Editing Jon Kitna (section)

===Cincinnati Bengals===
====2001 season====
On March 8, he signed as an [[Free agent|unrestricted free agent]] with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/09/sports/plus-pro-football-bengals-sign-kitna-to-4-year-contract.html |title=PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Bengals Sign Kitna To 4-Year Contract |date=March 9, 2001 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> He won the starting quarterback job in preseason over [[Scott Mitchell (quarterback)|Scott Mitchell]] and went on to start 15 games. He opened the regular season winning his first 2 starts, becoming the first Bengals quarterback since [[Greg Cook]] in 1969 to accomplish the feat.

In the sixteenth game overtime 26–23 win against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], he threw for a franchise-record 68 passes, tied for the third most in NFL history. He had 35 completions for 411 yards, 2 touchdowns and received AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

In the season finale against the [[Tennessee Titans]], he had 340 passing yards, setting a team record for passing yards in consecutive games with 751. He finished with 313 completions, 581 attempts (team record), a 53.9% average, 3,216 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

====2002 season====
Although he was the backup quarterback behind [[Gus Frerotte]] for the first 4 games, Kitna started the final 12 contests to help fix a struggling offense. He had 11 games (combined rushing and passing) of 300-or-more yards as well as six straight 350-yard games (Games 7–12), the franchise's longest such streak since 1986.

In the eighth game against the [[Houston Texans]], he had 22-of-27 completions (81.5%) for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the fifteenth game against the [[New Orleans Saints]], he led the offense on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives to overcome a 7–13  deficit and get a 20–13 win. In the season, he collected 294-of-473 completions (62.2%) for 3,178 yards, 16 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 24 carries for 57 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.

====2003 season====
Kitna played every offensive down and became the first player in franchise history to throw every one of the team's passes in a single-season. He threw 137 straight passes with no interceptions. In the twelfth game 34–27 win against the [[San Diego Chargers]], he tied his career high with four touchdown passes. In the thirteenth game against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], he led a 24–20 comeback win, making a game-winning 18-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds remaining.

He was named the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] after throwing for over 3,500 yards and 26 touchdown passes (second in the AFC) in leading the Bengals to an 8&ndash;8 record, the team's first non-losing season since 1996.

====2004 season====
Kitna's secondary role with the team was to prepare young quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] (the Bengals' #1 draft pick in 2003). It was a role Kitna accepted gracefully. The two quarterbacks developed a close friendship off the field, particularly because both men are avid [[golf]]ers.

By 2004, Palmer was ready to take over the starting job, leading the Bengals to another 8&ndash;8 season. Kitna was the backup quarterback until seeing his first action of the season in the thirteenth game against the [[New England Patriots]], due to a season-ending knee injury to Palmer. He made 9-of-13 completions for 126 yards and one touchdown in a 28–35 loss.

In his first start of the season against the [[Buffalo Bills]], he made 16-of-32 completions for 151 yards and one touchdown. He led the team to a 23–22 win against the [[New York Giants]], throwing a four-yard touchdown pass with 0:44 remaining, while also completing 20-of-32 passes for 186 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. In the season finale against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]], he completed 16-of-27 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown, winning 38–10 against the eventual NFC champions.

====2005 season====
Kitna entered his first game of the season during the fourth quarter against the [[Detroit Lions]] and led the offense on a field goal drive. He played in the final offensive series against the [[Buffalo Bills]] and went 2-of-2 for 17 yards. He replaced Palmer in the second quarter of the season finale against the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], completing 13-of-24 passes for 76 yards and 2 interceptions in a 37–3 loss.

He was unexpectedly thrust back behind center during the Bengals' AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] on January 8, [[2006 NFL season|2006]]. Palmer went down with a left knee injury on his second play from scrimmage and Kitna stepped in off the bench and into a relief role. Kitna finished 24-of-40 for 197 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions and one fumble as the Bengals fell to the eventual [[Super Bowl XL]] champion [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] 31&ndash;17.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/games/2006-01-08-steelers-bengals_x.htm | work=USA Today | first1=Jarrett | last1=Bell | title=Steel hurtin': Steelers roll | date=January 9, 2006 |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref>