Andy Dalton facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the American football player. For the New Zealand rugby player, see Andy Dalton (rugby union). For the English cricketer, see Andrew Dalton.

Quick facts for kids
Andy Dalton

Dalton with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017

No. 14 – Carolina Panthers

Position:

Quarterback

Personal information

Born:

October 29, 1987 (age 37)
Katy, Texas, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight:

220 lb (100 kg)

Career information

High school:

Katy

College:

TCU (2006–2010)

NFL Draft:

2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35

Career history

Roster status:

Active

Career highlights and awards

3× Pro Bowl (2011, 2014, 2016)
2× MW Offensive Player of the Year (2009, 2010)
2× First-team All-MW (2009, 2010)

Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024

Passing attempts:	5,614
Passing completions:	3,514
Completion percentage:	62.6%
TD–INT:	253–150
Passing yards:	39,500
Passer rating:	87.5

Player stats at PFR

Andrew Gregory Dalton (born October 29, 1987) is a professional football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL). People call him "the Red Rifle" because of his strong throwing arm and red hair.

He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs. There, he became the school's leader in quarterback wins. He also helped his team win the 2011 Rose Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals picked him in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft.

During his first nine years with the Bengals, Dalton led the team to the playoffs five times in a row (2011–2015). He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. In his first season, he and wide receiver A. J. Green set records for rookie quarterback and receiver teams. Dalton also set Bengals team records for passing touchdowns and passing yards in a single season.

Even with his success in the regular season, Dalton did not win any playoff games. The Bengals released him in 2020 after four losing seasons. He then played for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints, usually as a starter or backup for one year each. Dalton joined the Panthers in 2023.

Early Life and High School Football

Andy Dalton grew up in Katy, Texas. He played football for the Katy High School Tigers. In 2004, he shared playing time as a junior. In 2005, he became the full-time starting quarterback for his senior year.

That year, he led the Tigers to the state finals. They lost to Southlake Carroll 34–20. As a senior, he threw for 2,877 yards and 42 touchdowns. He was named the best offensive player in the Greater Houston Area by the Houston Chronicle.

College Football Career

Dalton playing for TCU

Dalton decided to play for Texas Christian University (TCU) on October 19, 2005.

Starting at TCU (2006–2007)

Dalton did not play in his first year (2006) to save a year of eligibility. This is called "redshirting." He traveled with the team and was the third-string quarterback.

Before the 2007 season, TCU coach Gary Patterson named Dalton the starting quarterback. He was named the MVP of the 2007 Texas Bowl. TCU won that game 20–13 against Houston. Dalton finished his first playing season with 2,459 passing yards and ten touchdowns. After an 8–5 record as a freshman, he had a great record of 34–3 for the rest of his college career.

Leading the Horned Frogs (2008–2010)

In the 2008 season, Dalton led TCU to an 11–2 record. They finished second in their conference and seventh in the national rankings. He was named MVP of the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl. TCU won 17–16 against Boise State. He threw for 2,242 yards and 11 touchdowns that year.

For the 2009 season, Dalton led TCU to a perfect 12–0 regular season. They won the Mountain West Conference Championship. They also earned a spot in a major bowl game, the 2010 Fiesta Bowl. They lost 17–10 to Boise State. He finished with 2,756 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.

On September 4, 2010, Dalton won his 30th game as TCU's starting quarterback. This made him TCU's all-time leader in quarterback wins. In a game against Baylor, he completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. His team won their second straight Mountain West Conference Championship.

On January 1, 2011, Dalton led TCU to a 21–19 win over Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. His team finished the season with a perfect 13–0 record. They were ranked #2 in the country. Dalton finished the 2010 season with 2,857 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. He also placed ninth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, a top college award.

When he graduated, Dalton held many TCU career records. These included wins (42), passing yards (10,314), and passing touchdowns (71).

College Statistics

Season	Games			Passing								Rushing
Season	GP	GS	Record	Comp	Att	Pct	Yards	Avg	TD	Int	Rate	Att	Yards	Avg	TD
TCU Horned Frogs
2006	Redshirt
2007	13	13	8−5	222	371	59.8	2,459	5.8	10	11	118.5	98	232	2.4	5
2008	11	11	9−2	182	307	59.3	2,242	7.3	11	5	129.2	113	432	3.8	8
2009	13	13	12−1	199	323	61.6	2,756	8.8	23	8	151.8	116	512	4.4	3
2010	13	13	13−0	209	316	66.1	2,857	9.9	27	6	166.5	86	435	5.1	6
Career	50	50	42−8	812	1,317	61.7	10,314	7.8	71	30	140.7	413	1,611	3.9	22

Professional Football Career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand size	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Wonderlic
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m)	9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m)	4.93 s	1.77 s	2.89 s	4.27 s	6.93 s	29.5 in (0.75 m)	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)	29
All values from NFL Combine

Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2019)

Rookie Season Success (2011)

Dalton at the 2012 Pro Bowl

The Cincinnati Bengals picked Dalton in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He was the 35th player chosen overall. He was the fifth quarterback picked that year.

Dalton became the Bengals' starting quarterback. His first NFL game was on September 11, 2011, against the Cleveland Browns. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals won 27–17.

In October, Dalton was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. He led the Bengals to a 4–0 record that month. He threw for 909 yards and six touchdowns. By the end of the season, Dalton led the Bengals to a 9–7 record and a spot in the NFL playoffs.

The Bengals played the Houston Texans in the playoffs. Dalton completed over 64% of his passes but also had three turnovers. The Texans won 31–10.

Dalton became the first quarterback not picked in the first round to start all 16 games as a rookie. He was also one of only five rookie quarterbacks to throw for over 3,000 yards and at least 20 touchdowns. Dalton was later chosen for the 2012 Pro Bowl. He and Cam Newton were the first rookie quarterbacks to make the Pro Bowl in the same season.

Continued Playoff Appearances (2012–2014)

In 2012, Dalton led the Bengals to a 10–6 record and another playoff spot. He had several strong games, including a career-high 381 passing yards against the Browns. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing four touchdowns against the New York Giants. The Bengals lost to the Texans again in the playoffs, 19–13.

In 2013, Dalton had a career-best season for passing yards (4,293) and touchdowns (34). He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He led the Bengals to an 11–5 record and their third straight playoff appearance. This made him one of only five NFL quarterbacks to make the playoffs in each of their first three seasons. However, the Bengals lost in the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers 27–10. Dalton was criticized for his playoff performance.

In 2014, Dalton signed a six-year contract extension. He helped the Bengals clinch a playoff spot for a fourth straight year, a team record. He even caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mohamed Sanu, becoming the first Bengals quarterback to catch a touchdown. The Bengals lost their fourth straight playoff game, this time to the Indianapolis Colts 26–10. Dalton was selected for his second Pro Bowl.

Injury and Final Seasons with Bengals (2015–2019)

Dalton in Baltimore in 2015

The 2015 season started well for the Bengals. Dalton threw his 100th career touchdown pass. He led the team to a 27–24 overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks, coming back from a 24–7 deficit. This was the second-biggest comeback in Bengals history. The Bengals had their best start ever, going 7–0.

However, in Week 13, Dalton broke his thumb while tackling a player. He missed the rest of the season. He finished the year with 3,250 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. His 106.2 passer rating was second-best in the NFL. The Bengals lost in the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Steelers without Dalton playing.

In 2016, Dalton had over 4,000 passing yards for the second time. He was sacked 41 times, the second most in the league. He earned his third Pro Bowl selection.

Dalton in Washington in 2017

In 2017, Dalton threw four interceptions in the first game against the Ravens. However, in Week 17, he threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd against the Ravens. This win helped the Buffalo Bills make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Many Bills fans donated money to Dalton's charity to thank him.

In 2018, Dalton threw four touchdown passes in a game against the Ravens. He suffered a thumb injury in Week 12 and missed the rest of the season. He finished with 2,566 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 11 games.

Dalton (right) in Cleveland in 2019

The 2019 season was tough for the Bengals. Dalton threw for a career-high 418 yards in Week 1, but the team started 0–8. He was benched for a few games but returned as the starter. In Week 16, he threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals lost in overtime, but it helped them get the worst record in the NFL, which meant they would get the first pick in the next draft. Dalton played in 13 games, with 3,494 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

On April 30, 2020, the Bengals released Dalton after nine seasons. They had picked Joe Burrow as the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Dallas Cowboys (2020)

Dalton with the Cowboys in 2020

On May 2, 2020, Dalton signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He was meant to be Dak Prescott's backup.

In Week 5, Dalton replaced an injured Prescott and helped the Cowboys win. He became the starting quarterback after Prescott's season-ending injury. In Week 7, Dalton suffered a concussion. He also tested positive for COVID-19 in November.

He returned to play in Week 11 and threw three touchdowns to help the Cowboys beat the Vikings. In Week 14, he played against his old team, the Bengals, and won 30–7. He finished the season with 2,169 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games.

Chicago Bears (2021)

On March 17, 2021, Dalton signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. He started the first two games but then got a knee injury. Justin Fields became the starter after that. Dalton played in eight games in 2021, throwing for 1,512 yards and eight touchdowns.

New Orleans Saints (2022)

On March 29, 2022, Dalton signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. He became the starter in Week 4 after Jameis Winston got injured. In Week 7, he threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns against the Cardinals, but also had three interceptions. He remained the starter for the rest of the season. Dalton played in 14 games, with 2,871 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Carolina Panthers (2023–Present)

Joining the Panthers (2023)

On March 15, 2023, Dalton signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He was expected to be the starter, but Bryce Young, the first overall draft pick, became the starter before the season.

Dalton started one game for the Panthers on September 24, 2023, when Young was injured. He threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–37 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. This was his only significant playing time in the 2023 season.

Recent Seasons (2024–2025)

On September 16, 2024, Dalton was named the starting quarterback for the Panthers after the team started 0–2. In his first start against the Las Vegas Raiders, he threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers won 36–22.

On October 22, 2024, Dalton and his family were in a car accident. No one was seriously hurt, but Dalton injured his throwing thumb. He missed the Week 8 game. Even after he recovered, Bryce Young remained the Panthers' starter for the rest of the 2024 season.

On February 18, 2025, Dalton signed another two-year contract extension with the Panthers. This means he will play for the team for a third season.

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing					Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
2011	CIN	16	16	9–7	300	516	58.1	3,398	6.6	84	20	13	80.4	37	152	4.1	17	1	24	160	4	2
2012	CIN	16	16	10–6	329	528	62.3	3,669	6.9	59	27	16	87.4	47	120	2.6	17	4	46	229	4	4
2013	CIN	16	16	11–5	363	586	61.9	4,293	7.3	82	33	20	88.8	61	183	3.0	12	2	29	182	4	3
2014	CIN	16	16	10–5–1	309	481	64.2	3,398	7.1	81	19	17	83.5	60	169	2.8	20	4	21	124	3	2
2015	CIN	13	13	10–3	255	386	66.1	3,250	8.4	80	25	7	106.2	57	142	2.5	12	3	20	118	5	2
2016	CIN	16	16	6–9–1	364	563	64.7	4,206	7.5	86	18	8	91.8	46	184	4.0	15	4	41	264	9	3
2017	CIN	16	16	7–9	297	496	59.9	3,320	6.7	77	25	12	86.6	38	99	2.6	25	0	39	255	4	4
2018	CIN	11	11	5–6	226	365	61.9	2,566	7.0	49	21	11	89.6	16	99	6.2	21	0	21	157	1	0
2019	CIN	13	13	2–11	314	528	59.5	3,494	6.6	66	16	14	78.3	32	73	2.3	17	4	37	249	8	4
2020	DAL	11	9	4–5	216	333	64.9	2,170	6.5	69	14	8	87.3	28	114	4.1	13	0	24	184	2	1
2021	CHI	8	6	3–3	149	236	63.1	1,515	6.4	60	8	9	76.9	16	76	4.8	14	0	18	143	1	1
2022	NO	14	14	6–8	252	378	66.7	2,871	7.6	64	18	9	95.2	30	54	1.8	14	0	25	189	5	1
2023	CAR	3	1	0–1	34	58	58.6	361	6.2	47	2	0	88.4	3	12	4.0	10	0	3	27	0	0
2024	CAR	6	5	1–4	106	160	66.3	989	6.2	39	7	6	82.0	11	34	3.1	18	0	7	37	2	0
Career		175	168	84−82−2	3,514	5,614	62.6	39,500	7.0	86	253	150	87.5	482	1,511	3.1	25	22	355	2,318	52	27

Postseason

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing					Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
2011	CIN	1	1	0–1	27	42	64.3	257	6.1	36	0	3	51.4	3	17	5.7	15	0	4	33	1	0
2012	CIN	1	1	0–1	14	30	46.7	127	4.2	45	0	1	44.7	4	15	3.8	12	0	2	9	0	0
2013	CIN	1	1	0–1	29	51	56.9	334	6.5	49	1	2	67.0	5	26	5.2	12	0	3	8	2	1
2014	CIN	1	1	0–1	18	35	51.4	155	4.4	26	0	0	63.4	4	34	8.5	16	0	3	11	1	1
2015	CIN	0	0	did not play due to injury
Career		4	4	0–4	88	158	55.7	873	5.5	49	1	6	57.8	16	92	5.8	16	0	12	61	4	2

Bengals Team Records

Andy Dalton holds several records for the Cincinnati Bengals:

Most completions in a playoff game (29 on January 5, 2014).
Most pass attempts in a playoff game (51 on January 5, 2014).
Most passing yards in a rookie season (3,398 in 2011).
Most passing touchdowns in a rookie season (20 in 2011).
Most interceptions in the playoffs (6 total).
Most 300+ yard passing games in a season (5 in 2013, tied with Joe Burrow).
Most 4,000+ passing yard seasons in a career (2, tied with Carson Palmer and Joe Burrow).

Personal Life and Charity Work

Andy Dalton is a Christian. He often talks about his faith. He feels very lucky to play in the NFL.

On July 9, 2011, Dalton married Jordan Jones, whom he met in college. They have three children: two sons born in 2014 and 2017, and a daughter born in 2019.

Dalton and his wife started the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation. This charity helps families and children who are in need.

In 2017, Dalton helped the Bengals beat the Ravens. This win allowed the Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Many Bills fans were so thankful that they donated money to Dalton's foundation. In less than a week, over $360,000 was donated. Most donations were $17, to mark the 17-year playoff drought that ended. Dalton and his wife thanked the Bills fans by putting up billboards in Buffalo that said, "Thank you, Buffalo, and good luck."