Jack Concannon
Encyclopedia
John Joseph "Jack" Concannon, Jr. (February 25, 1943 – November 28, 2005) was an American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
.
and quarterback for Boston College
and was the first selection of the 1964 American Football League Draft
, picked by the Boston Patriots on November 30, 1963. Concannon was taken in the 1964 NFL Draft
in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles
, with the 16th overall selection. The Eagles were able to sign Concannon with a $50,000 contract.
He saw limited playing time behind Eagles starting
quarterback Norm Snead
. In 1966, Concannon led the Eagles to several early December wins that allowed Philadelphia to finish the season with a 9-5 record and a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference of the NFL. He played with Philadelphia from 1964 through 1966 and then was traded to the Chicago Bears
for tight end
Mike Ditka
. He played for five years with the Bears. In 1967, Concannon rushed for a career-high 279 yards, but he was injured during the 1968 season and never put up significant rushing numbers again. His most productive season as a passer came in 1970, when he set career marks with 385 attempts, 194 completions, 2130 yards, and 16 TDs; as well as throwing 18 interceptions. His performance quickly dropped off after that, as he was limited to just three games due to an injury in 1971, which would also be his last season with the Bears. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
, and played on the practice squad for two seasons. He was picked up by the Green Bay Packers
in 1974 and ended his career as a backup in 1975 with the Detroit Lions
.
(1970), and as himself in the critically acclaimed TV movie Brian's Song
(1971), the story of Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers
.
on November 28, 2005 at the age of 62.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Playing career
He played halfbackHalfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and quarterback for Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
and was the first selection of the 1964 American Football League Draft
1964 American Football League Draft
-First round:-See also:*List of American Football League players*History of American Football League draft*List of Professional Football Drafts-External links:*...
, picked by the Boston Patriots on November 30, 1963. Concannon was taken in the 1964 NFL Draft
1964 NFL Draft
The 1964 National Football League Draft took place on December 2, 1963.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, with the 16th overall selection. The Eagles were able to sign Concannon with a $50,000 contract.
He saw limited playing time behind Eagles starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback Norm Snead
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest University and was drafted in the first round of...
. In 1966, Concannon led the Eagles to several early December wins that allowed Philadelphia to finish the season with a 9-5 record and a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference of the NFL. He played with Philadelphia from 1964 through 1966 and then was traded to the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
. He played for five years with the Bears. In 1967, Concannon rushed for a career-high 279 yards, but he was injured during the 1968 season and never put up significant rushing numbers again. His most productive season as a passer came in 1970, when he set career marks with 385 attempts, 194 completions, 2130 yards, and 16 TDs; as well as throwing 18 interceptions. His performance quickly dropped off after that, as he was limited to just three games due to an injury in 1971, which would also be his last season with the Bears. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and played on the practice squad for two seasons. He was picked up by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 1974 and ended his career as a backup in 1975 with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
Other work
During his NFL career, Concannon became a partner in a restaurant. He also dabbled in acting, with a cameo appearance in the original theatrical film MASHMASH (film)
MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
(1970), and as himself in the critically acclaimed TV movie Brian's Song
Brian's Song
Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo , a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale...
(1971), the story of Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers
Gale Eugene Sayers also known as "The Kansas Comet", is a former professional football player in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears....
.
Death
Concannon died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on November 28, 2005 at the age of 62.