NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Frank Wycheck, who threw the lateral that started the “Music City Miracle” launching the Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl appearance, has died. He was 52.
Wycheck died at his Chattanooga home after an apparent fall where he hit his head Saturday morning, according to a statement from his family released through the Legacy consulting firm. His family said Sunday “with great sadness” that Wycheck was found Saturday afternoon.
His family will be following Wycheck’s wishes to work with experts for CTE research and on-going brain injury (TBI). Funeral services have not been scheduled yet.
“The Wycheck family appreciates the love and support they’ve received, but asks the public to please respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the family said in the statement.
Wycheck retired after his 11th NFL season. He got two concussions in the span of a month in 2003, missed six games, then finished the season with an AFC divisional loss in New England. He decided to retire despite still being under contract and wanting a Super Bowl ring.
“The physical stuff you can’t hide from,” Wycheck told The Associated Press in 2014. “If you have lingering effects and you go back into a game, from all my reading and studying on it … it could prove to be fatal.”
The “Music City Miracle” came with 16 seconds left in an AFC wild-card game Jan. 8, 2000. That TD return ranked fourth among the NFL’s greatest plays when the league celebrated its first 100 years in 2019.
Lorenzo Neal caught a kickoff and handed off to Wycheck, and he threw the ball across the field to Kevin Dyson, who sped 75 yards for the winning touchdown in the final seconds of a stunning 22-16 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo fans still insist the throw was a forward pass. Wycheck told the AP in 2019 he never had a doubt his pass was a lateral.
“Just flick it back,” Wycheck…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply