"Max Who?"

He drew little attention during the 1966 NFL season, but he was no stranger to headline fame. Born in Sexton City, Texas on July 16th 1932, he was the first high school football player to ever rush for over 3,000 yards in a single season. Following his college football career at Tulane, the Packers drafted him in the 5th round of the 1954 NFL draft.

In his rookie season, he led the NFL in punting while grabbing 36 passes for over 600 yards and scoring 9 touchdowns. He would miss the next two seasons to become a pilot in the USAF, but immediately returned to Green Bay resuming his football career.

He was the bright spot in a rather dismal 1958 Packer season, (they went 1-10-1), as he was their leading receiver. In fact, he led all Green Bay receivers four years running, from 1958-1962. He was selected to the NFL's Pro Bowl team in 1961. All together, he made 345 receptions, for over 6,000 yards, and scored 51 touchdowns in a 12 year career. He also punted 251 times for more than 10,000 yards in special teams play.

His name was Max Mcgee, the 1966 back up tight end for the super star Green Bay Packers. Nearing the end of his notable NFL career, Max had caught only 4 passes for 91 yards and 1 touchdown during the regular season. However, the Packers went 12-2 that year and were headed for a show down with the AFL champ Kansas City Chiefs in the very first Super Bowl in professional football history.

The night before the game, Mcgee was "out on the town," living it up while breaking his team's curfew. On game day, he was heard telling the regular tight end, Boyd Dowler, "I hope you don't get hurt, I'm not in very good shape." He was so sure he wouldn't play that he even left his helmet in the locker room!

However, it seems the football "gods" were not done with Max Mcgee. One more exclamation point was to be tallied by his name, the most famous afternoon of his entire career! It was during the Packer's second offensive drive of the game that Boyd Dowler went down to injury...a separated shoulder. Our "party animal," hangover and all, was summoned from the bench. Borrowing a helmet, he trotted on to the field...meeting up with a date in history no one could have foreseen; least of all Max Mcgee!

Just a couple of plays later, the aging Mcgee made a one handed catch of a Bart Starr pass, managed to slip by the Chief's Fred Williamson, and rumbled 37 yards for a score. It was the first touchdown in Super Bowl history! By games end, Mcgee had eclipsed his entire regular season totals, grabbing 7 passes for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers finished off a dominating year, beating Kansas City 35-10 that day.

Max Mcgee had turned back the clock that afternoon, capturing yet another headline. Even though Bart Starr was the game's MVP, Max Mcgee had once again tasted the glory that had been his so often in years past. Following his playing career, he began broadcasting Green Bay games on the radio, capping a 35 year association with the Packers.

In 2007, Max Mcgee died from injuries sustained as a result of a fall at his home. He was 75 years old. He will be sorely missed on both sides of the broadcast booth.

Learn more about this author, Steve Jeffries.
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