J. K. McKay
{{Short description|American football player (born 1953)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = J. K. McKay
| image = John "J.K." McKay Jr.jpg
| caption = McKay in 2011
| number = 89
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|3|28}}
| birth_place = Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| weight_lb = 182
| height_in = 11
| high_school = Bishop Amat {{avoid wrap|(La Puente, California)}}
| college = USC
| draftyear = 1975
| draftround = 16
| draftpick = 394
| teams =
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1975}})*
- Southern California Sun (1975)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1976}}–{{NFL Year|1978}})
| highlights =
- 2× National champion (1972, 1974)
- 2× Second-team All-Pac-8 (1973, 1974)
- 1975 Rose Bowl MVP
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 41
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 632
| statlabel3 = Receiving TDs
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr = McKaJo00
}}
John Kenneth McKayDavid Wharton, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0725-pat-haden-20100725,0,2521165.story Pat Haden is still a dashing figure], Los Angeles Times, July 24, 2010, Accessed July 25, 2010. (born March 28, 1953) is an American former professional football player, trial attorney, and executive with positions at the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and the University of Southern California. As a professional athlete, McKay played wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1978.
College career
McKay played college football for the USC 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, quarterback Pat Haden in the fourth quarter of the 1975 Rose Bowl game. He was named co-MVP of the game along with Haden.{{cite web |title=XFL Confirms Team for Los Angeles: Los Angeles Coliseum to Host Home Games; J.K ... |url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2000/07-12-2000 |website=corporate.wwe.com |access-date=4 September 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Crouse |first1=Karen |title=Haden, Trojans' New Athletic Director, a Man of Many Fields |work=The New York Times |date=23 August 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/sports/23haden.html |access-date=4 September 2018 |language=en}}
McKay was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1998.{{cite web |last1=Ramirez |first1=Stephen |title=USC's JK McKay to speak at Pasadena QBs Club |url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/2015/09/09/uscs-jk-mckay-to-speak-at-pasadena-qbs-club/ |website=San Gabriel Valley Tribune |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=9 September 2015}}
Professional career
He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 16th round of the 1975 NFL draft, but opted instead to play for the Southern California Sun of the World Football League due to a dislike for the Cleveland area.Mizell, Hubert. "McKay's son: barrier to surmount". St. Petersburg Times. 6 Jul 1976. 1C After the WFL ceased operations midway through its 1975 season, the Browns made him available in the 1976 NFL expansion draft, where he was selected by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web |title=BUCPOWER.COM |url=http://www.bucpower.com/crawford31.html |website=www.bucpower.com |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904230003/http://www.bucpower.com/crawford31.html |url-status=dead }} In Tampa Bay, McKay started at receiver for three controversial seasons. Quarterback Steve 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.Hummer, Steve. "Rozier Is One Gruff 'Husker". The Palm Beach Post. 2 Dec 1983. D4 McKay was considered a reliable pass-catcherMartz, Ron. "Bucs want it known: Some white receivers have speed". St. Petersburg Times. 25 Sep 1976. 1C whom opposing defenses considered as a legitimate threat.Ledger Staff. "Sunday Scouting Report: Tampa Bay at Dallas". Lakeland Ledger. 1 Oct 1977. 3D He was forced to retire due to complications from a broken hand.Gurney, Jack. "Receiver Johnny McKay May Be Done As Buccaneer". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 7 Aug 1979. 1-C Later appraisal has supported Spurrier's skepticism regarding McKay's playing time; a 2011 Deadspin 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.{{cite web|title=The Bottom 100: The Worst Players in NFL History|url=https://deadspin.com/the-bottom-100-the-worst-players-in-nfl-history-part-5690560/|website=deadspin.com|year=2011|access-date=October 13, 2024}}
Post-playing career
After retiring from professional football, McKay attended the Stetson University College of Law, and became a trial attorney in the Tampa area. In 1986, he moved to Los Angeles and continued practicing law as a partner with the law firm of Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory. In 2001, he took a position as General Manager of the Los Angeles Xtreme in the XFL. The Xtreme were the first and only champions of the XFL.
In 2010, McKay became Senior Associate Athletic Director of the University of Southern California, under the direction of his friend and former teammate Pat Haden.{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=James |title=Pat Haden Named New Athletic Director - USC News |url=https://news.usc.edu/27320/pat-haden-named-new-athletic-director/ |website=news.usc.edu |date=20 July 2010 |access-date=4 September 2018}}
In 2018, he was announced as the Head of Football Operations of the Alliance of American Football.{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=New Pro Football League Sets 2019 Debut With CBS Sports Pact |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/alliance-american-football-league-cbs-2019-charlie-ebersol-1202731190/ |website=Variety |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=20 March 2018}}
Personal life
McKay is a son of former USC Trojan and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach John McKay and the older brother of former Buccaneers general manager and Atlanta Falcons president, Rich McKay.{{cite web |last1=Farmer |first1=Sam |title=Ahead of Their Time |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jan-02-sp-mckay2-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=2 January 2006}}
McKay is married and has three children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcadiarotary.org/j-k-mckay-wide-receiver-university-of-southern-california/|title=J.K. McKay, Wide Receiver, University of Southern California {{!}} Rotary Club of Arcadia, CA|website=www.arcadiarotary.org|date=29 July 2013 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-05}}{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
He is often referred to as "J. K." in the press, but is more commonly known as "John" or "Johnny".
References
{{commons category|John McKay, Jr}}
{{reflist}}
{{1972 USC Trojans football navbox}}
{{1974 USC Trojans football navbox}}
{{Browns1975DraftPicks}}
{{1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, J. K.}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:USC Trojans football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Southern California Sun players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Players of American football from Eugene, Oregon