Schonert died of a heart attack Thursday, two days after his 62nd birthday, near his home in South Carolina. He earned a place in the memory of fans, teammates and coaches from the moment he came off the bench to lead the Bengals to an improbable comeback victory in the 1981 season opener that began the march to Super Bowl XVI.
"That (day) is his legacy to this team, to this city," Bengals' radio analyst Dave Lapham told Bengals.com. "Ken Anderson got the MVP that season and deservedly so. But the one game it didn't go well for him, Turk was the guy that did exactly what he was supposed to do. He epitomized and defined that role … He had a high football acumen … No question he was a calm, cool, collected customer."
»LOOKING BACK: Historic glance at starting debuts of Bengals QBs
Schonert was a part of the Bengals’ two Super Bowl teams in 1981 and 1989 and spent most of his nine-year NFL career (he played the 1986 season with the Falcons) backing up Anderson and then Boomer Esiason.
His greatest moment, though, came unexpectedly in his NFL debut against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 6, 1981, at Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals fell behind 21-0 after Anderson threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, in the first quarter, and coach Forrest Gregg pulled the newcomer from Stanford off the bench to try to turn things around.
Lost one of my best friends of all time, Bengals QB Turk Schonert, on the left. If fun had a King, he would wear the Crown. So have a fun day today in honor of my pal Turk. pic.twitter.com/DyRifQXrv3
— Cris Collinsworth (@CollinsworthPFF) January 18, 2019
Schonert fumbled away the first snap, but bounced back to lead Cincinnati to a 27-21 win, completing 9 of 18 passes for 130 yards and getting help from a strong rushing attack that produced 210 yards and a defense that shut out Seattle the rest of the way.
Anderson remained the team’s starter, though, and became the league MVP after the Bengals finished 12-4. Schonert threw just one more pass all season but was credited for sparking the team’s success. Cincinnati beat the Bills and Chargers in the playoffs before losing the Super Bowl to the 49ers.
Popular with teammates and fans because of his sunny disposition, Schonert attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the Bengals’ 1988 squad at Paul Brown Stadium last September.
“It’s a shock. I’m just glad we were able to see him at the 30th and spend some time,” former Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth told Bengals.com.
#Bengals50 Memories: Anderson & Schonert reminisce about how Schonert had to come off the bench to lead a 27-21 comeback victory in 1981. pic.twitter.com/QDd33yiC8r
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 12, 2017
Schonert had only seven starts in his Bengals career, going 5-2 in those games, but holds the franchise record for most yards in a starting debut after passing for 290 yards in a 24-17 loss to Denver in 1983.
He had five starts with the Falcons in 1986 and finished with a career record of 7-5 as a starter. Overall, he had 11 touchdown passes, 20 interceptions and a 61.9 completion percentage.
“Turk was a great teammate and a great friend,” Esiason, the Bengals quarterback in Super Bowl XXIII, tweeted Thursday night.
Schonert had a longer, 13-year career as an NFL assistant coach, which included stints with five teams, starting when former Bengals coach Sam Wyche hired him with the Bucs (1992-95). He then went on to coach the Bills (1998-2000), Panthers (2001), Giants (2003), Saints (2005), and Bills again (2006-2008), serving as offensive coordinator his last year in Buffalo.
More recently, Schonert was head coach of the Sacramento Mountain Lions (United Football League) in 2012-13 and had served as an assistant for the Montreal Alouettes (Canadian Football League) from 2014 up until last June.
As a senior quarterback at Stanford, Schonert led the nation in quarterback and set a team record for completion percentage. A native of Torrance, California, he also played in the 1968 Little League World Series as a shortstop and third baseman.
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