 McKay in 2011 | |||||||||
| No. 89 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1953-03-28)March 28, 1953 (age 71) Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 182 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bishop Amat(La Puente, California) | ||||||||
| College: | USC | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1975: 16th round, 394th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Kenneth McKay[1] (born March 28, 1953) is an American former professionalfootball player, trial attorney, and executive with positions at theAlliance of American Football (AAF) and theUniversity of Southern California. As a professional athlete, McKay playedwide receiver for theTampa Bay Buccaneers of theNational Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1978.
McKay playedcollege football for theUSC Trojans, 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, quarterbackPat Haden in the fourth quarter of the1975 Rose Bowl game. He was named co-MVP of the game along with Haden.[2][3]
McKay was inducted into theRose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1998.[4]
He was selected by theCleveland Browns in the 16th round of the1975 NFL draft, but opted instead to play for theSouthern California Sun of theWorld 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 the1976 NFL expansion draft, where he was selected by the expansionTampa Bay Buccaneers.[6] In Tampa Bay, McKay started at receiver for three controversial seasons. QuarterbackSteve 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] Later appraisal has supported Spurrier's skepticism regarding McKay's playing time; a 2011Deadspin article bestowed McKay the dubious honor of being named the fifth-worst NFL player ever, calling him "the biggest beneficiary of nepotism in NFL history" who "lacked NFL speed and separation" while highlighting his only 41 catches across three seasons.[11]
After retiring from professional football, McKay attended theStetson University College of Law,[10] and became a trial attorney in the Tampa area. In 1986, he moved toLos Angeles and continued practicing law as a partner with the law firm of Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory.[2] In 2001, he took a position as General Manager of theLos Angeles Xtreme in theXFL.[6] The Xtreme were the first and only champions of the XFL.
In 2010, McKay became Senior Associate Athletic Director of theUniversity of Southern California, under the direction of his friend and former teammatePat Haden.[12]
In 2018, he was announced as the Head of Football Operations of theAlliance of American Football.[13]
McKay is a son of former USC Trojan and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coachJohn McKay and the older brother of former Buccaneersgeneral manager andAtlanta 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]
