One Lions ' offensive lineman turned to another and said , " This guy ' s got brass balls . " Kramer proved to be quite successful as a signal - caller in 1991 and the nickname stuck . His other nickname was " Cosmo " , which was due to him having the same last name as the character Cosmo Kramer from the popular TV show , Seinfeld . Kramer was not able to keep his starting job for the next three years , however , sharing duties with Peete and Andre Ware . In 1994 , he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears , and spent the next five years with the club . In his two full seasons as a starter ( 1995 and 1997 ) , he was highly productive and passed for over 3 , 000 yards . Kramer currently holds the Bears ' single - season record for passing yards ( 3 , 838 ) and touchdown passes ( 29 ) . Kramer signed with the San Diego Chargers in the 1999 offseason , but retired midseason due to a neck injury . ( Though he also missed much of the 1996 season with a neck injury , the two injuries were unrelated . ) Kramer finished his 13 NFL seasons with 1 , 317 completions for 15 , 337 yards and 92 touchdowns , with 79 interceptions . He also rushed for 217 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns . Currently , he is working for FSN Detroit , where he covers one of his former teams , the Detroit Lions , as an in studio analyst . He is also working as color commentator on Bears preseason games . Erik writes a personal blog for www . playerpress . com at www . erikkramerpass . com , where he discusses current events in the NFL and his former career and picks NFL games against the spread . Kramer appeared as himself in an episode of " Married With Children " , during which the series ' protagonist , Al Bundy , sells his soul in order to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl . On Sun , Oct 30 , 2011 , Kramer ' s son Griffen , age 18 and a senior at Thousand Oaks High School , was found dead at a friend ' s home from a heroin overdose . Four people , including two juveniles , have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance by Sheriff ' s investigators in the matter . Broadcasting career . Kramer was an analyst for the NFL on Fox . He currently works with Sam Rosen for Chicago Bears preseason telecasts .