Wade Key

Allan Wade Key (born October 14, 1946) is a former professional American football guard and offensive tackle in the National Football League who played ten seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1970–1979. After playing college football for Southwest Texas State University, he was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Eagles. He was named to the Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team in 2007.

Early years

Key attended Edison High School in San Antonio, Texas.^[1] He lettered in football and track and field. In the Hub City Relays in Alice, Texas, in 1963, Key placed fifth in the discus.^[2] He played tight end in football,^[3] and was selected to an all-star team for the Texas High School Coaches Association clinic in 1964.^[4]

College career

After graduating high school, Key played college football for Southwest Texas State University as a starting tight end.^[5] In track and field, he placed first in the shot put during the Lone Star Conference finals with 54 feet 3.25 inches (16.54 metres) in May 1967.^[6] He finished fourth in the discus in the finals.^[6] In the Texas Relays in April 1968, Key placed third in the shot put with 55 feet 9.5 inches (17.01 metres).^[7] He was inducted into the Texas State Bobcats Hall of Honor in 1983.^[8]

Professional career

Key was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the thirteenth round (314th overall) of the 1969 NFL Draft.^[9] He signed a contract with the team on February 16,^[10] but he was released before the start of the 1969 season on September 2, 1969.^[11] He spent the season on the team's taxi squad and played for the Pottstown Firebirds of the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) during his tenure.^[12] The Firebirds won the ACFL championship in 1969.^[12]

After starting at left offensive tackle from 1970 to 1972, and missing only one game in that span,^[13] Key was moved to left guard for the 1973 season.^[14] He played in 12 games in 1973,^[13] missing two due to injury,^[15] and all 14 games in 1974,^[13] despite suffering hand and thumb injuries in a game against the Washington Redskins.^[16] During the 1975 season, he suffered a knee injury during mini-camp in May that required surgery,^[17] a dislocated toe in the first game of the season against the New York Giants that was thought to take at least six weeks to recover from,^[18] and a fractured forearm in practice on October 16 that also required surgery. He was placed on injured reserve due to the broken arm on October 17^[19] after playing in only two games during the season.^[13] From 1976 to 1978, he played in 40 games and started in 39 of them.^[13]

In 1979, Key was the Eagles' longest-tenured player with ten seasons played.^[20] After missing six games in 1979 due to hamstring and groin injuries, and undergoing surgery to remove calcium deposits in his leg, he was waived by the team on September 1, 1980.^[9]

Key finished his career with 121 games played,^[13] and was selected as a member of a 75th anniversary team in honor of the Eagles' 75th season in 2007.^[21]

After football

After his NFL career was over, Key was a track and football coach for more than seventeen years for John Jay High School and Sam Houston High School in San Antonio.^[3][22] He was the offensive coordinator at Sam Houston.^[22]

References