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.jpg) Batch in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 10, 16 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1974-12-05)December 5, 1974 (age 50) Homestead, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| 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: 2nd round, 60th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Charles D'Donte Batch[2] (born December 5, 1974) is an American former professionalfootball player who was aquarterback in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theEastern Michigan Eagles. He was selected by theDetroit Lions in the second round of the1998 NFL draft and played 15 seasons in the NFL, most of it as a backup with his hometownPittsburgh Steelers, with whom he earned twoSuper Bowl rings (Super Bowl XL andSuper Bowl XLIII).[3]
Batch currently works forKDKA-TV inPittsburgh as a pre-game analyst for the Steelers as well as acolor commentator for theirpreseason games.[4] In addition, he co-hosts the Steeler Post-Game Show on WDVE Radio. Batch also works with Champs Sports Network as a color analyst forWPIAL high school football and basketball broadcasts.
Batch is the son of Lynne Settles, a formerschool teacher[5] and Nilesh Shah, a former Pittsburghsteel mill operator. Batch had a remarkable career atEastern Michigan University, owning almost every passing record. He also earned a degree incriminal justice. He was a local favorite when he was selected by theDetroit Lions in the second round of the1998 NFL draft. He pledged the Zeta Epsilon chapter ofPhi Beta Sigma fraternity.
| Season | Team | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1994 | Eastern Michigan | 49 | 78 | 62.8 | 617 | 7.9 | 7 | 1 | 156.3 | 23 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 |
| 1995 | Eastern Michigan | 244 | 421 | 58.0 | 3,177 | 7.5 | 21 | 17 | 129.7 | 61 | 52 | 0.9 | 3 |
| 1996 | Eastern Michigan | 39 | 65 | 60.0 | 518 | 8.0 | 2 | 2 | 130.9 | 12 | -39 | -3.3 | 0 |
| 1997 | Eastern Michigan | 247 | 434 | 56.9 | 3,280 | 7.6 | 23 | 11 | 132.8 | 85 | 110 | 1.3 | 1 |
| Career[6] | 579 | 998 | 58.0 | 7,592 | 7.6 | 53 | 31 | 133.2 | 181 | 123 | 0.7 | 5 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+7⁄8 in (1.88 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | 33+3⁄4 in (0.86 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 4.89 s | 1.73 s | 2.87 s | 4.11 s | 7.60 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) | |||
| All values fromNFL Combine[7] | ||||||||||||
Charlie Batch was the Detroit Lions'starter through better parts of the 1998–2001 seasons. After the surprising retirement of running backBarry Sanders in 1999, Detroit struggled to find consistency in its running game,[8] and Batch was asked to assume a "hybrid" quarterback role and assist in the Lions' running game by using various quarterback sweeps, bootlegs, and quarterback draws in an attempt to keep defenders off balance. He proved to be effective, but injury prone, in his years with Detroit. In 1999, the year Sanders retired, Batch helped rally Detroit to a surprising wildcard playoff game against theWashington Redskins. Batch did not play in the game, giving way toGus Frerotte due to injury, and Detroit lost 27–13.
The 2000 season proved to be Batch's last full season as an NFL starter. He was injured (leaving the Week 17 matchup against Chicago with a shoulder injury) in a pivotal game in which Detroit lost on a last-second field goal byPaul Edinger. The game cost the Lions a playoff berth and set into motion a radical turn of events in the Lions' front office, resulting in the hiring ofFox Sports color commentatorMatt Millen as the new CEO andgeneral manager. Millen's arrival ultimately resulted in an extreme makeover in Detroit's roster, and Batch became one of the more visible casualties.
He started the 2001 season as Detroit's starter under new head coachMarty Mornhinweg, but was injured late in 2001. Batch was replaced mid-season byTy Detmer for whom the Cleveland Browns received a fourth round pick, but had already planned to cut him. Detmer immediately came in as a starter only to throw seven interceptions against his former team. Batch was eventually released by the Lions that offseason for stated salary cap reasons. Batch had been deemed expendable due in part to the team's drafting ofJoey Harrington with their first-round pick, and Millen had gone on record in his desire to find a starting quarterback other than Batch earlier that year. Still, Batch passed for over 9,000 yards with Detroit, reaching sixth on the Lions' all-time list. Ironically, Batch would ultimately last longer in the NFL than Harrington, who would prove to be a draft bust and was out of the NFL by 2009.
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ThePittsburgh Steelers signed him to a one-year contract for 2002 as a backup, but he did not play. The move to initially sign Batch was not a surprise, given that Batch was from Pittsburgh and the Steelers' current Director of Football OperationsKevin Colbert initially drafted Batch in Detroit. Despite not playing in 2002 (being third string behindKordell Stewart andTommy Maddox, who split the year as the starters), Batch became popular with Steeler fans, partly due to having grown up in nearbyHomestead, Pennsylvania but also because of his charity work.
His contract was renewed by the Steelers, and Batch saw some action in 2003. In 2004, Batch spent the season oninjured reserve after offseason knee surgery. In 2005, he became the second-string quarterback for the Steelers, playing behindBen Roethlisberger. During 2005, an injury to Roethlisberger gave Batch two starting opportunities, yielding two victories. In the process, Batch became the first Pittsburgh-area native to start for the team at quarterback sinceTerry Hanratty, a native ofButler, Pennsylvania, started for a few games during his rookie season in 1969 before becoming a backup the following season toTerry Bradshaw.
He backed up Ben Roethlisberger duringSuper Bowl XL, and the Steelers' 21–10 victory made Batch a Super Bowl champion.[9]
On March 14, 2006, Charlie Batch signed a 3-year deal, through the 2008 season.[10]
He was also one of severalPittsburgh Steelers players that visited Ben Roethlisberger in the hospital to hear of his condition after his motorcycle accident on June 12, 2006.
Batch was again tapped to fill in for Roethlisberger to start the Steelers 2006 season when Roethlisberger had to have an emergencyappendectomy the week before the season started. Batch had his best game in over four years, throwing for 209 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also threw the first touchdown pass of the 2006 regular season. Batch temporarily replaced Ben Roethlisberger in week 7 in Atlanta when Roethlisberger went down with aconcussion. Batch completed 8 of 13 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard touchdown pass toHines Ward.
On August 8, 2008, Batch sustained a brokenclavicle in the second quarter of a pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field.[11] The team signed formerJacksonville Jaguars starterByron Leftwich. Batch was placed on season-endinginjured reserve on August 30.
On April 14, 2009, Batch, who was anunrestricted free agent after the 2008 season, re-signed with the Steelers.
On November 22, 2009, Batch took over in a week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime after Ben Roethlisberger was injured. During the overtime drive, he threw one pass for 17 yards, putting them two yards out of field goal range. However, on third down, the Steelers opted to run (rather than relying on Batch's arm), which resulted in yards lost and a punt. Batch's wrist was injured during the game and required surgery. He missed six weeks, ending his regular season.
On March 26, 2010, Batch re-signed with the Steelers for another two seasons.[12]
With Roethlisberger being suspended four games by the NFL to start the 2010 season, and with bothDennis Dixon andByron Leftwich out with injured knees, Batch led the Steelers to a 38–13 win over theTampa Bay Buccaneers in week three. Batch tied a career-high with three touchdown passes. Because of this, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stated that Batch had earned a starting role in week 4 versus Baltimore (which the Steelers lost 17–14).
Batch signed a one-year contract to remain with the Steelers on April 16, 2012.[13]
After a sternoclavicular (SC) joint and rib injury to Ben Roethlisberger in week 10 of the 2012 season and a rib injury toByron Leftwich in week 11, Batch was the starting quarterback for the week 12 matchup vs. theCleveland Browns, during which the Pittsburgh Steelers turned the ball over eight times (three interceptions by Batch and five fumbles by five other players) and lost 20–14. A week later, Batch led the Steelers to victory over the division-leadingBaltimore Ravens 23–20 in Baltimore. Batch drove the Steelers down the field, connecting withHeath Miller for a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He then led the game-winning drive, which culminated in aShaun Suisham 42-yard field goal.[14]
With the Steelers draftingOklahoma quarterbackLandry Jones in the2013 NFL draft, the team announced that Batch would not be returning to the team for 2013, ending his 11-year tenure with the team. At the time of Batch's departure his tenure was the second-longest in team history for a quarterback, behind onlyTerry Bradshaw,[15] although this feat has subsequently been surpassed by Roethlisberger.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||
| 1998 | DET | 12 | 12 | 173 | 303 | 57.1 | 2,178 | 7.2 | 11 | 6 | 83.5 | 41 | 229 | 5.6 | 1 |
| 1999 | DET | 11 | 10 | 151 | 270 | 55.9 | 1,957 | 7.2 | 13 | 7 | 84.1 | 28 | 87 | 3.1 | 2 |
| 2000 | DET | 15 | 15 | 221 | 412 | 53.6 | 2,489 | 6.0 | 13 | 15 | 67.3 | 44 | 199 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 2001 | DET | 10 | 9 | 198 | 341 | 58.1 | 2,392 | 7.0 | 12 | 12 | 76.8 | 12 | 45 | 3.8 | 0 |
| 2003 | PIT | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 50.0 | 47 | 5.9 | 0 | 0 | 68.2 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 |
| 2005 | PIT | 4 | 2 | 23 | 36 | 63.9 | 246 | 6.8 | 1 | 1 | 81.5 | 11 | 30 | 2.7 | 1 |
| 2006 | PIT | 8 | 1 | 31 | 53 | 58.5 | 492 | 9.3 | 5 | 0 | 121.0 | 13 | 15 | 1.2 | 0 |
| 2007 | PIT | 7 | 1 | 17 | 36 | 47.2 | 232 | 6.4 | 2 | 3 | 52.1 | 12 | -7 | -0.6 | 0 |
| 2009 | PIT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 79.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2010 | PIT | 3 | 2 | 29 | 49 | 59.2 | 352 | 7.2 | 3 | 3 | 76.2 | 7 | 30 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 2011 | PIT | 4 | 1 | 15 | 24 | 62.5 | 208 | 8.7 | 0 | 1 | 72.9 | 3 | -2 | -0.7 | 0 |
| 2012 | PIT | 2 | 2 | 45 | 70 | 64.3 | 475 | 6.8 | 1 | 4 | 64.9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career | 81 | 55 | 908 | 1,604 | 56.6 | 11,085 | 6.9 | 61 | 52 | 77.2 | 172 | 637 | 3.7 | 6 | |
Source:[2]
Although Batch did not officially announce his retirement from the NFL, he took a Steelers pre-game studio analyst job withKDKA-TV for the 2013 season alongside KDKA-TV sports anchor Bob Pompeani and ex-Steeler defensive linemanEdmund Nelson, effectively ending his NFL career. He continued in this role for the 2014 season.
In 2015, Batch replaced the retiring Nelson as KDKA-TV's color commentator for preseason games, while becoming the main studio analyst for the Steelers pre-game coverage prior to the national airing ofThe NFL Today. Former teammateChris Hoke replaced Nelson for the post-game show.[16]
In 2006, Batch was presented with the firstJerome Bettis Award for Humanity and Community Service for his work supporting children through hisBest of the Batch Foundation and for efforts to upgrade local football fields and basketball courts for area kids.[17] This annual award is presented to aPittsburgh individual who demonstrates the image of the award title. Batch was chosen because of his commitment to his hometown ofHomestead, Pennsylvania, by bringing to the area programs for the children through hisBest of the Batch Foundation and upgrading basketball courts and football fields for the kids to use.[17]
Batch has also been recognized for his efforts with underprivileged urban youth. The Schramm-McCracken Prize was bestowed on Charlie Batch in 2002 by the Three Rivers District of the Loyal Order of Moose in large part for his creation and work at the Charlie Batch Urban Pumpkin Patch and Gardens. The CBUPP was a created as a way to help fight hunger, usingUrban Agriculture and local gang activity by employing inner city youth in asustainable, green future.
