Music City Miracle & Frank Wycheck’s best Titans moments
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans legendary tight end Frank Wycheck tragically passed away in his Chattanooga home this weekend at 52 years of age. Wycheck spent 11 seasons in the NFL and played with the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans from 1995-2003. He was a beloved member of the Tennessee sports community, and will always be […]
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans legendary tight end Frank Wycheck tragically passed away in his Chattanooga home this weekend at 52 years of age.
Wycheck spent 11 seasons in the NFL and played with the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans from 1995-2003. He was a beloved member of the Tennessee sports community, and will always be remembered for his iconic moments both on and off the field.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments of Wycheck’s great Titans career.
1 – The Music City Miracle
The Music City Miracle. Of course. The most iconic and memorable play in franchise history that would not have happened without Frank Wycheck.
With just 16 seconds remaining in an AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills at Nashvilles' Adelphia Coliseum, the Titans were on the ropes. Tennessee was trailing 16-15 and would have one last gasp to try and save their 13-3 season.
Bills' kicker Steve Christie had just drilled a 41-yard field goal to put Buffalo on top with seconds remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Christie kicked the ball high and short trying to prevent a long return.
The ball was fielded by fullback Lorenzo Neal, who handed the ball back to Wycheck. With the Bills chasing him to the right side of the field, Wycheck would turn and throw the ball across his body and the field, landing it in the arms of wide receiver Kevin Dyson with room to run.
Dyson ran 75-yards down the left sideline and snuck into the end zone on one of the craziest plays football has ever seen. A trick play executed to perfection by Wycheck and Dyson that forever cemented them as Titans legends.
2 – 2003 NFL Playoffs
In Wycheck's second to last NFL season, he helped the Titans win the AFC South with an 11-5 record. That was also enough to get the number two seed and a bye in the AFC Playoff bracket.
On January 11th, 2003, the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Nashville playing for a trip to the AFC Championship Game.
Pittsburgh's run defense was the best in the league that season, allowing just 85.9 rushing yards per game to opponents. They kept it up in grand fashion that day by holding Eddie George and Robert Holcombe to a combined 50 rushing yards on 26 carries…But the Steelers had no answer for Frank Wycheck that afternoon.
Wycheck was targeted 13 times by quarterback Steve McNair during the game, hauling in 10 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee would go on to win the game in overtime and advance to the AFC Championship Game.
3 – 1999 Regular Season Finale
Just before the Music City Miracle cemented his place in Titans history, Wycheck scored two touchdowns in one game for the first time in his NFL career.
Tennessee finished the 1999 season on a four-game wining streak that was capped off by 47-36 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It gave the Titans 13-3 record for the 1999 season.
Wycheck had not caught a touchdown pass all season, but hauled in five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns that afternoon. Six days later, the Music City Miracle happened.
4 – NFL Record Holder
Wycheck had his fair share of receptions and touchdowns in a Titans uniform. He was also widely regarded as one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the sport. But Wycheck is also an NFL record holder as a passer.
Wycheck is the only tight end in NFL history (besides Taysom Hill) to throw two touchdown passes. Bubba Franks, Ken Dilger, and Pete Holohan all have one career passing touchdown, but Wycheck did it on two separate occasions.
One came in a Week 14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons during the 1999 season when Wycheck connected with Issac Byrd for a 61-yard touchdown. The other was in Week 2 of the 2000 season. Tennessee defeated Kansas City with the help of a 30-yard touchdown pass from Wycheck to Kevin Dyson.
Makes a lot of sense why Wycheck was the choice to throw the ball on the Music City Miracle play.
5 – Original Tennessee Titans Uniform Unveiling
While it may not be an on-field accomplishment of Wycheck, his involvement in the 1999 Tennessee Titans' uniform unveiling really speaks to his legacy in the Nashville community.
After renaming and rebranding the Tennessee Oilers to the Titans in the 1999 offseason, Wycheck was chosen by Bud Adams to represent the franchise alongside Eddie George and Craig Hentrich in the team's new jersey reveal.
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