John Mackey Football Cards

About John Mackey, Hall of Famer

John Mackey was a tight end who played ten seasons in the NFL, primarily for the Baltimore Colts and briefly for the San Diego Chargers. A five-time Pro Bowler known for his size and speed, Mackey caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns during his career. He made an indelible mark on professional football off the field as well, serving as the first president of the NFLPA from 1970 to 1973. During his tenure, he led a strike that secured over $12 million in increased benefits for players and became the lead plaintiff in the landmark Mackey v. NFL case that overturned the restrictive Rozelle Rule. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 as the second pure tight end ever elected, Mackey was instrumental in creating the "88 Plan," which provides financial support to former players with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Did you know? During Super Bowl V, Mackey caught a record-setting 75-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas that was deflected twice—once by his own teammate Eddie Hinton and once by Dallas Cowboys defender Mel Renfro—before he caught it.

Source: Wikipedia, John Mackey (American football) (CC BY-SA)