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Max McGee Leaves Behind an Indelible Mark on Football History

Matty Byloos |Oct 31,2007

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Max McGee Leaves Behind an Indelible Mark on Football History

Former Green Bay Packer wide receiver William “Max” McGee died on October 20th after falling while clearing leaves from his roof. He was 75. While McGee’s name may not be familiar to casual football fans, he has a firm place in Green Bay Packer legend.

McGee’s claim to fame comes from his being the first player to ever catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. McGee’s one handed grab of a Bart Starr pass and subsequent 37 yard charge into the end zone was captured on film and has no doubt been viewed many times by Packer fans, but the legend has even more notoriety due to events leading up to the game.

McGee, a running back and kick returner at Tulane who was both a punter and wide receiver in the NFL, began his professional career in 1954. While he had a number of impressive seasons and even reached the Pro Bowl in 1961, his career was on the wane in the 1966-1967 season. Although the team amassed a 12-2 record on their way to a Super Bowl I clash with the Kansas City Chiefs, McGee was able to contribute little to their success, and was convinced that he would not see any action in the Super Bowl, as Boyd Dowler had proven a more than capable starter at his position. This being the case, McGee spent the night before the Super Bowl out on the town, celebrating with little regard to what his condition would be for the next day’s game.

Fatefully for McGee, Dowler separated his shoulder during the Packers second drive, and McGee got the call. McGee was so confident that he would not be called upon to play that he hadn’t even brought his helmet out from the locker room, and had to borrow one from a teammate. Still reeling from the previous night’s festivities, McGee went on not only to catch the history-making touchdown, but to reel off seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns, as Green Bay captured the first AFL-NFL championship by a score of 35-10.

McGee caught a touchdown in Super Bowl II as well before retiring from professional football for good. McGee remained a part of the Packers family for years afterward, serving as a radio color commentator for Packer games. He gave back to the community as well, founding the Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes in 1999. Although Max McGee is gone, he will never be forgotten, especially within the annals of Green Bay football.