Jon Kitna Donating NFL Paycheck To High School For Christmas

Jon Kitna is donating his paycheck to Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. The retired NFL QB has been teaching math and coaching football at the Tacoma high school for the last two years. But after Tony Romo was injured last weekend, the Cowboys signed Kitna to a contract as their third string QB on Tuesday.

Jon Kitna will be donating $53,000 to the school that he led to an 8-2 record this past fall. His sophomore son, Jordan, was his starting QB. The Abes improved on their 5-5 record from their first season under Kitna, who has been coaching the team since retiring from his 15-season NFL career.

Kitna last started in the NFL for the Cowboys in 2010 when Tony Romo had a collarbone injury. Kitna was able to fill in for Romo and started nine games. The Cowboys were 4-5. Kitna does not expect to play much, as Kyle Orton is the Cowboys’ back-up. But Kitna saw Romo’s injury suffered during the Cowboys victory over the Redskins on Sunday, and reached out to Coach Jason Garrett via text.

“I told Jason if he wants me or somebody to come in and call a play and be able to pull a play off if a bad situation happened, I would be willing to do that.”

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Lincoln High School is Jon Kitna’s alma mater. He played there in the late 80s and early 90s. After finishing up his NFL career in 2011, he returned to teach and coach at his home school. Speaking about his desire to give his life to helping young men, Kitna said:

“My wife and I always felt like these years in the NFL have prepared us for what our real calling in life is going to be as teachers and running a high school football program. I don’t think there’s anything that has changed from that. God has used my time in the NFL to train me to be ready to train young men to be authentic, real leaders, and to have a positive impact on society. And I want to use the avenue of football to do that. So I am very clear, and my wife is very clear in our calling.”

Jon Kitna donating his first paycheck to his high school makes complete sense considering he considers helping young men his life calling. It is great to see NFL players who understand how to use their opportunities to make a difference.