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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1950-09-24)September 24, 1950 (age 74) Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Tucker (Tucker, Georgia) | ||||||||
| College: | Clemson | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1972: 3rd round, 63rd pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Garvin McMakin (born September 24, 1950) is an American former professionalfootballtight end who played five seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) from 1972 to 1976 for thePittsburgh Steelers,Detroit Lions andSeattle Seahawks. He was a member of the Steelers first World Championship,Super Bowl IX over theMinnesota Vikings.[1] He was the Steelers' 3rd round draft pick in the1972 NFL draft.[2][3]
McMakin played a role in one of the most famous plays in football history, theImmaculate Reception. In a 1972 playoff game between the Steelers andOakland Raiders, the Raiders were leading 7-6 with a few seconds left. Steelers quarterbackTerry Bradshaw threw a pass toJohn Fuqua that deflected off either Fuqua, Raider safetyJack Tatum or both, and was caught by Steeler running backFranco Harris who ran for the winning touchdown. The main controversy of the play was whether ball hit Tatum or not; under the rules of the time Harris' catch would have been illegal if it had not. But another point of controversy was McMakin's block from behind on RaiderlinebackerPhil Villapiano which helped free Harris for the touchdown. Villapiano has always maintained that the block was an illegalclip and so even if the catch was legal the touchdown should have been called back.[4][5][6][7]
McMakin's pro career ended when he was waived by the Seahawks prior to the 1977 season after the Seahawks acquired tight endJohn Sawyer from theHouston Oilers.[8]