McCareins in November 2008 |
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| No. -- Free Agent | |
| Wide receiver[1] | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: December 1, 1978 [2] | |
| Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | Weight: 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Northern Illinois | |
| NFL Draft: 2001 / Round: 4 / Pick: 124 | |
| Debuted in 2001 for the Tennessee Titans | |
| Career history | |
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Justin Morgan McCareins[1] (born December 1, 1978)[2] is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northern Illinois.
McCareins also played for the New York Jets.
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He went to Peacock Middle School located in Itasca, Illinois. McCareins first attended Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois for one semester. He would then transfer to Naperville North High School where he was a teammate of future NFL running back Chris Brown. McCareins played college football at Northern Illinois University. He is the school's all-time leading receiver in terms of yards. He was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame during the Huskies game against Kent State on Oct. 8, 2011.
After being drafted by the Titans, in 2003 McCareins had a career year with the Tennessee Titans gaining over 800 yards receiving as a slot receiver, had a punt return for a touchdown, and had 1 rush for 13 yards. He also recorded 7 touchdowns. He played an important role for the titans, especially in their 2002-2003 playoff campaign. He set up the game winning field goal in overtime by catching a 31 and 22 yard passes from quarterback Steve McNair.
After the 2003 season, he was traded to the New York Jets.
McCareins tenure with the Jets was marked by his inability to catch the ball. This feat was highlighted in a 2007 loss to the Baltimore Ravens where he dropped two potential game-tying touchdowns in the final 2 minutes, the second culminating in an interception that clinched a Jets' loss. This performance earned him the nickname "McCan't Catch" by many Jets fans.
The Jets finally cut him after the 2007 season, the 4th year on his 7 year contract.
On March 12, 2008, McCareins re-joined the Titans on a one-year, $1 million contract after four seasons with the Jets. On September 21, 2008, McCareins caught a 17 yard pass from quarterback Kerry Collins, making Collins only the 15th player in NFL history to pass for over 30,000 yards.
McCareins is now reportedly not playing in the NFL, but living in Broward County, Florida, and pursuing a career in law enforcement.