Steve DeBerg Steven Leroy DeBerg ( born January 19 , 1954 ) is a retired American Football quarterback . His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades . Although large portions of his career were spent as a backup , DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics , particularly during the early 1990s , when he was the starting QB for the Kansas City Chiefs . DeBerg ' s reputation is that of a journeyman , and he was also very much a " witness to history " who played an incidental role in significant events . But late in his career , DeBerg exhibited flashes of brilliance , as well as endurance and staying power that separated him from other journeymen and career backups . Career . DeBerg is an alumnus of Savanna High School in Anaheim , California where he also excelled in the Pole Vault , Fullerton College in Fullerton , California , and of San José State University . Steve continued on to play for the San Francisco 49ers ( 1978 – 1980 ) , Denver Broncos ( 1981 – 1983 ) , Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1984 – 1987 , 1992 , 1993 ) , Kansas City Chiefs ( 1988 – 1991 ) , Miami Dolphins ( 1993 ) , and Atlanta Falcons ( 1998 ) . He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 10th round of the 1977 NFL Draft . Prior to joining the NFL , he played quarterback for San Jose State , and his Fullerton College Hornets won the state Junior College Bowl at Anaheim Stadium in 1974 . DeBerg began his NFL career in San Francisco . Coach Bill Walsh took over the team in 1979 . In the 1979 and 1980 NFL seasons DeBerg set several records for number of passing attempts and completions . However , when Walsh drafted Joe Montana from Notre Dame , DeBerg was relegated to a backup role . Similar events unfolded again and again over the next decade : He was not only with the 49ers when they drafted Joe Montana , but also with the Denver Broncos when John Elway was drafted , and at Tampa Bay when both Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde were drafted . DeBerg passed for over 34 , 000 career yards , and ranks in the top 20 all - time for attempts , completions , and yards passing . His best years were with the Chiefs , during which he led the team to two playoff berths and had his best year in 1990 with a 96 . 3 quarterback rating , passing for 3 , 444 yards , 23 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions , with 3 of those interceptions coming in one game . Throughout his career , he was frequently noted as one of the best Play - action pass quarterbacks of all time . Peyton Manning has studied films of DeBerg ' s play - action technique . During his career , DeBerg also acquired a reputation for playing through particularly gruesome or unique injuries . He played with laryngitis and wore a portable amplifier during regular season games with San Francisco . He also played with a broken non - throwing hand and an exposed metal pin sticking out of his finger in a Chiefs playoff game in 1990 . In 1993 , he left a Dolphins game versus the New York Giants battered and bloodied after taking a helmet to the chin , only to return to the game following halftime . Earlier in the season , he started in place of Dan Marino in the infamous Thanksgiving game where Leon Lett ' s blunder resulted in a Dolphins win . DeBerg retired after the 1993 season , but briefly returned to the NFL in 1998 , at age 44 , as a backup with the Atlanta Falcons . On October 25 , with Chris Chandler unable to play , DeBerg became the oldest quarterback to ever start an NFL game when he led the Falcons against the New York Jets . DeBerg also became the oldest player ever included on a Super Bowl roster , at the age of 45 years , 12 days , when the Falcons appeared in Super Bowl XXXIII , though he did not play in the game . He has now been inducted to the Rebel hall of fame at Savanna High School , for his achievements as a starting quarterback in the NFL , on February 5 , 2010 during halftime at a varsity boys basketball game at Savanna High School . DeBerg served as the head coach of the Arena Football League ' s Indiana Firebirds in 2004 for 5 games . The team ' s record during his tenure was 0 - 5 . He later served as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Storm .