John McKay Jr.
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No. 89 | |||||||
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Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Eugene, Oregon | March 28, 1953||||||
Career information | |||||||
College: | USC | ||||||
NFL Draft: | 1975 / Round: 16 / Pick: 394 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
John Kenneth "J.K." McKay[1] (born March 28, 1953) is a former American football player, trial attorney, and executive with positions at the Alliance of American Football and the University of Southern California. As a professional athlete, McKay played wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1978.
College career[]
McKay played college football at USC, where he played on the 1972 and 1974 National Championship teams and caught, among many others, a 38-yard touchdown pass from long time best friend, quarterback Pat Haden in the fourth quarter of the 1975 Rose Bowl game. He was named co-MVP of the game along with Haden.[2][3]
McKay was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1998.[4]
Professional career[]
He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 16th round of the 1975 NFL Draft, but opted instead to play for the Southern California Sun of the World Football League due to a dislike for the Cleveland area.[5] After the WFL ceased operations midway through its 1975 season, the Browns made him available in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[6] In Tampa Bay, McKay started at receiver for three controversial seasons. Quarterback Steve Spurrier's belief that McKay was playing ahead of better receivers because he was the son of head coach John McKay, led him to throw passes over the vulnerable middle of the field in an attempt to get McKay injured.[7] McKay was considered a reliable pass-catcher[8] whom opposing defenses considered as a legitimate threat.[9] He was forced to retire due to complications from a broken hand.[10]
After retiring from professional football, McKay became a trial attorney in the Tampa area. In 1986, he moved to Los Angeles and continued practicing law as a partner with the law firm of Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory.[11] In 2001, he took a position as General Manager of the Los Angeles Xtreme in the XFL.[6] The Xtreme were the first and only champions of the XFL.
In 2010, McKay became Senior Associate Athletic Director of the University of Southern California, under the direction of his friend and former teammate Pat Haden.[12]
In 2018, he was announced as the Head of Football Operations of the Alliance of American Football.[13]
Personal[]
McKay is a son of former USC Trojan and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach John McKay and the older brother of former Buccaneers general manager and Atlanta Falcons president, Rich McKay.[14]
McKay is married and has three children.[15][citation needed]
He is often referred to as "J. K." in the press, but is more commonly known as "John" or "Johnny".[5]
He attended the Stetson University College of Law.[10]
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to John McKay, Jr. |
- ^ David Wharton, Pat Haden is still a dashing figure, Los Angeles Times, July 24, 2010, Accessed July 25, 2010.
- ^ "XFL Confirms Team for Los Angeles: Los Angeles Coliseum to Host Home Games; J.K ..." corporate.wwe.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Crouse, Karen. "Haden, Trojans' New Athletic Director, a Man of Many Fields". New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Ramirez, Stephen (9 September 2015). "USC's JK McKay to speak at Pasadena QBs Club". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mizell, Hubert. "McKay's son: barrier to surmount". St. Petersburg Times. 6 Jul 1976. 1C
- ^ Jump up to: a b "BUCPOWER.COM". www.bucpower.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Hummer, Steve. "Rozier Is One Gruff 'Husker". The Palm Beach Post. 2 Dec 1983. D4
- ^ Martz, Ron. "Bucs want it known: Some white receivers have speed". St. Petersburg Times. 25 Sep 1976. 1C
- ^ Ledger Staff. "Sunday Scouting Report: Tampa Bay at Dallas". Lakeland Ledger. 1 Oct 1977. 3D
- ^ Jump up to: a b Gurney, Jack. "Receiver Johnny McKay May Be Done As Buccaneer". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 7 Aug 1979. 1-C
- ^ "XFL Confirms Team for Los Angeles: Los Angeles Coliseum to Host Home Games; J.K ..." corporate.wwe.com. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ Grant, James. "Pat Haden Named New Athletic Director - USC News". news.usc.edu. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (20 March 2018). "New Pro Football League Sets 2019 Debut With CBS Sports Pact". Variety. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Farmer, Sam (2 January 2006). "Ahead of Their Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ "J.K. McKay, Wide Receiver, University of Southern California | Rotary Club of Arcadia, CA". www.arcadiarotary.org. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- American football wide receivers
- USC Trojans football players
- Cleveland Browns players
- Southern California Sun players
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
- Sportspeople from Eugene, Oregon
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Stetson University College of Law alumni
- Alliance of American Football executives