“RIP”: NFL Community Mourns Death of 52YO Icon Who Retired Over CTE Scare, Leaving a Void in the Football World

Picture this from January 8, 2000: 20 seconds left in the AFC Wild-Card game between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills. Kicker Steve Christie comes up with a field goal to put the Bills in front 16-15. Game over, you would have thought. Only until Tight End, Frank Wycheck throws an unimaginable lateral to Kevin Dyson, who rushes 75 yards to complete a game-winning touchdown with 3 seconds left…

A never before, never again moment in the history of the NFL franchise. No wonder the ‘Music City Miracle’ made it to the NFL’s 100 greatest plays of all time. Frank Wycheck had arrived on the big stage and inspired the Titans to bigger feats over the next two games until they fell short in equally dramatic fashion in the Super Bowl where they lost to the Rams.

That season, the Titans and Wycheck etched their names in history books. Sadly, the sensational TE breathed his last this morning after falling at his home in Chattanooga. The sudden passing of the ‘Philly guy’ has left the NFL world in deep shock. Fans were left wondering what really happened to the star footballer.

Frank Wycheck’s family released a statement, lamenting ways to keep his memory alive

Wycheck died on December 10, 2023, at 52. As per a family statement released, he fell inside his Chattanooga home and hit his head. That afternoon, he was found unresponsive. The deceased’s family released a statement that reasons his cause of death followed by, “Wycheck moved to Chattanooga, TN this summer to be closer to his family (…) The Wycheck family appreciates the love and support they’ve received, but asks the public to please respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the family said in the statement.

Wycheck had to put out his career to pasture after his 11th season despite being under contract. Surviving in the league after suffering two concussions within just a month in 2003, he was away for 6 games. After an AFC divisional defeat to New England, he decided to bow out without a Super Bowl ring. In 2014, he made a statement to the press,

“The physical stuff you can’t hide from. If you have lingering effects and you go back into a game, from all my reading and studying on it … it could prove to be fatal.” So, per his wishes, his family now wants to continue “to work with experts for on-going brain injury (TBI) and CTE research.”

Post his retirement, Wycheck worked as the color commentator on the Titans Radio Network from 2005 to 2017. The icon has left behind two adult daughters Deanna and Madison and three grandchildren. The unfortunate news about the three-time Pro-Bowler led to social media users sharing their memories about him.

Starting in 1993 with the Washington Redskins as a sixth-round pick out of Maryland, the 2013 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame eventually signed with the Houston Oilers in 1995. He stayed with them when they became the Titans in 1997. Fast forward to the final days of his NFL career, Wycheck became one of the few tight ends in history to surpass 500 receptions. He had 505 career receptions and stood behind Shannon Sharpe (815), Ozzie Newsome (662), and Kellen Winslow (541).

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“Hope y’all celebrating in paradise”: Fans remember Frank Wycheck’s greatest moments!

Football fans were gutted. This fan captured shared highlights of Wycheck’s NFL career. The picture (below) on the left is the iconic moment that sealed the Titan’s only entry to a Super Bowl final. This was shot at the exact moment when Buffalo Bills defender Sam Rogers (59) moved in Wycheck as he laterals the ball across the field to teammate Kevin Dyson. The picture on the left is from the same game that featured Wycheck (89) with 2023 co-NFL MVP Steve McNair.

Wycheck, being a star name in Titan’s history, fans could not bear the thought of their favorite childhood TE passing away.

“We are all devastated to hear the news of Frank’s passing. He was loved by so many, and his memory will always be cherished,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said.
“RIP Frank Wycheck. A #Titans Legend! Prayers to his friends and family!” wrote another.
“Rest in peace” is all the fans can muster their strength to say. As three-time Pro Bowl player bids his farewell to the world, he leaves behind tons of memories.

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