John Mackey, one of the all-time great tight ends, passed away Wednesday at the age of 69.
The NFL released a statement on Mackey from Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“John Mackey was one of the great leaders in NFL history, on & off the field. He was a Hall of Fame player who redefined his position. John was a courageous advocate for his fellow NFL players as head of the NFL Players Association,” Goodell said. “He worked closely w/ our office on many issues through the years, including serving as the first president of the NFL Youth Football Fund. He never stopped fighting the good fight. Our thoughts are with Sylvia and the Mackey family on the loss of our good friend.”
In the latter years of John’s life, when he was battling dementia, Sylvia moved the family back to Baltimore in hopes Mackey would find the city familiar. He didn’t, “but in an almost unbearably touching development, [Baltimore] found him familiar,” as Tom Callahan wrote in his terrific Johnny Unitas biography.
Mackey, who passionately fought for labor issues, loved the NFL. In former Commissioner Pete Rozelle’s last public appearance, it was Mackey that shepherded him through the crowd when Rozelle’s health was failing. (Mackey was a sometimes adversary and long-time friend of Rozelle.)
NFL Films has put together a video tribute to Mackey, which we’d highly recommend.
UPDATE: The Ravens released a pair of statements.
From owner Steve Biscotti: “We are tremendously saddened to hear about the passing of John Mackey, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Sylvia and the entire Mackey family. I was fortunate to get to know John and Sylvia personally, and I was struck by her love and loyalty throughout the difficult times of his illness. John set the standard by which tight ends are measured on the field, and he will be sorely missed not only by his family, but also by the entire Baltimore community.”
From G.M. Ozzie Newsome: “I am mourning the loss of John Mackey, and my deepest condolences go out to his wife Sylvia and the Mackey family. John revolutionized the tight end position during his Hall of Fame career, and he laid the foundation on and off the field for modern NFL players.”
