History of Jay Cutler in Timeline

Jay Cutler is a retired American football quarterback who played 12 seasons in the NFL. He is best known for his time with the Chicago Bears, where he holds the franchise records for passing yards, touchdowns, attempts, and completions. Cutler also played for the Denver Broncos and briefly for the Miami Dolphins before retiring from professional football.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1954: Otto Graham's Accomplishment

In Jay Cutler's playoff debut, he became only the second quarterback in NFL history since Otto Graham in 1954 to score two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs in a playoff game.

1955: Otto Graham's Accomplishment

In Jay Cutler's playoff debut, he became only the second quarterback in NFL history since Otto Graham in 1955 to score two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs in a playoff game.

1967: Last Commodore to win SEC Offensive Player of the Year before Cutler

In 1967, before Jay Cutler won the award in 2005, it marked the last time a Vanderbilt Commodore had been named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

1970: NFL Rookie Records

Since 1970, Cutler posted the second-highest touchdown percentage (6.6) and third-highest TD-to-INT ratio (1.8) among NFL rookies with at least 125 passing attempts.

1975: Last Vanderbilt Win in Knoxville Before Cutler's Era

In 1975, it marked the last time Vanderbilt had won a game in Knoxville before Jay Cutler led them to a victory in 2005.

1982: Last Vanderbilt Win Over Tennessee Before Cutler's Era

In 1982, it was the last time Vanderbilt had defeated Tennessee before Jay Cutler led them to a victory over the Volunteers.

April 29, 1983: Jay Cutler's Birth

On April 29, 1983, Jay Christopher Cutler was born. He would later become a professional football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).

1983: Cutler's Birth in Santa Claus, Indiana

In 1983, Jay Cutler was born in Santa Claus, Indiana. He later attended Heritage Hills High School.

1983: Elway's Rookie Record

In 1983, it was the last time there was a QB with a higher rookie record than Jay Cutler. Cutler had a QB rating of 101.7, the highest for a Broncos' rookie since John Elway.

1995: Last Broncos QB Before Cutler to Throw Two 40+ Yard Touchdowns

In a MNF game, Cutler became the first Broncos quarterback since Elway in 1995 to throw two 40+ yard touchdowns in a game (of the team's franchise-record four 40+ yard touchdowns that night).

2001: Redshirted Freshman Season

In 2001, Jay Cutler redshirted during his freshman season at Vanderbilt University.

2002: Set School Records as Freshman

In 2002, Jay Cutler set school records for touchdowns and rushing yards by a freshman at Vanderbilt, and he rushed for more yards than any other Southeastern Conference quarterback that year.

2004: Record Completion Percentage

In 2004, as a junior, Jay Cutler completed 61.0 percent of his passes, setting a school record, while throwing for 1,844 yards with 10 touchdowns and a career-low five interceptions.

2005: Graduation from Vanderbilt

In 2005, Jay Cutler graduated from Vanderbilt with a bachelor's degree in human and organizational development.

2005: SEC Offensive Player of the Year

In 2005, Jay Cutler was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Vanderbilt, becoming the first Commodore to win the award since 1967.

July 27, 2006: Signed with the Denver Broncos

On July 27, 2006, Jay Cutler signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the Denver Broncos, including $11 million in bonuses.

2006: NFL Scouting Combine

At the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine, Jay Cutler showcased his physical abilities, completing 23 repetitions of a 225-pound bench press and running a 40-yard dash in 4.77 seconds.

2006: Drafted by Denver Broncos

In 2006, Jay Cutler was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the NFL draft after playing college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores.

2006: Promotion on Depth Chart

In 2006, after a strong training camp, Jay Cutler was promoted to second on the Denver Broncos' quarterback depth chart.

2006: Cutler and Young's First Matchup

In Week 10, the 4-5 Broncos faced the 6-3 Tennessee Titans (and fellow 2006 draftee Vince Young for the first time) in a MNF game.

2007: Jay Cutler Foundation started

During the 2007 offseason, Jay Cutler started the Jay Cutler Foundation to help at-risk youth.

2007: Filming Oprah's Big Give

In 2007, Jay Cutler participated in an episode of Oprah's Big Give filmed in Denver.

2007: Experts Suggesting Cutler as Elite

In late 2007, various experts suggested Jay Cutler was the young quarterback most likely to reach elite status alongside Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

2007: First Full Season as Starting Quarterback

The 2007 NFL season marked Jay Cutler's first full season as the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, leading to notable career highs.

March 9, 2008: Oprah's Big Give episode airs

On March 9, 2008, the episode of Oprah's Big Give featuring Jay Cutler aired on ABC.

May 1, 2008: Cutler diagnosed with diabetes

On May 1, 2008, Jay Cutler announced that he had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

2008: Named Offensive Captain

Before the 2008 regular season, Jay Cutler and Daniel Graham were voted offensive captains by their Broncos teammates.

2008: Pro Bowl Honors

In 2008, Jay Cutler earned Pro Bowl honors during his time with the Denver Broncos, marking a significant achievement in his NFL career.

2008: Training for the 2008 Season

In preparation for the 2008 season, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Tony Scheffler trained together in Atlanta to improve timing.

April 3, 2009: Traded to Chicago Bears

On April 3, 2009, Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears from the Denver Broncos.

2009: "Touchdowns For Diabetes" campaign

In 2009, Jay Cutler teamed up with Eli Lilly and Company in a campaign called "Touchdowns For Diabetes" to support diabetes camp scholarships.

2009: Selected as Pro Bowl Reserve

In 2009, Jay Cutler was officially selected as a reserve for the Pro Bowl after finishing third in fan voting for AFC quarterbacks.

September 2010: Cutler starts dating Cavallari

In September 2010, Jay Cutler began dating Kristin Cavallari.

2010: Led Bears to Division Title

In 2010, Jay Cutler led the Chicago Bears to a division title and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, marking his most successful season with the team.

2010: Contract Extension

On October 20, Jay Cutler and the Bears agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $30 million, running through 2013.

April 2011: Engagement to Cavallari

In April 2011, Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari got engaged.

July 2011: Engagement called off

In July 2011, Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari called off their engagement.

2011: "Cutty Come Back" parody song

In 2011, after the Bears lost games due to Cutler's thumb injury, Magic 1 released "Cutty Come Back", a parody of "Baby Come Back".

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2011: Touchdown record

In 2015, the 21 touchdowns achieved by Jay Cutler were his second-most since 2011.

2011: Offensive struggles and injury

Throughout 2011, Jay Cutler faced criticism for the offensive play-calling, experienced multiple sacks, and had an on-field outburst directed at the offensive coordinator. On November 20, 2011, Cutler broke his thumb, requiring season-ending surgery and impacting the Bears' performance.

2012: Supports Mitt Romney

In 2012, Jay Cutler supported Mitt Romney in the United States presidential election.

2012: Diabetes Awareness visit

In 2012, Jay Cutler visited Perspectives Charter School in Chicago to discuss diabetes awareness.

June 7, 2013: Cutler marries Cavallari

On June 7, 2013, Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari were married in Nashville, Tennessee.

2013: Cutler appears on "The League"

In 2013, Jay Cutler played himself in an episode of the comedy show "The League" alongside his ex-wife, Kristin Cavallari.

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2013: Contract Extension Running Through

On October 20, 2010, Jay Cutler and the Bears agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $30 million, running through 2013.

January 2, 2014: Cutler signs seven-year deal with Bears

On January 2, 2014, Jay Cutler signed a seven-year deal to remain with the Chicago Bears through the 2020 NFL season.

2014: Rodgers references the meme

In 2014, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers referenced the "Smokin' Jay Cutler" meme during a game against the Bears.

2014: Season of Highs and Lows

In 2014, Jay Cutler experienced both highs and lows, with the Bears missing the playoffs despite his statistically strong performance. He threw for 3,812 passing yards and a career-high 28 touchdowns, but also led the NFL with 18 interceptions. Cutler also achieved the all-time Chicago Bears record for all-purpose yards in a single season with 4,003 yards.

2015: Cutler's successful season

In 2015, Jay Cutler had one of his best seasons, achieving career highs in passer rating (92.3) and completion percentage (64.4). He finished the season with 3,629 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

November 20, 2016: Cutler sustains labrum injury

On November 20, 2016, Jay Cutler sustained a labrum injury in his throwing shoulder during a loss to the Giants, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

2016: Supports Donald Trump

In 2016, Jay Cutler supported Donald Trump in the United States presidential election.

2016: Inducted into Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame

In 2016, Jay Cutler was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing his achievements and contributions to the university's sports program.

March 9, 2017: Cutler released by the Bears

On March 9, 2017, Jay Cutler was released by the Chicago Bears after the guaranteed years in his contract expired.

May 2017: Cutler announces retirement and joins Fox Sports

In May 2017, Jay Cutler announced his retirement from professional football and was hired by Fox Sports to work as a commentator.

August 3, 2017: Dolphins reach out to Cutler after Tannehill's injury

On August 3, 2017, the Miami Dolphins reached out to the retired Jay Cutler after Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending injury.

2017: Cutler plays for Dolphins

In 2017, Jay Cutler played for the Miami Dolphins, starting 14 games and finishing with 2,666 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The Dolphins did not make the playoffs, and Cutler had a 6-8 record as a starter. At the end of the season, Cutler indicated he would continue his NFL career only if he could be a starter.

2018: Appears on Very Cavallari

From 2018, Jay Cutler made regular appearances on the show Very Cavallari.

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2019: Named Among 100 Greatest Bears

In 2019, Jay Cutler was named among the 100 greatest Chicago Bears of all time, solidifying his legacy with the franchise.

April 2020: Divorce announcement

In April 2020, Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari announced that they were getting a divorce, citing that they had "grown apart".

2020: Questioning election results

Following the 2020 election, Jay Cutler created and then deleted a post on his Instagram account questioning Joe Biden's victory.

2020: Supports Donald Trump

In 2020, Jay Cutler supported Donald Trump in the United States presidential election.

2020: End of Cutler's contract with the Bears

The seven-year deal Jay Cutler signed with the Bears on January 2, 2014, kept him with the team through the 2020 NFL season.

2020: Appears on Very Cavallari

Until 2020, Jay Cutler made regular appearances on the show Very Cavallari.

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May 2021: Divorce not finalized

In May 2021, Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari had not yet finalized their divorce due to financial issues.

2021: CUTS meat subscription and Uncut podcast launched

In 2021, Jay Cutler launched a meat subscription service called CUTS and his podcast "Uncut".

June 2022: Divorce finalized

In June 2022, it was reported that Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari's settlement had been finalized and the couple was officially divorced.

2022: Cutler holds Bears franchise records

As of 2022, Jay Cutler held at least 12 Bears franchise records.

2022: Other franchise records held by Cutler

As of 2022, Jay Cutler holds other franchise records with the Chicago Bears.

2022: Gratis Brewing and Outsider.com

In 2022, Jay Cutler launched Gratis Brewing, based in Nashville. He also became a founding partner in Outsider.com, a digital media lifestyle company.

2023: Becomes panelist on Inside the NFL

In 2023, Jay Cutler became a panelist on the weekly highlight show Inside the NFL.

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2023: Cutler dates Robertson

In 2023, Jay Cutler revealed on Instagram that he was dating Samantha Robertson.

October 17, 2024: Cutler arrested for DUI

On October 17, 2024, Jay Cutler was arrested in Franklin, Tennessee, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and possessing a firearm while under the influence. He was charged with DUI-first offense, possession of a handgun-under the influence, failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision and implied consent.

2024: Caleb Williams breaks Cutler's record

In 2024, Caleb Williams broke Jay Cutler's record for all-purpose yards in a single season for the Chicago Bears.

2024: Cutler and Robertson get engaged

In 2024, People reported that Jay Cutler and Samantha Robertson were engaged.

August 26, 2025: Cutler Sentenced to Jail for DUI

On August 26, 2025, Jay Cutler was sentenced to four days in jail as part of a plea deal where he pled guilty to driving under the influence. As part of the agreement, a weapons possession charge was dismissed, and he was ordered to surrender a pistol found in his car, pay a $350 fine, attend a DUI safety class, and was placed on unsupervised probation for one year. His Tennessee driver's license was also revoked.