Born and raised in southern California, Beathard graduated from El Segundo High School in 1960 and played college football in Los Angeles at USC.
Both he and Ron Vander Kelen, the Wisconsin quarterback were named the Players Of The Game in the 1963 Rose Bowl, which USC won, 42–37.
[6] In October 1967, Beathard was traded during his fourth season to the Houston Oilers in exchange for defensive tackle Ernie Ladd and quarterback Jacky Lee.
[7] He led the Oilers to the Eastern division title, but lost 40–7 to the Oakland Raiders in the AFL championship game.
He was waived by the Chiefs in September 1974, he finished his pro career in the short-lived World Football League (WFL), with the Portland Storm in 1974,[12][13] and the Chicago Winds in 1975.