| No. 88, 89 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1957-08-01)August 1, 1957 (age 67) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bethlehem Catholic(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||
| College: | Yale | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1979: 9th round, 245 (by theNew England Patriots)th 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 Stephen Spagnola (born August 1, 1957) is a formerAmerican footballtight end in theNational Football League (NFL) for thePhiladelphia Eagles,Seattle Seahawks, and theGreen Bay Packers.
Spagnola was born inBethlehem, Pennsylvania. As aBoy Scout at Notre Dame Elementary School, he was awarded theEagle Scout rank, and was inducted into the Eagle Scout Hall of Fame.
He attendedBethlehem Catholic High School inBethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he played wide receiver and linebacker. Bethlehem Catholic went 11-0-0 in 1974 with Spagnola as one of the team captains. He was a grade school and high school classmate ofrunning backMike Guman (Bethlehem Catholic, 1976), who later starred atPenn State and played 10 seasons in theNational Football League with theLos Angeles Rams.
After his 1975 graduation from Bethlehem Catholic, he attendedYale University, where he played wide receiver. He graduated in 1979 as the university's all-time leading wide receiver in receptions (88) and yards (1554). He was an honorable mention All-American tight end at Yale in 1979.
Spagnola wasdrafted in the ninth round of the1979 NFL draft by theNew England Patriots. He played in eleven NFL seasons from1979 to1987 for thePhiladelphia Eagles, the1988 for theSeattle Seahawks, and the1989 for theGreen Bay Packers.[1]
Spagnola was voted the Eagles' MVP (offensive) in 1984. His best year in the NFL came during the1985 season for thePhiladelphia Eagles when he caught 65receptions for 701 yards and fivetouchdowns. In 1985, Spagnola andMike Quick combined to set two club records; most receptions by two players (135) and most combined receiving yards (2,019), breaking a record previously shared by Hall of FamerTommy McDonald andTimmy Brown.
He was a pro-bowl alternative in 1985 and 1984. He caught more passes (129) than any other tight end in theNational Football Conference in 1985 and 1984.
He appeared inSuper Bowl XV for thePhiladelphia Eagles versus theOakland Raiders, catching one reception for 22 yards.
Spagnola ranks 14th on the Eagles' all-time reception list with 256 catches for 2,833 yards. His 12 catches in one game against theNew Orleans Saints in 1985 were just two short of the club record shared byBrian Westbrook andDon Looney.
Spagnola served as a player representative of theNational Football League Players Association. During the labor strike in 1987, Spagnola'sPhiladelphia Eagles were the only NFL team whose players did not cross the strike line.
Spagnola was the first executive vice president of theNational Football League Players Association.
In 2008–2009, Spagnola was sought by theNational Football League Players Association's executive search firm Reilly Partners inChicago to succeedGene Upshaw as executive director. Spagnola remained in the running after the union pared its list of finalists to five.
Spagnola began broadcasting forABC Sports television in 1991. He coveredcollege football for the network as acolor analyst,sideline reporter, and studio analyst through the 1998 season.
In 1984, Spagnola began his career in the financial services industry, working forFirst Boston Corporation inNew York City andPhiladelphia. During this time, Spagnola worked in institutional sales and trading where he developed an in depth knowledge of capital markets,proprietary trading. and corporate underwriting.
In 1992, with Michael Cosack, he co-founded Spagnola-Cosack, Inc., an independent investment consulting firm that serviced public, Taft-Hartley, corporate, hospital, endowment, and foundation Funds. Over a ten-year period, assets under advisement grew to over $3.5 billion. In 2003, Spagnola-Cosack, Inc. was acquired byPublic Financial Management Group, a Philadelphia financial advisory firm. He brings over 23 years of investment experience to PFM Advisors.
As managing director of PFM Advisors, Spagnola serves on the investment committee, oversees marketing and client service and consulting with public, hospital, endowment, and Taft-Hartley Fund clients of the firm.
Spagnola has taught a course on managing public funds for theFels Institute of Government at theUniversity of Pennsylvania.
Spagnola currently serves on the board of directors ofMagee Rehabilitation Hospital, the Buckley Institute atYale University, and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the advisory committee of St. Rose of Lima Parish inWest Philadelphia and on the investment committee ofJefferson Health inPhiladelphia.
Spagnola has three daughters, Nicole, Megan, and Kelly.