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Ex-Bear QB Concannon dead at 62

November 30, 2005

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BOSTON -- Jack Concannon, who started at quarterback for the Bears during the late 1960s and early '70s, died Monday of a heart attack. He was 62.

Concannon died at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, son John J. Concannon III said Tuesday.

Concannon, a former Boston College star, played for the Eagles (1964-66), Bears (1967-71), Packers (1974) and Lions (1975). He passed for 6,270 yards and 36 touchdowns with 63 interceptions in 90 regular-season games in the NFL.

Concannon came to the Bears in a 1967 trade for tight end Mike Ditka, and he played in George Halas' last season as coach.

A strong 6-3, 205-pounder with a rifle arm but limited accuracy, Concannon never threw more touchdowns than interceptions in four seasons as the Bears' starter. He holds the dubious distinction of producing the worst passer rating in team history, a 31.3 in 1969, when the Bears bottomed out at 1-13.

He also was involved in one of the strangest quarterback snaps in NFL history in Game 2 of the 1969 season against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Concannon called for the snap on the first sound. But, at the line of scrimmage, Gale Sayers asked Concannon a question. Concannon turned around to respond, and center Mike Pyle snapped the ball. It went about 15 feet high, and Cardinals linebacker Larry Stallings caught it and went 62 yards for a touchdown. The Bears lost 20-17.

Concannon was acquitted of charges that he delivered cocaine to an undercover agent in 1982. He claimed he had been entrapped and admitted he was in financial straits.

In addition to his son, Concannon is survived by wife Ginny and daughters Kelly, Kara and Christa. A funeral is scheduled for Friday in Dorchester, Mass.

Sun-Times wires

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