Mike Quick

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Quick's early years were rooted in Richmond County, North Carolina, where his family moved from North Yard to a public housing project on the south side of Hamlet. He displayed multi-sport dominance at Richmond Senior High School in Rockingham, helping the football team win the 1978 state championship and leading the basketball team as a senior scorer while earning a spot on the state champion 4x100 relay track squad. His high school excellence earned him induction into the inaugural class of the Raider Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. After playing college football for the NC State Wolfpack, he entered the NFL as a surprise first-round pick in 1982. The connection between Quick and quarterback Ron Jaworski became legendary, highlighted by the overtime 99-yard touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on November 10, 1985. This play not only secured a win but also cemented their duo's place in history, tied with twelve other combinations for the NFL record. His career, though cut short by severe patella tendinitis, left an indelible mark on the franchise during his nine-season tenure.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Quick's playing career unfolded on November 10, 1985, against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. With the game hanging in the balance, Ron Jaworski launched a pass that traveled an incredible 99 yards to Mike Quick for a touchdown. The catch set a new Eagles team record and tied the existing NFL record for the longest touchdown reception by a quarterback-wide receiver pair, a feat matched by only twelve other combinations in league history. This specific play encapsulated the vertical threat Quick posed throughout his career, which saw him lead the entire NFL in receiving yards during the 1983 season with 1,409 yards. He followed that up with another top-tier performance in 1985, finishing second in the league with 1,247 yards. His consistency earned him Pro Bowl selections five years in a row from 1983 through 1987. Despite his physical dominance and statistical success, Quick's time on the field ended prematurely due to severe patella tendinitis, forcing his retirement after nine seasons.

Reader's Guide

Mike Quick's path began in North Carolina, where he excelled at Richmond Senior High School before playing college football for the NC State Wolfpack. Drafted in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, he immediately became a cornerstone of their offense. His statistical peak arrived early; in his second season (1983), he led the league with 1,409 receiving yards. He maintained this elite status for five consecutive years, earning Pro Bowl honors from 1983 to 1987. In 1985 alone, he recorded 1,247 yards and made history on November 10 with a 99-yard touchdown catch from Ron Jaworski in overtime against the Falcons. This play remains an Eagles team record and stands as a tied NFL record for longest QB-WR touchdown combination. His career concluded after nine seasons due to severe patella tendinitis. In his post-playing life, Quick returned to the Philadelphia area, residing in Marlton, New Jersey, where he has served as a color commentator on WIP-FM 94.1 alongside Merrill Reese since 1998.

Did You Know?

• Quick caught a 99-yard touchdown pass in overtime on November 10, 1985, which tied the NFL record for the longest touchdown reception by a quarterback-wide receiver combination.
• He was selected as a surprise first-round pick by the Eagles in the 1982 NFL draft after playing college football at NC State.
• Quick served as an assistant football coach character named Coach Ike Fast on Season 5, Episode 14 of The Goldbergs, which aired on February 28, 2018.
• He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Richmond Senior High School Raider Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
• Quick has been a color commentator for Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcasts alongside Merrill Reese since 1998.