Phil McConkey

Philip Joseph McConkey (born February 24, 1957 in Buffalo, New York) attended Canisius High School, where he played wide receiver for the varsity football team and graduated in the class of 1975, is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants (1984–1988), Green Bay Packers (1986), Phoenix Cardinals (1989), and San Diego Chargers (1989) of the National Football League.

Football career
Before his NFL career, McConkey played college football at the United States Naval Academy, catching 56 passes for 1,028 yards, while also gaining 1,039 special teams return yards and scoring 13 touchdowns (10 rec, 2 rush, 1 punt return). He then served four years in the U.S. Navy as an officer before signing with the Giants as a 27-year-old rookie. He was the first navy midshipman to join the NFL after four full years of service since Roger Staubach in 1969.

In his six NFL seasons, McConkey was used as a reserve receiver, and frequently returned punts and kickoffs on special teams. Statistically, his best season was in 1985, when he caught 25 passes for 404 yards, returned 53 punts for 442 yards, and gained 234 yards returning kickoffs.

McConkey is best remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XXI after the Giants' 1986 season, which they won 39-20 over the Denver Broncos. In the game, his 25-yard punt return set up a New York field goal. Then on the Giants next drive, his 44-yard reception on a flea flicker play gave New York a first down on Denver's one-yard line, setting up a touchdown on the next play. In the fourth quarter, McConkey caught a six-yard touchdown reception after the pass bounced off the fingertips of tight end Mark Bavaro. Overall, McConkey contributed 50 receiving yards, 25 punt return yards, and one touchdown in the Giants victory. He also caught a 28-yard touchdown pass in New York's divisional playoff win over the San Francisco 49ers a few weeks earlier.

McConkey was a fan favorite because during home games he would occasionally run out on to the field before the game or after halftime waving a towel inspiring the crowd. He also was known among fans as a solid punt returner that would hold on to the ball and run straight into defenders after other players failed at the position.

While running off the field during the celebration following the victory in Super Bowl XXI, McConkey spotted a handgun on the field. He picked up the weapon, which was subsequently taken by a security officer who in turn returned it to the police officer who was unaware it was missing. The officer had lost the weapon while struggling with a fan who had jumped onto the field.

McConkey finished his 6 NFL seasons with 67 receptions for 1,113 yards and two touchdowns, 228 punt returns for 1,832 yards, and 69 kickoff returns for 1,324 yards in 84 games.

Political life
In 1990, McConkey ran for the United States House of Representatives for the 12th Congressional District of New Jersey, encompassing parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset, Morris and Warren counties. The seat was a heavily Republican district and was being vacated by incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Courter. In the Republican primary, McConkey was defeated by Dick Zimmer, who won the recently vacated seat in the November General Election. Zimmer received 37.7% of the vote to McConkey's 30.8%. Future congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, the scion of a powerful political family, would finish third. There are no run-off elections in New Jersey.