Charlie Batch facts for kids
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Batch in 2021
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| No. 10, 16 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 5, 1974 Homestead, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 216 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Steel Valley (Munhall, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||||
| College: | Eastern Michigan (1993–1997) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Charles D'Donte Batch (born December 5, 1974) is a former professional football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). Batch played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The Detroit Lions picked him in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft. He played for 15 seasons in the NFL. Most of his career was as a backup quarterback for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the Steelers, he won two Super Bowl rings: Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.
Today, Batch works for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. He is a pre-game analyst for the Steelers. He also works as a color commentator for their preseason games. He co-hosts the Steeler Post-Game Show on WDVE Radio. Batch also helps with Champs Sports Network. He is a color analyst for WPIAL high school football and basketball games.
Contents
College Football Career
Charlie Batch had a great career at Eastern Michigan University. He set many passing records there. He also earned a degree in criminal justice. He was a popular player in his local area. The Detroit Lions chose him in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft.
Playing in the NFL
Detroit Lions Years
Charlie Batch was the main quarterback for the Detroit Lions from 1998 to 2001. After star player Barry Sanders retired, the Lions had trouble running the ball. Batch was asked to help by running the ball himself sometimes. He was good at this, but he often got injured.
In 1999, Batch helped the Lions reach the playoffs. He did not play in that playoff game due to an injury. The Lions lost the game. The 2000 season was his last full season as a starter. He got injured again in a key game. This loss cost the Lions a spot in the playoffs.
Batch started the 2001 season as the Lions' quarterback. He was injured later that year. The Lions then decided to let him go. This was partly because they drafted a new quarterback, Joey Harrington. Batch threw for over 9,000 yards with the Lions. This put him sixth on their all-time list.
Pittsburgh Steelers Years
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The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Charlie Batch in 2002. He was a backup quarterback. This was a good move because Batch grew up near Pittsburgh. He did not play in 2002. He was the third-string quarterback. But he became popular with Steelers fans. This was because he was from the area and did a lot of charity work.
The Steelers renewed his contract. Batch played in some games in 2003. In 2004, he was injured and did not play. In 2005, he became the second-string quarterback. He played behind Ben Roethlisberger. When Roethlisberger got injured in 2005, Batch started two games. He won both of them. He was the first Pittsburgh-area native to start at quarterback for the team since 1969.
Batch was a backup when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL. This made him a Super Bowl champion. In 2006, he signed a new three-year deal. He also visited Ben Roethlisberger in the hospital after a motorcycle accident.
Batch filled in for Roethlisberger again at the start of the 2006 season. Roethlisberger had emergency surgery. Batch played very well in that game. He threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw the first touchdown pass of the 2006 season. Batch also replaced Roethlisberger in another game when he got a concussion.
In 2008, Batch broke his collarbone in a preseason game. He missed the whole season. He re-signed with the Steelers in 2009. In November 2009, he played in a game when Ben Roethlisberger was injured. Batch himself got a wrist injury that needed surgery. He missed six weeks.
Batch signed with the Steelers again for two more seasons in 2010. He led the Steelers to a big win in week three of 2010. This was because Roethlisberger was suspended. Also, other backup quarterbacks were injured. Batch tied his career high with three touchdown passes. He started the next game too.
He signed another one-year contract in 2012. In week 12 of the 2012 season, Batch started again. This was because Roethlisberger and another backup were injured. The Steelers lost that game. But a week later, Batch led the Steelers to a win against the Baltimore Ravens. He led a game-winning drive that ended with a field goal.
The Steelers drafted a new quarterback in 2013. The team announced that Batch would not return for the 2013 season. This ended his 11 years with the team. At that time, he had the second-longest career as a Steelers quarterback.
Broadcasting Career
Charlie Batch did not officially say he was retiring from the NFL. But in 2013, he took a job as a studio analyst for KDKA-TV. He talked about the Steelers before their games. This job effectively ended his NFL playing career. He continued in this role in 2014.
In 2015, Batch became the main color commentator for KDKA-TV's preseason games. He also became the main studio analyst for the Steelers' pre-game coverage.
Charity Work
In 2006, Charlie Batch received the first Jerome Bettis Award. This award is for helping people and the community. Batch earned it for his work with children through his Best of the Batch Foundation. He also helped improve local football fields and basketball courts for kids. This award is given to a Pittsburgh person who shows great community spirit. Batch was chosen because he helped his hometown of Homestead, Pennsylvania. He brought programs for children through his foundation. He also upgraded sports fields for kids to use.
Batch has also been recognized for helping young people in cities. He received the Schramm-McCracken Prize in 2002. This was largely for creating the Charlie Batch Urban Pumpkin Patch and Gardens. This project helped fight hunger. It used city farming and helped reduce gang activity. It gave jobs to city youth in a way that was good for the environment.
