Brian McConnell, Class of 1969
Brian’s football resume speaks volumes about dedication and respect. His two-year career on the Peddie gridiron culminated in the fall of 1968 when he captained the team and earned unanimous high-school All-American honors. As a two-way player under coach Ed Paul, he rarely stepped off the field during his team’s 6-2 season, which was highlighted by big wins over Lawrenceville and Blair. And under the inspirational and motivational guidance of line coach John ‘The Bear’ Jones, McConnell blossomed into one of the most recruited linemen in the country.
Brian went on to a great college career at Michigan State under Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty, earning All-Big Ten honors and play in postseason college all-star games. Upon graduation from MSU in 1973, he was beckoned from Spartan Stadium to the NFL. Drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills, he played a year at tight end before being traded to the Houston Oilers to play linebacker. He closed out his career in 1977 with the Miami Dolphins. From offensive tackle to tight end, from defensive end to linebacker, Brian developed into a mature multi-faceted player who could do it all; block, tackle, run and catch. Retiring after many productive years in the pros, Brian scored an MBA from Stanford en route to a successful business career.
With the glamour so often reserved for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs, the achievements of linemen too often go unnoticed … an occupational liability we are pleased to help overcome with the induction of Brian McConnell into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame.