John Mackey (American football)
Encyclopedia
John Mackey was an American Football
tight end
who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts
(1963–1971) and the San Diego Chargers
(1972). He played college football
at Syracuse University
. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1992.
and had revolutionized the position of tight end by 1966
. During the 1966 season, of the nine touchdowns he compiled, six were scores of more than 50 yards, and he served as one of Johnny Unitas
' primary receivers in Unitas' later years of his career. Twice Mackey compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch, and his 10-year career average of 15.8 is considered remarkable for a tight end.
Mackey also displayed impressive speed for a tight end. During one season, the Colts decided to use him as a kick returner. He returned 9 kickoffs for 271 yards, an impressive 30.1 yards per return.
Although injuries forced him into early retirement, Mackey proved to be an extremely durable player, missing only one game in his 10-season career.
played January 17, 1971, Mackey was a principal in one the most famous plays in NFL championship history, catching a pass from quarterback Johnny Unitas
after the ball first bounced off the hands of receiver Eddie Hinton
and then grazed the fingertips of Cowboys All-Pro defensive back Mel Renfro
. The ball caromed further downfield into the waiting arms of Mackey, who ran untouched for a (then) Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown reception. Baltimore won the game, 16–13, on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds left.
"He was the right man at the right time," said former teammate Ordell Braase
. "We were a fractured group until John began putting permanence in [the union's] day-to-day operations. He hired administrators and a general counsel."
. Mike Ditka
of the Bears had been the first one four years earlier. It has been speculated that Mackey's actions as a high-ranking member of the players' union may have led to the delay in his election. In 1999, he was ranked number 48 on The Sporting News
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking tight end. He was also named number 42 on NFL Network's list of the Top 100 Football Players in 2010.
In 2000, the Nassau County Sports Commission
created the John Mackey Award
which annually honors the top Division 1-FBS collegiate Tight End. He was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
that same year.
On September 15, 2007, Syracuse University
retired #88 in Mackey's honor.
On an October 2008 airing of the NFL Network's 'Top 10 Tight Ends' Mackey was named the #1 tight end by virtually every football figure commenting on the show.
, which made him particularly protective of personal possessions and suspicious of anyone who tries to control his actions. During the 2006 NFL season
, Mackey was reported by family members to be confused and angered when seeing Indianapolis Colts
wide receiver Marvin Harrison
wearing the same #88 jersey that Mackey used to wear.
At age 65 Mackey's dementia forced him to live in a full-time assisted living
facility. NFL Players Association initially refused to pay a disability income due to there not being a proven link between brain injury and playing football. The league and the NFL Players' Association have responded with the "88 plan" – named after Mackey's number. It provides $88,000 per year for nursing home care and up to $50,000 annually for adult day care. Mackey passed away July 6th, 2011 at the age of 69 of frontotemporal dementia.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
(1963–1971) and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1972). He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1992.
Career statistics
Mackey joined the Colts in 19631963 NFL season
The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;...
and had revolutionized the position of tight end by 1966
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
. During the 1966 season, of the nine touchdowns he compiled, six were scores of more than 50 yards, and he served as one of Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
' primary receivers in Unitas' later years of his career. Twice Mackey compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch, and his 10-year career average of 15.8 is considered remarkable for a tight end.
Mackey also displayed impressive speed for a tight end. During one season, the Colts decided to use him as a kick returner. He returned 9 kickoffs for 271 yards, an impressive 30.1 yards per return.
Although injuries forced him into early retirement, Mackey proved to be an extremely durable player, missing only one game in his 10-season career.
Super Bowl V
In Super Bowl VSuper Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
played January 17, 1971, Mackey was a principal in one the most famous plays in NFL championship history, catching a pass from quarterback Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
after the ball first bounced off the hands of receiver Eddie Hinton
Eddie Hinton (American football)
Eddie Hinton is a former professional American football wide receiver who played six seasons in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, the Houston Oilers, and the New England Patriots....
and then grazed the fingertips of Cowboys All-Pro defensive back Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro
Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...
. The ball caromed further downfield into the waiting arms of Mackey, who ran untouched for a (then) Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown reception. Baltimore won the game, 16–13, on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds left.
Post-playing career
After retirement, Mackey became the first president of the NFL Players Association. He helped organize a strike that earned players $11 million in pensions and much-needed benefits."He was the right man at the right time," said former teammate Ordell Braase
Ordell Braase
Ordell Wayne Braase is a retired American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played with the Baltimore Colts throughout his career...
. "We were a fractured group until John began putting permanence in [the union's] day-to-day operations. He hired administrators and a general counsel."
Honors
In 1992, Mackey became the second pure tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
of the Bears had been the first one four years earlier. It has been speculated that Mackey's actions as a high-ranking member of the players' union may have led to the delay in his election. In 1999, he was ranked number 48 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking tight end. He was also named number 42 on NFL Network's list of the Top 100 Football Players in 2010.
In 2000, the Nassau County Sports Commission
Nassau County Sports Commission
-Mission:The Nassau County Sports Commission is a non-profit, 501 organization created to enhance the quality of life of Nassau County, New York, residents through the promotion of physical fitness, healthy activity and positive sportsmanship to combat childhood obesity and performance enhancing...
created the John Mackey Award
John Mackey Award
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end.The award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey....
which annually honors the top Division 1-FBS collegiate Tight End. He was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
The Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame honors elite athletes who have roots in Nassau County, New York. The Hall of Fame presentation takes places at the Nassau County Sports Commission "Salute to Champions" Awards Dinner annually every April.-Inductees:...
that same year.
On September 15, 2007, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
retired #88 in Mackey's honor.
On an October 2008 airing of the NFL Network's 'Top 10 Tight Ends' Mackey was named the #1 tight end by virtually every football figure commenting on the show.
Post-football career health problems
Mackey suffered from frontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is a clinical syndrome caused by degeneration of the frontal lobe of the brain and may extend back to the temporal lobe...
, which made him particularly protective of personal possessions and suspicious of anyone who tries to control his actions. During the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, Mackey was reported by family members to be confused and angered when seeing Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
wide receiver Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison
Marvin Daniel Harrison is a former American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse...
wearing the same #88 jersey that Mackey used to wear.
At age 65 Mackey's dementia forced him to live in a full-time assisted living
Assisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
facility. NFL Players Association initially refused to pay a disability income due to there not being a proven link between brain injury and playing football. The league and the NFL Players' Association have responded with the "88 plan" – named after Mackey's number. It provides $88,000 per year for nursing home care and up to $50,000 annually for adult day care. Mackey passed away July 6th, 2011 at the age of 69 of frontotemporal dementia.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Top Imagehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0706/campus.syracuse.top10/content.3.html
- Gallery of John Mackey football cards