John Mackey Award Winners Year by Year

The John Mackey Award is an annual college football award, presented to the best tight end in the game. The Nassau County Sports Commission established the award in 2000, and it is given every year to the tight end who most closely resembles Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey in terms of play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values.

Sportswriters and former players, including Charles Arbuckle, Phil Steele, Tim Stratton, Dallas Clark, and D. J. Williams, among others, make up the selection committee that selects the winner. The award is a part of the National College Football Awards Association, which is made up of the most prominent awards in college football. According to former Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary, "all tight ends dream of winning" this award.

The 2023 John Mackey Award Winner

The John Mackey Award winner for 2023 was Brock Bowers, former tight end for Georgia football. His victory is historic because, according to the SEC Network on X, he is the first player in history to win the award twice during his college career.

The semifinalists for the 2023 John Mackay Award were AJ Barner (Michigan), Brock Bowers (Georgia), Dallin Holker (Colorado State), Theo Johnson (Penn State), Bryson Nesbit (North Carolina), Ja’Tavion Sanders (Texas), Ben Sinnott (Kansas State), Cade Stover (Ohio State), and Jack Velling (Oregon State). Out of which, the top three finalists were Cade Srover (OSU), Brock Bowers (UGA), and Dallin Holker (CSU).

Last season, Bowers managed 56 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games. In 2022, he played in fifteen games and recorded 63 receptions for 942 yards and seven touchdowns when he won the John Mackey Award.

In addition to his stats, Bowers is a two-time national champion, a three-time first-team All-SEC selection, a former SEC Freshman of the Year, and a first-team All-American. This year, Bowers wasn't the only Bulldog to win an award. Sedrick Van Pran-Granger took home the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, and Ladd McConkey, a wide receiver, was awarded the Wuerffel Trophy in recognition of his exceptional community service.

Who is John Mackey?

John Mackey was an American football player who played tight end for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers. He was born on September 24, 1941, and passed away on July 6, 2011. Born in Roosevelt, New York, he went to Syracuse University for his education.

From 1970 to 1973, he presided over the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) as its first president, having been elected prior to the AFL-NFL merger. The NFLPA's "88 Plan," which provides financial support to former players who need living assistance in later life, was largely developed owing in part to Mackey.

As the second pure tight end elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, Mackey was a five-time Pro Bowler and is considered one of the all-time great tight ends. In 1999, Mackey was placed 48th on The Sporting News' list of "The 100 Greatest Football Players." In addition, he was ranked 42nd out of the "Top 100 Football Players" by the NFL Network in 2010.

Mackey's alma mater, Syracuse University, retired jersey number 88 in his honor on September 15, 2007. On July 6, 2011, Mackey passed away at the age of 69. A Boston University study on his brain revealed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This disease, which is brought on by repeated head trauma, was identified in at least 345 NFL players after their deaths. He was inducted as an athlete, posthumously, into the Nassau County High School Athletic Hall of Fame on September 27, 2017.

List of John Mackey Award Winners Year by Year