Previous Titans TE Frank Wycheck of ‘Music Town Miracle’ fame dies at age 52

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Three-time Professional Bowler Frank Wycheck, who threw the lateral that begun the “Music Town Wonder” launching the Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s lone Tremendous Bowl visual appeal, has died. He was 52.

Wycheck died at his Chattanooga dwelling after an apparent drop in which he hit his head Saturday early morning, in accordance to a statement from his spouse and children launched by the Legacy consulting organization. His household explained Sunday “with great disappointment” that Wycheck was uncovered Saturday afternoon.

His family will be next Wycheck’s needs to perform with experts for CTE study and on-likely mind harm (TBI). Funeral companies have not been scheduled nonetheless.

“The Wycheck loved ones appreciates the appreciate and aid they’ve been given, but asks the community to remember to regard their privateness in the course of this complicated time,” the family said in the assertion.

Wycheck retired soon after his 11th NFL season. He acquired two concussions in the span of a thirty day period in 2003, skipped 6 online games, then completed the season with an AFC divisional reduction in New England. He decided to retire inspite of however currently being under contract and seeking a Super Bowl ring.

“The physical stuff you just can’t cover from,” Wycheck informed The Related Press in 2014. “If you have lingering outcomes and you go back again into a video game, from all my studying and learning on it … it could show to be fatal.”

The “Music City Miracle” came with 16 seconds left in an AFC wild-card recreation Jan. 8, 2000. That TD return ranked fourth between the NFL’s best plays when the league celebrated its initial 100 yrs in 2019.

Lorenzo Neal caught a kickoff and handed off to Wycheck, and he threw the ball across the subject to Kevin Dyson, who sped 75 yards for the winning landing in the ultimate seconds of a amazing 22-16 comeback victory above the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo admirers continue to insist the toss was a forward pass. Wycheck told The Involved Press in 2019 he by no means had a question his move was a lateral.

“Just flick it back,” Wycheck stated. “That’s just the way I form of jumped and threw it. And then I fell backward, and that was like the illusion of it.”

Tennessee then gained on the street in Indianapolis and conquer the Jaguars in Jacksonville in the AFC championship activity. The Titans arrived up limited on the last engage in in dropping Super Bowl 34 to the then-St. Louis Rams in Atlanta.

Wycheck played 11 NFL seasons, starting up in 1993 with Washington as a sixth-round select out of Maryland. He was picked up off waivers by the then-Houston Oilers in 1995 and completed his profession with the franchise that relocated to Tennessee in 1997.

He concluded his occupation with 505 receptions, 5,126 yards and 28 touchdowns around 155 games. At that time, he trailed only Shannon Sharpe (815), Ozzie Newsome (662) and Kellen Winslow (541) for most catches between limited ends.

Wycheck played 137 online games for the Titans and established a group record with at the very least a person reception in 99 consecutive online games. He also led the franchise in getting for three straight seasons involving 1999 and 2001.

The lateral for the “Tunes Metropolis Wonder” wasn’t his only throw. Wycheck was 5-of-6 for 148 yards and two TDs in his profession, submitting a excellent passer ranking of 158.3.

Wycheck moved to Chattanooga this summer time to be nearer to his household. He leaves guiding two grownup daughters and 3 grandchildren.

Reporting by The Involved Push.