Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer John Mackey Dies

by cexline | July 8, 2011 at 12:45 pm

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John Mackey, former Baltimore Colts tight end hall-of-famer died Wednesday in Baltimore. He was 69 years old. Mackey's wife notified the Baltimore Ravens about his death on Thursday. Mackey played for the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to 1971. He helped the team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1971 Super Bowl by catching a pass from Johnny Unitas after it deflected off of two other players for a 75-yard touchdown.

He also played for the San Diego Chargers in 1972. He ended his 10-year career with 331 catches, $5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns. With his speed, size and ability to catch the ball while also blocking has revolutionized the tight-end position for future generations. Ravens general manager and fellow Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome said:

ohn revolutionized the tight end position during his Hall of Fame career, and he laid the foundation on and off the field for modern NFL players.

Mackey's career didn't end on the field. In 1970, he was named president of a newly organized players union to change the way players were treated. In 1992, Mackey wrote for The New York Times:

My name has long been associated with the cause of free agency in the N.F.L. What most people don’t know is that my commitment stemmed mostly from one incident in the N.F.L. in which I was handed a piece of paper, a contract, and was told to sign it. Of course I didn’t, and from that moment of youthful pique evolved the fight by N.F.L. players to choose for whom they work.

In 1972, Mackey filed a suit against the NFL, trying to overturn the Rozelle Rule, in which the NFL commissioner Pete Ronzell could award compensation to teams losing a free agent. This case became better known as the "Mackey case" and a judge found that the Rozelle Rule was an illegal deterrent to free movement. In a settlement, the league agreed to pay $15.8 million in damages to players under contract in the early 1970's.

In 1992, Mackey was voted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. In 2006, as Mackey was battling dementia, the league created the "88 Plan," named for his number, which provides up to $88,000 per year for families of former players who have dementia or Alzheimer's disease or up to $50,000 in home care. Mackey suffered from frontotemporal dementia, which is believed to have been caused by contact while playing football. The cost of his care far outweighed his pension and pushed towards better health care for former players.

Union executive director DeMaurice Smith stated:

John Mackey is still our leader. As the president of the NFLPA, he led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and with ferocious drive. His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten.

Mackey and Mike Ditka were the first tight ends selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The John Mackey Award was created to honor the nation's top college tight end.