Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...
. After ending his CFL career in 2019, Kilgore accumulated 2,010 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Before joining the CFL, Kilgore had 2,512 passing yards and 22 touchdowns while on the Bakersfield College football team in 2008. After transferring to Middle Tennessee the following year, Kilgore continued his football career with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team from 2010 to 2013. Following his
passing yards season records for Middle Tennessee from 2011 to 2013, Kilgore had a career total of 8,059 offensive yards and 57 touchdowns with the Blue Raiders. He also played at the
2013 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2013 Armed Forces Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on December 30, 2013, at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. The eleventh edition of the Armed Forces Bow ...
with Middle Tennessee. After his playing career, Kilgore was an assistant coach for the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team in 2021.
Early life and college career
On May 24, 1990, Kilgore was born in
Rocklin, California
Rocklin is a city in Placer County, California, about from Sacramento, and about northeast of Roseville in the Sacramento metropolitan area. Besides Roseville, it shares borders with Granite Bay, Loomis and Lincoln. As of the 2010 census, Ro ...
. After graduating from Jesuit High School, Kilgore went to Bakersfield College in 2009. At Bakersfield, he threw for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns. Kilgore was named the Northern Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Bakersfield College in 2009. He then transferred to Middle Tennessee in 2010, where he began playing for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team.
During his time with the Blue Raiders from 2010 to 2013, Kilgore was the first Blue Raider to have accumulated 2,000 yards in three back to back seasons. At the
2013 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2013 Armed Forces Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on December 30, 2013, at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. The eleventh edition of the Armed Forces Bow ...
, Kilgore and Middle Tennessee were defeated by the
Navy Midshipmen
The Navy Midshipmen are the athletic teams that represent the United States Naval Academy. The academy sponsors 33 varsity sports teams and 12 club sport teams. With his combined statistics, Kilgore had a total of 8,059 offensive yards and 57 touchdowns. Kilgore held the passing yards season record for Middle Tennessee from 2011 to 2013.
Professional career
New Orleans Saints
After going undrafted in the
2014 NFL Draft
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New Y ...
Kilgore was signed to the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in 2014. He played at the Saints's training camp and was cut from the team in September 2014.
Toronto Argonauts
Kilgore signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as was a member of their practice roster for the 2015 season. The following year, Kilgore became the Argos's starting quarterback after
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray (born October 22, 1979) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also ...
was injured. Kilgore played in seven games, starting three, during the 2016 season, completing 55.3% of his passes for 728 yards and two touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Kilgore's time for the Argos ended in April 2017 when he was released from the team.
Hamilton Tiger Cats
A few months later, Kilgore was signed to the Hamilton Tiger Cats in June 2017, but was subsequently released in August 2017.
Edmonton Eskimos
In 2019, Kilgore joined the
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...
after not playing in the
2018 CFL season
The 2018 CFL season was the 65th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 61st Canadian Football League season. Edmonton hosted the 106th Grey Cup on November 25, 2018. The CFL announced that this season will move to a 21- ...
. Kilgore's first game with the Eskimos was a pre-season game during the
2019 CFL season
The 2019 CFL season was the 66th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 62nd Canadian Football League season. The regular season began on June 13 and concluded with the playing of the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary on November ...
, where he scored two touchdowns. Starting quarterback Trevor Harris missed the Eskimos Week 15 game due to an injury, which elevated Kilgore into the starting role. Despite a furious comeback attempt the Eskimos fell short losing 30–27 on a last second field goal. Kilgore then lead the Eskimos to a 21–16 victory over the woeful Redblacks in Week 16, before falling 42–12 to the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fiel ...
the following week.
Coaching career
In 2021, Kilgore ended his playing career to become a coach with the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team. With Arkansas State, Kilgore was an assistant football coach for the offensive team. The following year, the ''Nashville Post'' said Kilgore will become both a quarterbacks coach and
offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of an American football or Canadian football team who is in charge of the team's offense. Generally, along with the defensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator, this coach re ...
for Isidore Newman High School.
In 2023, Kilgore was named Tight Ends Coach at Arkansas State, rejoining Butch Jones and his staff in Jonesboro.