Longtime Tennessee Titans tight end and key player in the legendary “Music City Miracle” play Frank Wycheck has died at the age of 52. The former star tight end was a key member of the Titans franchise as it moved from Houston to Nashville, as well as perhaps the best tight end in franchise history.
His PR team and his family released a statement Sunday confirmed the news.
It is with great sadness that Frank Wycheck's family has confirmed his death. He was born Frank John Wycheck on October 14, 1971 and passed away at his home on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at the age of 52.
Frank Wycheck spent 11 seasons in the NFL (1993-2003), primarily with the Tennessee Titans.
At this point, Wycheck appears to have fallen and hit his head at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Saturday morning. In the afternoon he was found unresponsive.
Wycheck moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, last summer to be closer to his family. He leaves behind two adult daughters, Deanna and Madison, both married, and three grandchildren – Leo, Stevie and August.
At his request, the family plans to collaborate with experts on ongoing brain injury (TBI) and CTE research. Funeral services have not been held at this time.
The Wycheck family appreciates the love and support they have received but asks the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Thank you very much.
Wycheck was originally a sixth-round pick of the Washington Redskins out of Maryland in 1993. After being released in 1995, he was traded to the Houston Oilers, where he starred before the franchise's move to Tennessee.
In 137 career games for the Titans/Oilers, Wycheck caught 482 passes for 4,958 yards and 27 touchdowns. Wycheck will be remembered as a key role in the “Music City Miracle,” one of the greatest plays in NFL history. In the wild card game between the Titans and Buffalo Bills in 1999, Wycheck threw a lateral pass to wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who ran it 75 yards to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Thanks to this miracle, the Titans represented the AFC in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Wycheck is currently No. 7 on the Titans' all-time receiver list. After football, he spent time as an anchor on 104.5 The Zone and as a color commentator for Titans games before leaving the booth in 2017.