Justin McCareins
Encyclopedia
Justin Morgan McCareins (born December 1, 1978) is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Northern Illinois
.
McCareins also played for the New York Jets
.
in Lisle, Illinois
for one semester. He would then transfer to Naperville North High School
where he was a teammate of future NFL running back
Chris Brown
.
McCareins played college football at Northern Illinois University
. He is the school's all-time leading receiver in terms of yards. He was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame during the Huskies game against Kent State on Oct. 8, 2011.
gaining over 800 yards receiving as a slot receiver, had a punt return for a touchdown, and had 1 rush for 13 yards. He also recorded 7 touchdowns. He played an important role for the titans, especially in their 2002-2003 playoff campaign. He set up the game winning field goal in overtime by catching a 31 and 22 yard passes from quarterback Steve McNair.
After the 2003 season, he was traded to the New York Jets
.
The Jets finally cut him after the 2007 season, the 4th year on his 7 year contract.
, making Collins only the 15th player in NFL history to pass for over 30,000 yards.
404: *New York Jets bio
404: *Tennessee Titans bio
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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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
.
McCareins also played for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
He went to Peacock Middle School located in Itasca, Illinois. McCareins first attended Benet AcademyBenet Academy
Benet Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory, Benedictine high school in Lisle, Illinois, United States, overseen by the Diocese of Joliet. Founded in 1887, the school was initially established in Chicago as the all-boys St. Procopius College and Academy by Benedictine monks, who also...
in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
for one semester. He would then transfer to Naperville North High School
Naperville North High School
Naperville North High School is a public four-year comprehensive high school located at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Mill Street in the northern-central part of Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
where he was a teammate of future NFL running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Chris Brown
Chris Brown (American football)
Christopher Rejean Brown is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
McCareins played college football at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
. He is the school's all-time leading receiver in terms of yards. He was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame during the Huskies game against Kent State on Oct. 8, 2011.
First stint with Titans
After being drafted by the Titans, in 2003 McCareins had a career year with the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
gaining over 800 yards receiving as a slot receiver, had a punt return for a touchdown, and had 1 rush for 13 yards. He also recorded 7 touchdowns. He played an important role for the titans, especially in their 2002-2003 playoff campaign. He set up the game winning field goal in overtime by catching a 31 and 22 yard passes from quarterback Steve McNair.
After the 2003 season, he was traded to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
New York Jets
McCareins tenure with the Jets was marked by his inability to catch the ball. This feat was highlighted in a 2007 loss to the Baltimore Ravens where he dropped two potential game-tying touchdowns in the final 2 minutes, the second culminating in an interception that clinched a Jets' loss. This performance earned him the nickname "McCan't Catch" by many Jets fans.The Jets finally cut him after the 2007 season, the 4th year on his 7 year contract.
Return to Tennessee
On March 12, 2008, McCareins re-joined the Titans on a one-year, $1 million contract after four seasons with the Jets. On September 21, 2008, McCareins caught a 17 yard pass from quarterback Kerry CollinsKerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, making Collins only the 15th player in NFL history to pass for over 30,000 yards.
Post NFL
McCareins is now reportedly not playing in the NFL, but living in Broward County, Florida, and pursuing a career in law enforcement.External links
deadlink: *Official Website404: *New York Jets bio
404: *Tennessee Titans bio
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