Tim Couch is a former football quarterback who played in the NFL for five seasons. He only played for the Cleveland Browns, throwing for over 11,000 passing yards and leading the team in 2002.
Couch was the first quarterback to lead the Browns to the postseason since their NFL return. Blighted by injuries in the latter years of his career, he had failed comeback attempts with the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars before hanging up his cleats.
Although his career was short-lived, Couch has done quite well for himself, parlaying a broadcast career with smart business decisions. He still resides in his home state of Kentucky and boasts a net worth of $26 million.
Early Life & College Years
Tim Couch was born in Hyden, Kentucky in 1977 and began his football journey as a prep quarterback at Leslie County High School in Hyden. He set a number of national high school records: most pass completions (872), passing yardage (12,104), touchdown passes (132), and passing percentage for a season (75.1).
After his senior season in 1995, Couch was the recipient of Kentucky’s “Mr. Football” award. He was also ranked as the sixth-best high school athlete ever by ESPN.
A truly talented athlete, Couch was also a solid basketball player and starred on the Leslie County High School basketball varsity team. He scored 36 points per game as a junior and finished his career with 3023 points.
Couch attended the University of Kentucky, where he played for the Kentucky Wildcats football team. After splitting time as starting quarterback with Billy Jack Haskins early in his freshman year, he was named outright starter by coach Hal Mumme
Despite spending just two years playing college football, Couch went on to set several school records. He also led Kentucky to seven wins and a spot in the Outback Bowl, although they lost to Penn State.
Following his junior season in 1998, Couch announced he would leave Kentucky to enter the NFL Draft early.
Pro-football Career
Couch was selected as the number one overall by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL draft. The Browns were returning to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999 following the original team’s 1996 relocation to Baltimore.
He took over for Ty Detmer as the team’s starting quarterback in the second game of his rookie season. After five seasons as a starting quarterback for Cleveland, Couch eventually faced competition from journeyman backup Kelly Holcomb during his final two seasons.
Although he led the Cleveland Browns to a playoff appearance, his time with the team was characterized by inconsistent play, partially due to constant injury problems. He missed the final nine games of the 2000 season with a broken thumb and managed only one 300-yard passing game in his professional career.
Despite these problems, Couch still had several notable moments and achievements during his career. He threw for 2,842 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002 to lead the Browns to a 9–7 record and a playoff appearance.
With the injuries constantly piling up, Couch was released by the Browns in 2004 and signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers. He struggled with a rotator cuff injury that would eventually require surgery, and was sidelined for the entire year.
Couch also auditioned for the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals after being released by the Packers. He also participated in try-outs with the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans but none were interested in pursuing him.
He eventually signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, although after failing to make the third string, he was released.
Post-football Career
Since retiring, Couch has dabbled in broadcasting and worked for Fox Sports South for five years as an analyst on the weekly show SEC Gridiron Live. He also served as the color analyst for the SEC Regional Network football package, typically found on Fox Sports Net affiliates in most SEC territories.
Couch also called the 2018 preseason games for the Cleveland Browns alongside Jay Crawford.
Entrepreneurial Interests and Endorsements
Despite not having a lengthy football career, Couch still managed to amass some financial success over the years. He and older brother Greg are part owners of Meridian Wealth Management, a nationwide company based in Lexington.
While Couch does not have much by way of brand endorsements, all that could change soon, after sports betting was legalized in his home state of Kentucky.
Several prominent operators will be looking to snap Couch up as he fits the bill perfectly to promote the best Kentucky sportsbook promos.
What is Tim Couch’s Net Worth?
Couch’s net worth is estimated to be around $26 million, a testament to his hard work and resilience. He has enjoyed plenty of financial success with his foray into broadcasting and business ventures proving quite shrewd over the years.
Although his footballing career did not hit the heights, Couch still managed to amass plenty of wealth. There is a chance he may return to the limelight soon as brand ambassador for one of the prominent sportsbooks popping up in his home state of Kentucky.
