“It was a lifelong dream of mine to have one or both of my kids grow up playing quarterback,” Derek McCord once said—a dream rooted in his own love of the game. A former quarterback at Rutgers from 1988 to 1992, Derek’s passion for football runs deep. He always hoped his sons would follow in his footsteps, not just as football players, but as quarterbacks, carrying on the family legacy. And that dream has come true, as both of his sons, Kyle and Cole, have chosen football as their careers, with Kyle playing quarterback and Cole thriving as a tight end at a Division III program.

Derek’s own football career was impressive. As a four-year letter winner at Rutgers, he started 38 games for the Scarlet Knights and earned two All-Big East honors. By the time he wrapped up his collegiate journey, Derek had amassed an impressive 4,984 passing yards and 21 touchdowns—a testament to his talent and contribution to the program. His legacy at Rutgers is solidified by those accomplishments, but perhaps his greatest joy now is watching his son Kyle carry on that torch as a quarterback.

Kyle McCord, a former Ohio State player, has taken up the mantle of quarterback—a position Derek groomed him for from an early age. With Derek by his side, coaching him and teaching him the fundamentals of the game, Kyle has flourished, fulfilling the football dream that has been woven through generations of the McCord family. It’s more than just a game for the McCords—it’s a bond that unites them, with Derek’s legacy inspiring Kyle’s future.

Meet Kyle McCord’s mother, Stacy

The Rutgers connection runs deep for Derek. Not just as a player but as a family man. One of the reasons he has a great connection with his former team is that he met his wife, Stacy, at the university. Both Stacy and Derek have raised two football-obsessed sons and are closely involved in their lives.

With Derek, Stacy McCord has also played a key role in Kyle and Cole’s historic development. She is an educator who was involved in gifted and STEM programs. However, more information about her professional or personal life is not available online. Although her dedication to education has helped in shaping Kyle’s academic discipline. Stacy has contributed to both her son’s well-rounded success.

Kyle McCord’s family support and college journey

Derek’s football experience has played a significant role in shaping Quarterback’s decision to pursue the sport. Derek, who always wanted his children to play football, is happy as Kyle is doing great in his college football. He joined Syracuse Orange for the new 2024 season. McCord is a Mount Laurel native who attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He started his college football career with Ohio State in 2021. As a sophomore, he successfully set a school record by passing for 2,883 yards and 35 touchdowns.

In junior season, he threw for 2,399 yards and 31 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he missed the final four games due to injury. Despite the challenges, he continued to shine in his senior year. Like his father, Kyle also finished his school career with an impressive 6,887 passing yards, 88 touchdown passes, and a Philadelphia Catholic League record.

Being a good father, Derek supported Kyle’s decision to join Ohio State despite having a special connection with Rutgers. Although if Kyle had chosen to be part of Rutgers, his father would have loved it. Derek has often praised Ohio State’s impressive track record with QB’s. As NCCA has kicked off with its new season, all the football programs are giving their best, and players are delivering impressive performances. Let’s see how Kyle performs with the new team.