Tragically, Frank Wycheck has passed away. He was a beloved Titans player.

Wycheck was 52 years old when he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 14, 1971.






Hearing of Frank's passing has crushed us all. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement expressing her condolences for the loss of a beloved individual. When people thought about Titans football, Frank's name sprang to mind. In and out of the game, he was instrumental to our team's success. He was an instant hit with his legion of fans, and they were quick to return his affection.

"He was a critical cog in a Miracle, and he appeared to be open and creating plays at all times on the field. He worked hard and earned three Pro Bowl selections, proving that he was one of the best tight ends of his time in the NFL. He was the most affable person you could ever meet when he wasn't playing. After retiring from football, he stayed in touch with our community and fans through radio, where his voice became instantly familiar across Middle Tennessee. His achievements and hard effort on the field earned him a place in our team's history books—the Ring of Honor. Our thoughts and prayers are with Frank's family at this difficult time. We share your sorrow as a football family.After eleven years in the NFL, Wycheck ended his playing career in 2003. Over the course of his 155-game career, he caught 505 passes for 5,126 yards and 28 touchdowns.

In terms of all-time receptions by tight ends, Wycheck's total of 505 was fourth when he retired, trailing only Shannon Sharpe (815), Ozzie Newsome (662) and Kellen Winslow (541). Three times he was selected for the Pro Bowl.

The blue-collar attitude that the tight end had while playing garnered him respect from both his teammates and the opposition. No matter the outcome, he was the kind of locker room person who would gladly take an interview. The day the Oilers relocated to Tennessee, he instantly became a fan favorite.

Actually, Wycheck was among the team's most enthusiastic members that day.

"Frank was the first person to get off the bus when we arrived in Nashville. At the time, Coach Jeff Fisher stated that he came out strong. As the parade's leader, he

Wycheck continued to enjoy widespread acclaim in Middle Tennessee long after he officially retired. Following his time on the field, Wycheck worked as a sports radio host for 104.5-FM in Nashville's "The Wake Up Zone" and provided color commentary for the Titans. After relocating to Philadelphia, Wycheck most recently relocated to Chattanooga to be closer to his family.

During his time with the Titans, Wycheck caught 28 touchdown passes in 137 games played. There was a period when he caught a pass in 99 straight games, which was a team record. For three years in a row (1999–2001), Wycheck was the Titans’ leading receiver. Throughout his career, he completed 5 of 6 passes for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns, good for a passer rating of 158.3.

In the end, the Music City Miracle—a lateral on a kickoff return—became his trademark play. In the 2000 AFC Wild Card game against the Bills, Wycheck was the one who threw the cross-field ball to Kevin Dyson. The winning touchdown for Tennessee came from Dyson, who ran 75 yards.

In 2013, Wycheck was honored as the 12th Titan before the Titans' regular-season opener versus the Chargers. He was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in the same year. The Ring of Honor includes Wycheck as an honorary member.

Although he was most recognized for his work with Special Olympics Tennessee, he was involved in a number of humanitarian endeavors during his career. He became well-known for his yearly Harley Ride for Special Olympics Tennessee, which raised a lot of money for the organization.

Upon Wycheck's retirement, the late Titans owner Bud Adams stated, "Overall, I think he was one of the top players ever to play for us because of what he did both on and off the field."

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a sixth-round NFL draft pick, Wycheck finally made it to the league. After joining the Titans in1995, he was signed by the Oilers of Houston.

Wycheck decided to retire at the age of 32 after suffering many concussions.Yet he scarcely departed with remorse.

At the press conference to announce his retirement, Wycheck stated, "I did what I set out to do and much more.... I am genuinely proud and couldn't ask for anything better, coming from someone who wasn't even supposed to be in a training camp, let alone where I ended up. What a fantastic journey it has been.

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