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Following the sad news of his passing, Brady Grove takes a look back at the enigmatic former New York Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen and the impact he had on football fans on the field and off.
This week, Big Blue Nation, New York Giants fans, and the football world as a whole were hit with the extremely sad and untimely news that Jared Lorenzen had passed away at the age of 38.
There's a good chance that you never had Lorenzen on your fantasy football draft radar or that you haven't been following his football career for a good while, but the "Hefty Lefty" was nearly impossible to not notice. With the agility and body control that he possessed as a 6-4, 285 lb quarterback through his days with the University of Kentucky and New York Giants, he is quite easily one of the most unique athletic talents and purely physical frameworks that has ever existed in the professional ranks. That doesn't even touch how daunting he became in his arena football days in Lexington, Owensboro, and Northern Kentucky.
What did Jared Lorenzen mean to the New York Giants organization and fan base? Let's look back at his life and brief pro career in memory of a truly memorable athlete.
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College Days
What did Jared Lorenzen mean to the state of Kentucky and Big Blue Nation? A whole lot, especially for a state that goes through its fair share of miserable college football droughts. As the 1998 Kentucky Mr. Football out of Highlands High School, he was a homegrown talent who took his talents to Lexington to try his hand in the ultra-competitive SEC. Once there, he instantly became a fan favorite, dazzling the hopeful Bluegrass spectators with behind-the-head throws, belief-defying runs out of the backfield, and gargantuan hits that made the opposition think twice about ever crossing his path again.
In four years, he accumulated 10,354 passing yards, 78 passing touchdowns, and an absolutely jaw-dropping 283 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, while also receiving All-SEC Second Team honors in 2002 and setting several school offensive records along the way.
NFL Career
In the NFL, Lorenzen never became a starter, instead serving as the backup to former SEC foe Eli Manning from 2004 to 2007. Throughout that time, Lorenzen was continually praised by teammates and team personnel for being an all-around great guy and a fantastic teammate with a tireless work ethic and relentless competitive drive. How relentlessly competitive was Lorenzen? Eli Manning credits him to this day for his drill work in practice that helped him build the skills necessary to complete "the Helmet catch" to David Tyree.
So at least in that way, it is very easy to see how the Giants 2008 Super Bowl victory and one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports would never have happened without the help of Jared Lorenzen. Whether it was mirroring the physique of defensive opponents or manhandling his way through fourth and one situations, there has yet to be a replacement to the level of preparation that Lorenzen could offer an NFL squad.
A Character Who Will Be Missed
After he put his NFL days behind him, he returned to Kentucky to coach at his alma mater, Highlands High School, before reentering the playing ranks by joining the regional arena football circuit. Over this period of years, Lorenzen grabbed headlines by putting his gargantuan frame under center for the Kentucky Horseman, Northern Kentucky River Monsters, and Owensboro Rage, winning Ultimate Indoor Football League MVP in 2011 and serving as league commissioner in 2012.
Then, after a more diverse football career than most would ever get to enjoy, Lorenzen once again inspired and lit a fire under countless individuals across the country with "The Jared Lorenzen Project." Chronicled by "E:60," Lorenzen discussed his battle with several health issues and obesity and was amazingly able to lose 100 pounds over the course of the project. He continued to remain close to the heart of Kentucky Wildcats football, remaining a fan favorite long after his time playing for the BBN by guest hosting Kentucky Sports Radio shows during the football season and leading halftime chants at Kroger Field.
A great human being can't at all be encapsulated by their career in professional sports, and the much-too-early passing of Jared Lorenzen will be felt on a much greater level than the fact that he could throw a football really well. With that in mind, the competitiveness, energy, and showmanship that he brought to the field for the Kentucky Wildcats and New York Giants and his outlook on life outside of football, he brought a ton of joy to people's lives and made a lot of smiles, and that is something lasting to celebrate. So for the Big Blue Nation and football fans everywhere, thank you, and rest easy "Hefty Lefty."
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