Recall the Titans: Reflections of Deceased Members of the Super Bowl XXXIV Squad A Memorable Look Back at All the Changes
Las Vegas: In what has been an incredible season so far, are the Titans still capable of pulling off a miracle?
If so, they require it right away.
Christie takes it to the next level. At the 25, Lorenzo Neal fields Gonna by and gives Wycheck a backswing.
Dedicated supporters of the Tennessee Titans are familiar with every detail of Mike Keith’s declaration of the Music City Miracle on January 8, 2000, marking the beginning of an incredible postseason campaign.
The Titans’ incredible victory over the Bills propelled them to Super Bowl XXXIV, which was undoubtedly the greatest day in team history.
For many Titans and their supporters, the heartache of coming up one yard short of forcing overtime against the St. Louis Rams still lingers nearly 25 years later.
Even more agonizing to consider, though, is the fact that more and more of the heroes from that incredible season are gone, like Frank Wycheck, whose cross-field lateral to Kevin Dyson started the play and the postseason run.
Members of that 1999 squad say that, in the lead-up to this weekend’s Super Bowl, the loss of their friends and teammates is a sobering reminder to live each day to the fullest.
Neal, a fullback on that team, said, “It’s surreal to think about it.” “I recall a line from Kung Fu Panda that goes, ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.’ I watched that with my kids. But live it up—today is a gift. And that’s really appropriate because you never know what comes to mind when you think about Frank, Steve McNair, any of our teammates from that squad, or life in general.
“You look at how young those guys were, and all of them who died for that team are no longer with us. It is depressing. As you look at it, you feel both grateful and depressed about how things have changed for all of us. Young men, we’ve been afflicted and perplexed. My perspective on things has completely changed. I believe that as you age, your appreciation for life increases. All you need to do is make the most of each moment.”
53-year-old Neal is in the Bay Area for Super Bowl LVIII as an analyst for 95.7 The Game and CSN TV. In addition to being a motivational speaker, Neal recently delivered a speech on the value of team building. He cited the Music City Miracle as an illustration of a group that pulled together when there didn’t seem to be any hope left.
Twenty-four years ago, on the game’s last play, Kevin Dyson was tackled at the one-yard line, bringing the Titans’ historic season to an end.
But that’s not the conclusion Neal imagines these days.
“Now, when I watch replays, and highlights of that game, I think about all the guys that are no longer with us,” Neal continued. “You see them (on replays) and it’s like, Oh my God, some of my guys, they’re really not here any more, and it’s heartbreaking.”
Wycheck became the most recent member of that 1999 team to die in December.
He became a member of a group of men who, prior to their tragic passing, had a profound influence on the franchise.
-The beloved quarterback for the Titans, Steve McNair, passed away in 2009 at the age of 36. On the last drive of Super Bowl XXXIV, McNair’s bravery and tenacity were on full display, making him the team’s heart and soul.
Josh Evans, a defensive lineman, died of cancer in 2021 at the age of 48. Evans had a warm smile and a boisterous personality. He seemed to be enjoying every second despite having overcome so much to reach the pinnacle of success.
-Reversing course 2014 saw the death of 41-year-old Rodney Thomas from a heart attack. Thomas was a successful third-down back with a strong work ethic and leadership qualities both on and off the field.
Wycheck was discovered dead at the age of 52. According to a family statement, Wycheck appeared to have struck his head after falling inside his Chattanooga house. He was discovered to be non-responsive.
Wycheck is renowned for both his excellent on-field performance and his amiable, approachable demeanor. Everyone was affected by the final image of Wycheck on his knee as he watched the confetti rain down from the sky at the Georgia Dome during Super Bowl XXXIV.
Wycheck once described the experience as “just trying to take it all in and use it as motivation to work hard and try and get back.”
former tackle for the Titans The 53-year-old Brad Hopkins said the Titans were having a blast at the time.
He acknowledged how much has changed and how quickly time has passed, saying he thinks back to his playing days and teammates frequently.
Twenty-five years later, life and your perspective on it are entirely different from when you were younger and all of the things you imagined would happen in your life, Hopkins said.
It’s not ideal to start burying friends when they’re mid-50s or younger, but that’s the reality. When you think back and reflect, you can never imagine losing teammates or people who have been important in your life, and certainly not this soon. This is true whether it is illness or just life itself. It’s strange to consider.
When we were all teammates back then, many of us in our twenties, we believed we were unbeatable. We play in the NFL for God’s sake, so sickness and gunshots won’t stop us,” Hopkins said. However, that is untrue. I tell all these little kids playing today to cherish it, man, because of this. Treasure everything about it. You will experience changes in life; nothing remains the same.”
Eddie George, a running back for the Titans, stated that the memories of those teammates and that particular period of his life help him get through the hard reality.
Other notable figures from that historic 1999 season have also passed away:
-K.S. “Bud” Adams, the owner, passed away in 2013.
-Flat Reese, general manager, who built that Titans team, passed away
