Ken Dorsey


Kenneth Simon Dorsey is a former American football quarterback. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League.
Dorsey played college football for the University of Miami, where he was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft, and played for the Cleveland Browns from 2006 to 2008. He was then the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017.

Early years

Dorsey attended Miramonte High School in Orinda, California, and was a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was a USA Today Honorable Mention All-USA selection. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman and as a senior, averaged 10.0 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals per game.

College career

While at the University of Miami, Dorsey was known as a consummate winner, leading the Hurricanes to the 2001 national championship and posting a record of 38–2 as the team's starting quarterback. Dorsey also effectively rewrote the school record book, setting career records for total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions, pass attempts, victories as a starting quarterback, winning percentage by a starting quarterback, 200-yard passing performances, consecutive passes without an interception, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, and touchdown passes in a game.
In addition, Dorsey was named the co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl, Offensive Player of the Year twice, and First-team All-Big East three times. Dorsey was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in both 2001 and 2002 and the winner of the 2001 Maxwell Award, which is given to the national collegiate player of the year.
In 2002, Dorsey led Miami to an undefeated regular season and a national championship berth, where Miami would fall to eventual champion Ohio State. In double-overtime Dorsey and the Hurricanes were upset in their bid to win a second straight national championship. He passed for 296 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Miami finished the season 12–1, ranking second behind the Buckeyes. Dorsey finished the season with 3,369 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He was once again a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Dorsey was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame at its 45th Annual Induction Banquet on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Jungle Island in Miami.

College statistics

Professional career

San Francisco 49ers

Despite a strong college career, Dorsey was selected in the seventh round with the 241st overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, due in part to concerns over Dorsey's arm strength. In his first two seasons in the NFL, he played in nine games, completing 171 of his 316 pass attempts, and throwing for 1,712 yards and eight touchdowns with eleven interceptions. He started the 2005 season as the third quarterback behind Tim Rattay and #1 pick Alex Smith, moving into the backup role after the trade of Rattay to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went on to start three games for the injured Alex Smith. In a Week 11 game against the Seattle Seahawks, Dorsey led an inspired comeback and was a two-point conversion away from sending the game into overtime.

Cleveland Browns

In May 2006, Dorsey was traded to the Cleveland Browns along with a 7th round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft for veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer, after having just re-signed with the 49ers. During training camp, Dorsey and Derek Anderson competed for the 2nd string position behind starter Charlie Frye. In the battle which ended in a virtual tie, Dorsey went on to serve as the third-string quarterback behind Anderson for all of the 2006 season. Dorsey was named the starter for the week 17 game against the Houston Texans but the previously injured Charlie Frye replaced him just minutes before the game. The Browns went on to lose to the Texans as Frye threw an interception and no touchdown passes.
Dorsey's hopes of becoming a starter for the Cleveland Browns became much more bleak after the Browns drafted quarterback Brady Quinn of the University of Notre Dame with the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Quinn, and Dorsey battled for position on the Browns' QB depth chart throughout the 2007 NFL Pre-season. On September 1, 2007, the Browns released Dorsey. After a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1, Frye was traded to Seattle and Dorsey was re-signed by the Browns in a reserve role. Derek Anderson had a break-through season in 2007, further diminishing the chances of Dorsey receiving playing time.
On November 30, 2008, Dorsey was sent into the game against the Indianapolis Colts after Derek Anderson was injured; he completed two passes, one incomplete, the other an interception.
On December 2, Derek Anderson was put on injured reserve ending his season. Dorsey was named the starter for the remainder of the 2008 season. However, Dorsey was injured during the December 21 game that was against the Bengals. Fourth string quarterback Bruce Gradkowski started in place of Dorsey in week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dorsey was released by the Browns on February 9, 2009.
For a brief time, Dorsey was the quarterbacks coach for the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs high school football team in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. On April 26, 2011, he was named offensive coordinator at nearby Riverview High School.

Toronto Argonauts

On May 26, 2010, Dorsey signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, where he backed up former Miami Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon. On May 3, 2011, Dorsey announced his retirement from professional football.

Post-playing career

The Carolina Panthers hired Dorsey as a pro scout on August 15, 2011. During the 2011 off season, Dorsey was an IMG employee who trained NFL quarterbacks Cam Newton, Christian Ponder, and Joe Webb, and wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Dorsey was hired as the Panthers' quarterbacks coach on January 23, 2013. In the 2015 season, Dorsey and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10. On January 9, 2018, he was fired.
Dorsey was hired on March 26, 2018 to be the assistant director of athletics for the sports program at Florida International University effective April 2018. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was quoted as saying "He'll bring a newness and spark to FIU. Not only is he a hard worker, but he has a vibrant killer instinct. He's a known proven winner over the years."
Dorsey was hired on February 2, 2019 to be the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills.