NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three-time Professional Bowl tight finish Frank Wycheck, who threw the lateral that began the “Music Metropolis Miracle” launching the Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl look, has died. He was 52.
Wycheck died at his Chattanooga residence after an obvious fall the place he hit his head Saturday morning, in accordance with a press release from his household launched by the Legacy consulting agency. His household stated Sunday “with nice unhappiness” that Wycheck was discovered Saturday afternoon.
His household will probably be following Wycheck’s needs to work with experts for CTE research and on-going brain injury (TBI). Funeral companies haven’t been scheduled but.
“The Wycheck household appreciates the love and help they’ve acquired, however asks the general public to please respect their privateness throughout this troublesome time,” the household stated within the assertion.
Wycheck retired after his eleventh NFL season. He bought two concussions within the span of a month in 2003, missed six video games, then completed the season with an AFC divisional loss in New England. He determined to retire regardless of nonetheless being below contract and wanting a Tremendous Bowl ring.
“The bodily stuff you’ll be able to’t disguise from,” Wycheck told The Associated Press in 2014. “If in case you have lingering results and also you return right into a sport, from all my studying and finding out on it … it may show to be deadly.”
Wesley Hitt by way of Getty Photos
The “Music Metropolis Miracle” got here with 16 seconds left in an AFC wild-card sport Jan. 8, 2000. That TD return ranked fourth among the many NFL’s biggest performs 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 throughout the sphere to Kevin Dyson, who sped 75 yards for the winning touchdown within the closing seconds of a stunning 22-16 comeback victory over the Buffalo Payments.
Buffalo followers nonetheless insist the throw was a ahead cross. Wycheck told the AP in 2019 he by no means had a doubt his cross was a lateral.
“Simply flick it again,” Wycheck stated. “That’s simply the best way I form of jumped and threw it. After which I fell backward, and that was just like the phantasm of it.”
Tennessee then received on the highway in Indianapolis and beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville within the AFC championship sport. The Titans got here up brief on the ultimate play in dropping Tremendous Bowl 34 to the then-St. Louis Rams in Atlanta.
Wycheck performed 11 NFL seasons, beginning in 1993 with Washington as a sixth-round select of Maryland. He was picked up by the then-Houston Oilers in 1995 and completed his profession with the franchise that relocated to Tennessee in 1997.
He completed his profession with 505 receptions, 5,126 yards and 28 touchdowns over 155 video games. At the moment, he trailed solely Shannon Sharpe (815), Ozzie Newsome (662) and Kellen Winslow (541) for many catches amongst tight ends.
Wycheck performed 137 video games for the Titans and set a group document with at the least one reception in 99 consecutive video games. He additionally led the franchise in receiving for 3 straight seasons between 1999 and 2001. He was inducted into the group’s Ring of Honor in 2013.
The lateral for the “Music Metropolis Miracle” wasn’t his solely throw. Wycheck was 5 of 6 for 148 yards and two TDs in his profession, posting an ideal passer ranking of 158.3.
Titans controlling proprietor Amy Adams Strunk stated the group was devastated to listen to of Wycheck’s demise, a person cherished by many whose reminiscence will probably be cherished. She famous he was at all times open making key performs and “even a part of a Miracle.”
“Frank’s identify was synonymous with Titans soccer,” Strunk stated in a press release. “He was such an enormous a part of our group’s success each on and off the sphere. He embraced this group and fan base instantly, and everybody cherished him proper again.”
Wycheck labored in Nashville sports activities discuss radio after he stopped enjoying. He additionally did coloration commentary for Titans Radio by the 2016 season. The Philadelphia native moved residence, then relocated to Chattanooga this summer season to be close to his household. He leaves behind two grownup daughters and three grandchildren.
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