Uniquely Unique The Packers and Mike McCoy

Mike Charles McCoy

The passing of #29 Mike Charles McCoy at the age of 62 is another indication I'm getting old since I will soon be 63.  I remember him well. He was a solid cornerback who finished his career with 13 interceptions, including 10 his first three years as a starter. He also recovered five fumbles and averaged 22.0 yards as a kickoff returner.

A West Memphis, Arkansas native he was drafted out of Colorado in the third round (72nd pick overall) of the 1976 draft by Bart Starr with a draft pick acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1975 trade of running back MacArthur Lane.

He played 110 games in a Packer uniform starting 96 consecutive games at right cornerback from 1977 to 1983 until he suffered a ruptured quad muscle in the ninth game of the season.

He missed the final 7 games of the 1983 season, was on the inactive list the entire 1984 season and was waived at the beginning of the 1985 season when he wouldn't sign an injury waiver. He never played another down for the Packers or any other team.

From what I could find he was living in Lafayette, Louisiana until he lost his house and a lot of money in a divorce. He moved to Colorado and worked in the mailroom at the University of Colorado while he went back to school to get a degree in sports medicine. He had worked at a sports clinic in Vail before dementia forced him into a nursing home.

Besides a trip down memory lane I found out that there has been just three Mike McCoy's to have played or been on a roster in the history of the NFL and the Packers have had all three.

Mike Patrick McCoy

The first one was #76 Mike Patrick McCoy, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1970 draft out of Notre Dame by Phil Bengston. He became a starter at right defensive tackle his rookie season replacing Henry Jordan and started all 14 games.

McCoy moved to left defensive tackle in 1971 replacing another No. 1 draft pick Rich Moore, who had replaced Ron Kostelnik. He missed two games in 1971 and 1972 before starting all 14 games from 1973 to 1976.

After having 8.5 sacks in 1976 he was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 1978 No. 1 draft pick (#26) - which was used to draft one of the greatest outside linebackers in Green Bay Packers history John Anderson, who retired as the all-time leading tacklers before A.J. Hawk surpassed him - defensive lineman Herb McMath and 1979 #3 draft pick (#103), which was used to draft tight end Don Warren, who was cut and signed with the Washington Redskins where he spent 14 seasons.

McCoy spent two years with the Raiders before being traded to New York Giants for a 1980 seventh round pick (#173) - wide receiver Malcom Barnwell. He played just five games with two starts before going on the injured reserve with a torn thigh muscle after the second game of the 1980 season. After being waived he signed with the Detroit Lions later that season and played in four games. He retired during the off-season.

He is President of Mike McCoy Ministries and lectures on the importance of good decision-making, fighting drug addiction, and empowering youth.



Mike P. McCoy and Mike McCarthy at Lambeau Field Oct. 19, 2015

The third one was Mike P. McCoy the head coach of the San Diego Chargers. In case you're wondering I couldn't find what the P. stands for or what his jersey number was.

He was an undrafted quarterback out of Long Beach State in 1995, who originally signed by the Denver Broncos. He was cut during training camp and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers, where he was inactive for one game.

He was then signed by Packers when both Brett Favre and Ty Detmer was hurt spending 10 weeks on the practice squad.

He was not re-signed and spent two seasons with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League. He was then signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998, but was waived during training camp. He then spend the 1999 season with the Calgary Stampeders.

He started his coaching career the next season spending 2000 to 2009 as an assistant with the Carolina Panthers. He moved to the Denver Broncos as an assistant from 2010 to 2012 and has been head coach of the Chargers for the last three seasons.

The Next Mike McCoy In The NFL

The next Mike McCoy in the NFL is a 6-3, 220 lbs. running back from Topeka High School in Kansas, who just signed to play next season with Kansas State. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 24 TDs as a senior and rushing for 1,093 yards and 21 TDs his junior year.
If history is an indicator of future happenings then this Mike McCoy will be drafted by the Packers in the 2019 draft or signed at some time.

Mike McCoy Baseball Player

Just in case you are wondering and I was about other Mike McCoy's in professional sports. There has never been a Mike McCoy in either the NBA or the NHL, but there was one Mike McCoy to have even played in Major League Baseball. He was an outfielder, shortstop and second baseman from San Diego that played 12 games with the Colorado Rockies in 2009 and 158 games for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2010 to 2012.

Mike McCoy Golfer

There has have been a Mike McCoy in professional golf, as far as I could find, but I did find an amateur golfer who is an insurance executive from West Des Moines, Iowa, who is the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and a member of the 2015 Walker Cup team.

There is also a professional poker player named Mike McCoy from Seattle, who ranks 16,563 on the all-time money list. I also found a rodeo bulldogger from 1971 named Mike McCoy and a track Mike McCoy, who was a shot put and discus thrower for the Rosedale Racers Club in Bakersfield, California in 2009.

I couldn't find any Mike McCoy's in professional wrestling, tennis, jai alai, or bowling, but I did find a 17-year old possible future professional volleyball player Mike McCoy from Rundle Academy in Calgary.

Mike 'Mouse' McCoy Motorcycle Racer & Stunt Man & Director

Finally, there is Mike "Mouse" McCoy, who was a professional motorcycle racer and stunt man. He is currently a film director, producer, and chief executive officer of the multimedia studio Bandito Brothers.