Kyle Orton

Kyle Raymond Orton (born November 14, 1982) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After an injury to Bears starter Rex Grossman, Orton was pressed into service as the starting quarterback during his rookie year, starting the first 14 games of the 2005 season, but was replaced by Grossman for the playoffs that year. Orton did not play at all in 2006, and sparingly in 2007. He regained his starting job from Grossman in 2008, but the team finished a disappointing 9–7 and out of the playoffs. In the offseason of that year, he was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Orton started his Broncos career by winning his first six games in the 2009 season, but injuries hobbled him in the second half of the season. Though Orton threw 21 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions, the team finished 8–8 and out of the playoffs. Orton started 2010 season as the starting quarterback, though the team was not competitive most of the season, finishing 4–12. After throwing 3 interceptions versus the Arizona Cardinals on December 12 and with the Broncos eliminated from the playoffs, Orton was replaced by Tim Tebow for the final three games of the 2010 season. In 2011, he again began the season as a starter, but he was replaced by Tebow again after a disappointing start to the season. Following several weeks on the bench, in which he did not take a snap for the Broncos, he was released by the Broncos on November 22, and claimed off of waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs the next day. His contract expired and the Dallas Cowboys signed him on March 14, 2012 off of free agency. Prior to the 2014 season, the Cowboys released Orton as he would not show up for training camp. He signed with the Buffalo Bills just prior to the 2014 season. On September 29, 2014, Bills head coach Doug Marrone named Orton starting quarterback of the then 2–2 Bills. Orton led the Buffalo Bills to a 9–7 record in 2014 and announced his retirement shortly after the conclusion of the season.