Tim Rattay Timothy F . Rattay ( ; born March 15 , 1977 ) is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League . He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft . He played college football at Louisiana Tech . Rattay was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Tennessee Titans , Arizona Cardinals , and Las Vegas Locomotives . Early years . Rattay ' s high school career began at Mesa High , in Mesa , Arizona . He did not take snaps as a sophomore or junior at Mesa High before transferring to Phoenix Christian when his father , Jim , became an assistant . Because he was a backup , Rattay did not play until his senior year at Phoenix Christian , where he set a school record with 40 touchdown passes in 1994 . College career . Scottsdale CC . Rattay was not scouted by a major college , so he played a year at Scottsdale Community College , where he beat out five quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart to earn the starting spot the week of the season opener . He led the nation ’ s junior - college quarterbacks in touchdown passes ( 28 ) and yardage ( 3 , 526 ) . Louisiana Tech . Tim Rattay then transferred to Louisiana Tech , in Ruston . There he set several NCAA records , including the NCAA Division I - A record for average passing yards per game with 386 . 2 , and is now in second place in NCAA history with 12 , 643 yards of total offense . ( now surpassed by Colt Brennan of Hawaii ) He is also in the top 5 of every offensive category . He was in the top 10 voting for the Heisman in 1998 , which is awarded to the best college football player . In 1998 , he broke school records as a senior with 4 , 943 yards and 46 touchdowns to finish second in NCAA history in yardage . Professional career . San Francisco 49ers . Tim Rattay entered the league as the seventh - round pick ( 212th overall ) of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2000 NFL Draft . Rattay was a backup to longtime San Francisco quarterback Jeff Garcia . When Garcia was released from the team , largely due to salary cap constraints , Rattay was given the starting job . He won 2 of 3 games in 2003 , throwing 7 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions , before getting injured . From 2004 - 2005 he went 2 - 11 playing for the 49ers . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . On October 18 , 2005 , Rattay was acquired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 6th round 2006 NFL Draft pick from the San Francisco 49ers . This trade has been criticized by many , including former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw Late in the 2006 season , Rattay stepped in as the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers due to the poor play of Bruce Gradkowski . In the week 15 game against the Chicago Bears , he entered the game with Tampa Bay losing 14 - 3 . Due to his strong performance , Tampa Bay tied the game at 31 , but they eventually lost in overtime 34 - 31 . This performance led coach Jon Gruden to name Rattay as the team ' s third different starting quarterback in the 2006 season . Tennessee Titans . On May 9 , 2007 , Tim signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans . The following month Gruden would name Jeff Garcia Rattay ' s successor as the Buccaneers ' starting quarterback . Rattay signed with Tennessee to be a backup before 2007 ' s training camp . He made the team ' s 53 man roster , but was cut the next day . Arizona Cardinals . On October 9 , 2007 , Rattay signed a one year contract with the Arizona Cardinals as a backup to Kurt Warner , following a season - ending collarbone injury to starting quarterback Matt Leinart . Rattay would replace Warner in goal - line situations , where he went 3 for 3 with all 3 being touchdowns . Rattay declined to sign for another year , and decided to test the free agent market . In September 2008 , there were rumors that the New England Patriots considered signing Rattay after Tom Brady was lost for the entire 2008 season . In the 2000 NFL draft , the Patriots considered drafting Rattay but opted for Brady instead . The Patriots brought Rattay to Foxboro along with Chris Simms , but once they arrived , they were told that , since Matt Cassel had emerged , the situation had changed and Simms and Rattay were no longer needed in New England . A month later , Rattay worked out with the Detroit Lions , but they never made an offer to him . Las Vegas Locomotives . In July 2009 , Rattay signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League . Head coach Jim Fassel has said that Rattay would serve as the backup to J . P . Losman . On November 21 , Tim Rattay started for an injured Losman and led the Locomotives with two touchdown passes in a blowout win against the New York Sentinels . On July 12 , 2010 Rattay announced his retirement from professional football . Coaching career . Las Vegas Locomotives . Following his retirement , Rattay joined the Locomotives coaching staff as wide receivers coach on July 18 , 2011 .