Richard Bartel

Richard Bartel is an American former professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Richard John Bartel was born on February 3, 1983, in San Antonio, Texas, United States. The Quarterback stands 193 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 107 kg.

He attended Grapevine High School in Texas, where he was a highly decorated multi-sport standout, earning All-State honors in football and playing as an All-District pitcher. His throwing talent led to him being drafted out of high school as a pitcher by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2001 MLB Draft, pitching three seasons in their minor league system.

Shifting back to football, he played for SMU from 2001 to 2003 before transferring to Tarleton State. Playing for the Tarleton State Texans from 2004 to 2006. He became one of the most accurate passers in school history, throwing for 3,906 yards and 28 touchdowns before entering the NFL ranks.

Professional Career

Bartel went undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.

He spent his initial seasons adjusting to the professional speed on the practice squads of the Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alongside a brief regular-season roster activation with the Cleveland Browns in late 2008.

After spending the 2009 campaign providing depth for the Washington Redskins, Bartel gained valuable game reps in spring football, suiting up for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League (UFL) in 2010.

His performance caught the eye of front offices, leading to a contract with the Arizona Cardinals later that year.

Bartel's most notable active stretch came in Arizona, where he appeared in three regular-season games as a backup quarterback. He logged his first extensive NFL action in the 2010 regular-season finale against San Francisco, throwing for 150 yards.

The following season, Bartel achieved a career milestone by throwing his first and only career NFL touchdown pass—a 23-yard completion to future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald against the Washington Redskins.

He was released by the Cardinals in 2012, finishing his NFL career with 236 passing yards.

Coaching Career

Following his retirement as an active player, Bartel transitioned into a football strategist and passing game mentor.

He built an extensive coaching résumé at both the high school and collegiate levels, including serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Lafayette College. In 2019, he stepped into the professional coaching ranks, being named the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends during the inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).

Career Highlights:

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