COOL CATS
JON KITNA : From a math education major, to player in the NFL, to head football coach and boys athletic coordinator for Burleson High School in Texas, Jon Kitna has had a passion for the game of football ever since he started playing for the Central Wildcats. Since retiring from the NFL in 2011, Kitna’s passion for coaching high school boys and leaving a legacy of character and leadership development is what keeps him going. Here’s why you should know this Cool Cat:
Q: How did your football career start? A: Pretty unorthodox, for sure. Not the usual way.
I finished up at Central, we finished up the national championship in December and football was pretty much done. I hadn’t heard anything from anybody. I tried to stay in shape, and I started doing my student teaching in January at Davis High School. In March, Dennis Ericson’s nephew, who played for us said, “Coach Harrison wants to work us a couple. Let’s go over there and workout.” So, I went over there and worked out with Coach Harrison. The workout went great, and a month later after the draft, they signed me as a free agent and Coach Harrison really took care of me my first three years in the league. Got my feet on the ground and it kind of took off from there.
Q: What’s your favorite childhood memory? A: Probably being at the Eastside Boys and Girls
Club, to be honest. I grew up a Boys and Girls Club kid, my parents were working 9-5, so that was where we went. We spent all summer there, playing every sport there is, learning how to compete. I had
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some really cool coaches there. Those are probably some of my favorite memories, especially early childhood before high school.
Q: What are some of your hobbies? A: I love golf. I love Bible studies—reading the Bible. My family and I, we’re pretty big into boating and water sports. But one thing we took up at the end of my career was snowboarding. We love to go on snowboarding trips together with my kids.
