A graduate of William Tennent High School,[1] Bitterlich was scouted by Temple Owls football head coach Wayne Hardin during his junior year.

During his first tryout with the team, Bitterlich left early as he was scheduled to play accordion in a musical performance at Vitale's Restaurant in Bustleton, Philadelphia.

[7] In the team's first game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bitterlich scored the first points in Seahawks history with a 27-yard field goal.

[8] However, he would miss three kicks later in the season against the San Francisco 49ers,[9] and was released after three games.

[3] He and his wife, Ellen,[2] have two daughters: Lisa, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes missionary, and Elizabeth, a J.Crew Boston store manager.