Kim McQuilken

Last updated

Kim McQuilken
Kim McQuilken.jpg
No. 11
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1951-02-26) February 26, 1951 (age 73)
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: William Allen
(Allentown, PA)
College: Lehigh
NFL draft: 1974  / round: 3 / pick: 69
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Kim McQuilken (born February 26, 1951) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins and the USFL with the Washington Federals. His business career includes over 20 years as a football color commentator on radio and TV and two decades as a senior sales and marketing executive with Ted Turner’s Turner Broadcasting System. [1]

Contents

Early life

McQuilken was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and attended William Allen High School. He started as quarterback during his junior and senior seasons. During his senior year, McQuilken suffered a fractured clavicle in a pre-season scrimmage and missed the first three games.

Lehigh University

McQuilken was offered only one football scholarship after high school.  The offer was from Lehigh University and Head Coach Fred Dunlap.  Lehigh had not had a winning season in the previous 10 years.  Moreover, Lehigh employed a ground offensive attack not suited to McQuilken’s passing skills. But Fred Dunlap convinced McQuilken the passing game would open up if he enrolled at Lehigh. The coach was true to his word [1]

In 1971, McQuilken’s sophomore season the team posted its first winning record in over a decade going 8-3 and setting numerous offensive records. McQuilken passed for over 2,000 yards in ‘71 setting new Lehigh records for yardage, attempts, and completions. By the middle of his junior year (1972) McQuilken would own every Lehigh game, season, and career passing record. In his 1973 senior season, Lehigh went 7-3-1 and won the Lambert Cup. [1]

Lehigh was selected as one of 16 D-LL teams invited to the first-ever NCAA D-LL national playoffs. The 1973 seniors at Lehigh graduated with a 3-0 record vs archival Lafayette College. McQuilken was the first-ever two-time winner of the game’s MVP trophy. [2]

McQuilken was named 3rd-Team All-American by the AP in 1972 and would be a consensus 1st-Team All-American in his senior year (1973) including the AP and Kodak Coaches All-American teams. He was also named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC) player of the year in 1973 as well as The New York Times 1st team All-East QB (across all division levels). He was recognized as team MVP in 1973 and Lehigh University awarded McQuilken the Undergraduate Merit Award in 1974 for bringing recognition to the University. McQuilken graduated with career stats of 516 completions, 6,996 yards, and 37 touchdowns in his three years of eligibility all Lehigh records at the time. McQuilken was chosen to play in the North-South Shrine Game held annually on Christmas night in the Orange Bowl. He was also on invitation lists to the Coaches’ All-America Bowl in Lubbock, Texas, and the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco. While playing in the North-South game, McQuilken tore his MCL and declined the remaining Bowl invitations. In 1995, McQuilken was inducted into the Roger Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

NFL

McQuilken was selected in the third round (69th pick) of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. [9] He was the third quarterback chosen in the 1974 draft and was also drafted in the second round by the Memphis Southmen of the World Football League. McQuilken ultimately signed a three-year contract with the Falcons. He was initially slotted behind starting Quarterback Bob Lee and former Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan with former Quarterback and Hall of Famer Norm Van Brocklin as head coach. The team got off to a 2-6 start in the 1974 season and the coach was terminated mid-season. DC Marion Campbell was named interim coach and began to work McQuilken into the rotation. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

McQuilken played in five games in the 1974 season (his rookie season ) including the final two as starter. With the season-ending 3-11 record, none of the Falcons QBs experienced much success. McQuilken posted no TDs vs 9 inceptions while starter Bob Lee would end the season with 3 TD passes and 14 interceptions. Pat Sullivan would add 3 TDs and 8 interceptions. [10] [11]

Out of football for three years, McQuilken joined the Washington Federals of the United States Football League in their 1983 inaugural season and emerged as their opening-day starter. Ultimately, he would complete 188-for-334 passes for 1,912 yards, seven touchdowns, and 14 interceptions for the season. However, the Feds would finish just 4–14 in front of small crowds, and the 32-year-old McQuilken retired.[ citation needed ]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesPassingRushingSacksFumbles
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDInt Rtg AttYdsAvgTDSckYdsFumLost
1974 ATL 521–1347943.03734.70918.0210.50911300
1975 ATL 320–2206132.82533.11912.64266.5054530
1976 ATL 831–24812139.74503.721021.79262.901716460
1977 ATL 700–05771.4476.710129.22-1-0.500000
1979 WSH 300–01425.0123.00125.02-3-1.500000
Career 2672–510827239.71,1354.242917.919492.603132290

After football

McQuilken went on to become executive vice president of Cartoon Network, before leaving the network in 2006 to set up his own sports and entertainment marketing and licensing consulting business. [15]

Notes

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    The team lured Ray Jauch to be its head coach; he had previously guided the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers to success in the Canadian Football League. At the time he was the fourth-winningest coach in CFL history. The Federals initially made a splash by signing running back Craig James, one half of the famous "Pony Express" backfield at SMU. More than any other team in the league, the Federals seemed dogged by inconsistency, bad timing, and terrible luck. A week before the season even began, their player personnel expert bolted to the NFL's New York Jets. The team changed quarterbacks almost weekly, with in-game quarterback changes in a number of games. Jauch's biggest mistake was probably giving the opening day starter, NFL veteran Kim McQuilken, the quick hook for rookie quarterback Mike Hohensee. From there the team never seemed to settle in with a quarterback for more than a few games in a row, and when McQuilken did play, he often pressed, forcing his throws into coverage. The team alternated between McQuilken and Hohensee, with occasional appearances by former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam, who was far past his prime; he had last played a meaningful professional down in 1975, and he only threw for 673 yards. The only other quarterback on the team was rookie Mike Forslund, who never played.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Lehigh alumnus and NFL quarterback reflects on collegiate and professional career". The Brown and White. November 14, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
    2. ↑ "LEHIGH DEFEATS LAFAYETTE, 14-6". The New York Times. November 19, 1972. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 31, 2024.
    3. ↑ Russel, Jake (April 15, 2022). "As the USFL restarts, a look back at the Washington Federals' wild ride". Washington Post.
    4. ↑ "Today's Football at a Glance". The New York Times. September 15, 1973. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    5. ↑ Times, Alex Yannis Special to The New York (September 21, 1973). "New Jersey Sports". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    6. ↑ "Lehigh Wallops Lafayette, 45-13, For 7th Success". The New York Times. November 18, 1973. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    7. ↑ "The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida". Newspapers.com. November 28, 1973. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    8. ↑ Clemson University. Clemson University Football Programs. Clemson University Libraries. Clemson University.
    9. ↑ "Kim McQuilken - USFL (United States Football League)". www.usflsite.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    10. 1 2 Reinhard, Paul (February 4, 2017). "For former Lehigh and Falcons QB Kim McQuilken and his wife, Super Bowl is serious business". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
    11. 1 2 "Falcons Pass Pickets and Beat Eagles". The New York Times. August 5, 1974. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    12. ↑ Wallace, William N. (January 29, 1975). "Falcons Choose California Passer". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    13. ↑ Times, Deane McGowen Special to The New York (October 20, 1973). "Last-Minute Pass by Penn Defeats Lehigh, 27-20". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    14. ↑ Ap (May 6, 1981). "McQuilken Retires". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
    15. ↑ Eggerton, John. "McQuilken Exiting Cartoon". www.broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
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