Former tight end for the Titans At 52, Frank Wycheck passes away
“At this time, it appears Wycheck fell inside his Chattanooga, TN, house and injured his head on Saturday morning,” the family said in a statement. That afternoon, his non-responsiveness was discovered.”
Wycheck is survived by three grandsons, Leo, Stevie, and August, as well as two married adult daughters, Deanna and Madison.
Per his requests, the family intends to collaborate with specialists in the field of ongoing brain damage (TBI) and CTE research. Funeral arrangements have not yet been arranged.
“We all find ourselves in complete shock upon learning of Frank’s demise. “His memory will always be treasured, as he was adored by so many people,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. “Titans football was closely associated with Frank’s name. He had a significant impact on our team’s accomplishments both on and off the pitch. He embraced this fan base and group right away, and he was instantly liked by all.
“He was a part of a miracle and always appeared to be open and making crucial plays on the pitch. His three Pro Bowl appearances demonstrate the hard work he put in to become one of the greatest NFL tight ends of his age. He was the most affable person you could ever meet off the pitch. He maintained his relationship with our supporters and the community after his playing career by working as a radio host, and his voice rose to become one of the most recognisable in Middle Tennessee. His contributions on the field and his achievements there deservedly earned him a place in our Ring of Honour, ensuring his place in the annals of our squad. We extend our sympathies and thoughts to Frank’s family. We at Football mourn with you, our family.”
After 11 seasons in the NFL, Wycheck retired in 2003. Over 155 games, he concluded his career with 505 receptions, 5,126 yards, and 28 touchdowns.
Wycheck’s 505 career receptions at the time of his retirement placed him fourth among tight ends all-time, behind only Shannon Sharpe (815), Ozzie Newsome (662), and Kellen Winslow (541). Three times, he was selected for the Pro Bowl.
In his playing days, competitors and teammates respected the tight end for his work ethic. In the locker room, he was a stand-up person who was always willing to do interviews, whether you won or lost. The moment the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee, he became a fan favourite.
In actuality, Wycheck was among the team’s most enthusiastic members on that particular day.
“Frank got off the bus first when we moved to Nashville. At that time, Coach Jeff Fisher observed, “He struck the ground running.” “He led the procession.”
Wycheck continued to be a well-liked public figure in Middle Tennessee even after retiring. Following his playing career, Wycheck was a prominent sports talk radio personality on Nashville’s 104.5-FM’s “The Wake Up Zone” and also provided colour commentary for Titans Radio. In the end, Wycheck returned to his native Philadelphia before most recently relocating to Chattanooga to be near his family.
During his 137 games with the Titans, Wycheck caught 28 touchdown passes. He formerly held the team record for the most consecutive games played in which he caught at least one pass: 99. Wycheck (1999–2001) led the Titans in receiving for three straight seasons. In his career, he also completed 5 of 6 passes for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns, good for a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
His career-defining performance turned out to be a lateral on a kickoff return, popularly referred to as the “Music City Miracle.” Wycheck was the one who hit Kevin Dyson with the cross-field pass in the AFC Wild Card game on January 8, 2000, against the Bills. Tennessee won the game when Dyson ran 75 yards for a score.
Before the Titans’ 2013 regular-season opener against the Chargers, Wycheck was honoured as the 12th Titan and inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Wycheck is a part of the Ring of Honour for the franchise.
Throughout his career, he was involved in a number of humanitarian endeavours, but Special Olympics Tennessee is where he is most well-known for his work. His yearly Harley Ride for Special Olympics Tennessee brought him notoriety and brought in sizable sums of money for the nonprofit.
When Wycheck retired, late Titans owner Bud Adams stated, “Overall, I think he was one of the finest players ever to play for us because of what he did both on and off the pitch.”
After graduating from the University of Maryland, Wycheck was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the NFL. In 1995, he signed a contract with the Houston Oilers and became a Titan.
Eventually, a succession of concussions influenced Wycheck’s choice to retire at age 32.
Not that he had any regrets about leaving.
“I accomplished all of my goals and then some,” Wycheck declared during his news conference to announce his retirement. “I’m really pleased with myself and couldn’t ask for more from a person who wasn’t even meant to be in a training camp, let alone where I ended up. It’s been a really amazing journey.
