John Mackey ( American football ) John Mackey ( September 24 , 1941 – July 6 , 2011 ) was an American Football tight end who grew up in Roosevelt , Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts ( 1963 – 1971 ) and the San Diego Chargers ( 1972 ) . He played college football at Syracuse University . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 . Career statistics . Mackey joined the Colts in 1963 and had revolutionized the position of tight end by 1966 . During the 1966 season , of the nine touchdowns he compiled , six were scores of more than 50 yards , and he served as one of Johnny Unitas ' primary receivers in Unitas ' later years of his career . Twice Mackey compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch , and his 10 - year career average of 15 . 8 is considered remarkable for a tight end . Mackey also displayed impressive speed for a tight end . During one season , the Colts decided to use him as a kick returner . He returned 9 kickoffs for 271 yards , an impressive 30 . 1 yards per return . Although injuries forced him into early retirement , Mackey proved to be an extremely durable player , missing only one game in his 10 - season career . Super Bowl V . In Super Bowl V played January 17 , 1971 , Mackey was a principal in one the most famous plays in NFL championship history , catching a pass from quarterback Johnny Unitas after the ball first bounced off the hands of receiver Eddie Hinton and then grazed the fingertips of Cowboys All - Pro defensive back Mel Renfro . The ball caromed further downfield into the waiting arms of Mackey , who ran untouched for a ( then ) Super Bowl - record 75 - yard touchdown reception . Baltimore won the game , 16 – 13 , on Jim O ' Brien ' s 32 - yard field goal with five seconds left . Post - playing career . After retirement , Mackey became the first president of the NFL Players Association . He helped organize a strike that earned players $ 50 million in pensions and much - needed benefits . " He was the right man at the right time , " said former teammate Ordell Braase . " We were a fractured group until John began putting permanence in [ the union ' s ] day - to - day operations . He hired administrators and a general counsel . " Honors . In 1992 , Mackey became the second pure tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Mike Ditka of the Bears had been the first one four years earlier . It has been speculated that Mackey ' s actions as a high - ranking member of the players ' union may have led to the delay in his election . In 1999 , he was ranked number 48 on " The Sporting News " ' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players , the highest - ranking tight end . He was also named number 42 on NFL Network ' s list of the Top 100 Football Players in 2010 . In 2000 , the Nassau County Sports Commission created the John Mackey Award which annually honors the top Division 1 - FBS collegiate Tight End . He was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame that same year . On September 15 , 2007 , Syracuse University retired # 88 in Mackey ' s honor . On an October 2008 airing of the NFL Network ' s ' Top 10 Tight Ends ' Mackey was named the # 1 tight end by virtually every football figure commenting on the show . Post - football career health problems . Mackey suffered from frontotemporal dementia , which made him particularly protective of personal possessions and suspicious of anyone who tried to control his actions . During the 2006 NFL season , Mackey was reported by family members to be confused and angered when seeing Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison wearing the same # 88 jersey that Mackey used to wear . At age 65 Mackey ' s dementia forced him to live in a full - time assisted living facility . NFL Players Association initially refused to pay a disability income due to there not being a proven link between brain injury and playing football . The league and the NFL Players ' Association have responded with the " 88 plan " – named after Mackey ' s number . It provides $ 88 , 000 per year for nursing home care and up to $ 50 , 000 annually for adult day care . Mackey died July 6 , 2011 at the age of 69 of frontotemporal dementia .