Heath Shuler

Joseph Heath Shuler (born December 31, 1971) is an American businessman, former NFL quarterback, and former U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district from 2007 to 2013.

He is a member of the Democratic Party and was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition during his tenure.

He attracted scout attention and accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee in 1990.

Under head coaches Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer, Shuler gained national attention as one of the SEC's top quarterbacks.

After a limited role in the 1991 season behind quarterback Andy Kelly, he became a prolific passer.

In the 1992 season, he passed for 1,712 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and four interceptions as Tennessee finished with a 9–3 record.

The next season, he finished with 2,354 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions as Tennessee finished with a 9–2–1 record.

He held nearly all Volunteer passing records by the end of his collegiate career; most were subsequently eclipsed by Peyton Manning.

In 1993, Shuler was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) player of the year and came in second behind Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Shuler was a first-round selection in the 1994 NFL Draft, taken by the Washington Redskins with the third overall pick.

He held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract, most of the holdout being due to Shuler's agent and the Redskins general manager discussing the parameters of the contract.

The Redskins had fallen on hard times since winning Super Bowl XXVI, and Shuler was considered the quarterback of the future.

However, Shuler's poor play contributed to a quarterback controversy with fellow 1994 draft pick, seventh-rounder Gus Frerotte.

Public and fan sentiment soon began to back Frerotte, especially after Shuler threw five interceptions in a 19–16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Shuler started 18 games in his first two years with the team and was benched in his third year, as Frerotte led the team.

After the 1996 season, Shuler was traded to the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round pick in the 1997 draft and a third-round pick in 1998.

Shuler's statistics remained poor.

He suffered a serious foot injury during the 1997 season in New Orleans and had two surgeries to try to correct it.

Football statistics site Football Outsiders called Shuler "The least valuable quarterback of 1997."

Shuler chose the Saints over the Packers, who were also interested, because of the opportunity to start in New Orleans despite Washington GM Charley Casserly urging Shuler to pick the Packers because of their ability to develop quarterbacks.

After being unable to take the field due to his foot injury in his second season in New Orleans, Shuler signed with the Oakland Raiders.

After re-injuring his foot in training camp, he was cut and later retired.

As a professional, his career passer rating was a 54.3.

In 2003, Shuler moved to Biltmore Forest, North Carolina.

In 2004, ESPN rated him the 17th biggest 'sports flop' of the past 25 years, along with the fourth biggest NFL Draft bust.

In July 2005, Shuler announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination to run against eight-term incumbent Republican Charles H. Taylor.

In the 2006 House elections, Shuler defeated incumbent Charles H. Taylor, but retired after his district was redrawn.

In 2007, the NFL Network ranked Shuler as the ninth-biggest bust in NFL history.

After retiring from the NFL, Shuler returned to the University of Tennessee and completed his degree in psychology.

He became a real estate professional in Knoxville, Tennessee.

His real estate company was one of the largest independent firms in East Tennessee.

During his tenure in Congress, Shuler was known for challenging the leadership of his party, and in 2010 ran against Nancy Pelosi for Minority Leader.

Shuler's congressional district covered the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina.

The largest city in the district was Asheville, which has voted strongly Democratic, in part influenced by retirees from Northeastern and Midwestern areas.

In redistricting, the Republican-dominated legislature redrew the boundaries of the 10th and 11th congressional districts, removing half of Asheville and making the district far more Republican in terms of voter history.

As a result, Shuler announced his retirement from the House on February 2, 2012.

Shuler was born in Bryson City, North Carolina, a small town in the Great Smoky Mountains near the Tennessee border.

His father was a mail carrier and his mother a homemaker and volunteer with the Swain County Youth Association; he has a younger brother, Benjie.

Shuler's athletic career began at Swain County High School in Bryson City.

A standout quarterback who led his team to three state championships, he was named as the North Carolina High School Player of the Year.