End of an era — Detmer enjoying relaxing life after 14-year pro career
The Atlanta Falcons, his employer the past two years, did not renew his contract, and no other team has called.
It appears Detmer's long football career is finally finished.
So, is he having a difficult time adjusting to life without football?
"I really haven't missed it," he says. "I keep up with it. I follow friends, and watch how teams are doing. But I don't sit there thinking, man, that should be me out there. I'm pretty content. If someone called and needed an emergency guy to come in or help a young guy along, I'd be happy to return. I still enjoy it, but I'm not dying to get in there."
Detmer has his first "real" job. He works for Triton Financial, an investment firm in Austin, Texas. "Every now and then I have to wear slacks, a dress shirt and a button-down shirt," he confesses. "But no suit yet."
The hours are flexible, which allows him to spend time with his wife and four daughters and to check on his 1,200-acre ranch, which is three hours south of Austin. His father keeps a herd of longhorns there. "I'm mainly in it for the hunting," says Detmer.
"I kind of prepared myself for (retirement) last year," he says. "I thought it might be the end of the line. The last few weeks of the season I appreciated just being there and being a part of it, knowing it might be the last weeks of my career."
Detmer's departure not only marks the end of his own career but also the end of a long streak for his alma mater. For the first time since 1977, no BYU quarterback is playing in the NFL. From 1978 through 2005, Pass U. was represented by Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Detmer and Brandon Doman. Taken one step further, at least one BYU quarterback has been on an NFL active roster every year since 1968, except for 1977, a period covering 37 years.
Detmer, whose younger brother Koy was cut by the Eagles recently after a 10-year career, was the last Cougar standing, which is pretty much all he did the last few years. Because of his smallish build, he was never given much of a chance to play in the NFL (54 games in 14 seasons, including 25 starts).
After taking over the starting job in Philadelphia early in the 1996 season, he led the Eagles to the playoffs. He was the starter again the following season, but after the Eagles lost four of their first six games, Detmer lost his job even though the Eagles were leading the league in total offense. His one big chance was gone. He was finished as a starter, at 30. He played in five games the last six seasons, including four starts with the Lions in 2001.
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