Ex-NFL quarterbacks helping out at Palo Alto High and Menlo School

It may seem like only yesterday, at least to some, that Steve Bono and John Paye were running around their respective collegiate and NFL playing fields rifling passes and winning games — for UCLA, Stanford and the San Francisco 49ers.

If days are measured by decades, the two were just doing that. But, Paye’s playing career ended 22 years ago and Bono donned an NFL uniform for the final time 10 years ago.

Like one of their many passes, time flies. Both retired to the business world and raised their respective families. Their college and NFL careers became footnotes in a media guide and both moved on — just not too far away from the sport where they made their mark.

Thus, it shouldn’t be too surprising how Bono and Paye are spending their afternoons this fall, as football coaches. Bono is a full-time assistant at Palo Alto High and Paye is performing a similar task at Menlo School.

Both former college and pro standouts have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the game and now are getting a chance to share it.

“It’s very gratifying to be able to give back to the kids, whether it’s in sports or life,” Bono said.

Bono, 47, has been around the Paly football program since 2001 but had only limited time to help as a part-time assistant. He got hooked initially when he heard Paly was running the West Coast Offense, which Bill Walsh made popular with the 49ers and Stanford. This season, Bono is on the field every afternoon while helping veteran head coach Earl Hansen prepare the Vikings for their 2009 season opener on Friday night against visiting Burlingame at 7:30 p.m.

This game has special meaning for Bono, whose son Christoph, a junior, will make his first varsity start at quarterback while wearing his dad’s old number 13. Bono, however, said he’s not on staff just because his son is playing.

“No,” Bono confirmed. “When I started, he was what, 7 or 8? It (coaching) was something I wanted to do. It has been a lot of fun, being an extra set of eyes.”

Bono is overseeing the quarterbacks and wide receivers, which means he does get the chance to mentor his son. Christoph is in his fifth year of playing football and his father is enjoying every minute. For that reason, Bono isn’t looking to go anywhere in the near future.

“I’ve thought about coaching jobs with the 49ers, but I’m definitely not going anywhere for the next few years,” Bono said.

He wants to see Christoph graduate, for one, and he has a freshman daughter, Sophia, on the Paly JV volleyball team. In addition, Bono and his wife, Tina, are members of the Paly Sports Boosters, which Tina heads.

“So, we have lots of time still at Paly,” Bono said. “Lots of games and back-to-school nights.”

It seems only a short time ago that Bono was still playing in the NFL. His pro career, which began in 1985 with the Minnesota Vikings and spanned 15 years, was highlighted by his five-year stay in San Francisco where he arguably became one of the most famous third-string quarterbacks in NFL history behind Joe Montana and Steve Young.

After signing a free-agent contract with the 49ers in 1989, Bono was stuck on the bench as the second- or third-string quarterback. He most often carried a clipboard and wore a baseball cap. In 1991, however. Montana was lost for the season with an injury and Young was injured midseason. That finally opened the door for Bono, who took full advantage.

Bono went 5-1 as a starter that season and finished the year ranked fourth in quarterback rating behind Young, Buffalo’s Jim Kelly and Washington’s Mark Rypien. Bono then returned to his backup role behind Young for the 1992 and ’93 seasons.

Prior to the 1994 season, Bono was traded from San Francisco to the Kansas City Chiefs where Bono became — surprise — a backup to Montana.

When Montana retired, Bono became the Chiefs’ starter in 1995. On Oct. 1 of that season and in a game against the Arizona Cardinals, Bono ran 76 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest scoring run by a quarterback in NFL history at the time, a record that since has been broken.

He guided the Chiefs to a 13-3 record and division title that season and was selected for the AFC Pro Bowl team. Bono remained the Chiefs’ starter through the end of the ’96 season. Bono went on to play backup to Brett Favre in Green Bay in 1997, battled for the starting role with the St. Louis Rams in ’98 and was backup to Steve Beuerlein with the Carolina Panthers in 1999 before calling it a career.

Bono finished his pro career with 10,439 passing yards and 62 touchdowns. At UCLA, he led the team in passing in 1984 and had 177 completions in his career. He also earned a letter playing catcher for the Bruins’ baseball team for one season.

Bono believes he got everything he wanted, and more, out of his NFL career.

“I would have to say yes,” Bono agreed. “I got everything I wanted and a lot more. I got a longer career than I expected and I saw both the penthouse and outhouse.”

The outhouse was being benched while starting for the Kansas City Chiefs. The penthouse was the 1989 season with the 49ers, who went on to win the Super Bowl that season.

It’s that kind of experience that Bono brings to the Paly football program.

“I just bring a lot of experience,” he said. “Many years with this offense; a very Bill Walsh-traditional offense.”

And while his playing days are gone, Bono says he still gains satisfaction being involved at the high school level.

“It’s still gratifying when you win,” he said. “It’s all about something that you do well. It’s about giving back.”

The same could be said about John Paye, who returned to Menlo School last season (for a second time) to coach the girls’ basketball team to a league championship season.

There may be no bigger name in Menlo School sports history than Paye. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball during his playing career, which included helping the Knights win a state basketball title in 1983.

Paye continued to play all three sports at Stanford. In the fall and winter of ’83, Paye started on the football and basketball team as a freshman and was the last NCAA Division I athlete ever to do that.

Paye led the Stanford football team in total offense his first season with 1,932 yards. He still ranks No. 3 all-time in school history in passing yards (7,669), is tied with John Elway for No. 4 all-time for single-game total offense (418 yards) and still holds the school record for most completions in a single game with 40, when he threw 56 times against San Diego State in 1985.

He capped his Stanford football career with an 8-4 record in 1986, helping the Cardinal reach the Gator Bowl (a loss to Clemson). Paye, however, suffered a shoulder injury late in the season, missed the final game and never was quite the same.

While he did get drafted (10th round) by the 49ers in 1987, his NFL career lasted only one season.

Paye returned to Menlo and coached the girls’ basketball team to three straight state championships (1989-91), a team that featured his sister, Kate, who later starred at Stanford.

The fact that Paye is back coaching basketball at Menlo helped make his transition to the football field all the more easier.

Menlo head football coach Mark Newton, for one, is happy to have Paye back on the football field after his starring days at Menlo and Stanford.

The Knights opened their season last week with a 55-20 thrashing of Hamilton City.

“I heard someone say that (Stanford freshman quarterback) Andrew Luck is the Stanford’s quarterback since John Elway,” Newton said. “I think he’s the best since John Paye.”

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