# Wade Key

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American football player (born 1946)

Wade Key No. 76, 72 Positions Guard, Tackle Personal information Born (1946-10-14) October 14, 1946 (age 79) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Listed weight 245 lb (111 kg) Career information High school Edison (San Antonio) College Texas (1964-1966) Texas State (1967-1968) NFL draft 1969: 13th round, 314th overall pick Career history Pottstown Firebirds (1969) Philadelphia Eagles (1970–1979) Awards and highlights Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team Texas State Bobcats Hall of Honor (1983) Career NFL statistics Games played 121 Games started 115 Fumble recoveries 4 Stats at Pro Football Reference

**Allan Wade Key** (born October 14, 1946) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [guard](/source/Guard_(American_football)) and [offensive tackle](/source/Offensive_tackle) for 10 seasons with the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) from [1970](/source/1970_NFL_season) to [1979](/source/1979_NFL_season). After playing [college football](/source/College_football) for [Southwest Texas State University](/source/Texas_State_University%E2%80%93San_Marcos), he was selected in the 13th round of the [1969 NFL/AFL draft](/source/1969_NFL%2FAFL_draft) by the Eagles. He was named to the Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team in 2007.

## Early life

Key attended [Edison High School](/source/Edison_High_School_(San_Antonio%2C_Texas)) in [San Antonio, Texas](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Texas).[1] He [lettered](/source/Letterman_(sports)) in [football](/source/High_school_football) and [track and field](/source/Track_and_field). In the Hub City Relays in [Alice, Texas](/source/Alice%2C_Texas), in 1963, Key placed fifth in the [discus](/source/Discus).[2] He played [tight end](/source/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](/source/College_football) and competed in track and field for [Texas](/source/Texas_Longhorns_football) from 1964 to 1966, but after 3 years on the football team he had not lettered,[5] so he transferred to [Southwest Texas State University](/source/Texas_State_University-San_Marcos) where he became the starting tight end.[6] In track and field, he placed first in the [shot put](/source/Shot_put) during the [Lone Star Conference](/source/Lone_Star_Conference) finals with 54 feet 3.25 inches (16.54 metres) in May 1967.[7] He finished fourth in the [discus](/source/Discus) in the finals.[7] In the [Texas Relays](/source/Texas_Relays) in April 1968, Key placed third in the shot put with 55 feet 9.5 inches (17.01 metres).[8] He was inducted into the [Texas State Bobcats](/source/Texas_State_Bobcats) Hall of Honor in 1983.[9]

## Professional career

Key was selected by the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) in the 13th round (314th overall) of the [1969 NFL/AFL draft](/source/1969_NFL%2FAFL_draft).[10] He signed a contract with the team on February 16,[11] but he was released before the start of the [1969 season](/source/1969_Philadelphia_Eagles_season) on September 2, 1969.[12] He spent the season on the team's [taxi squad](/source/Taxi_squad) and played for the [Pottstown Firebirds](/source/Pottstown_Firebirds) of the [Atlantic Coast Football League](/source/Atlantic_Coast_Football_League) (ACFL) during his tenure.[13] The Firebirds won the ACFL championship in 1969.[13]

After starting at left [offensive tackle](/source/Offensive_tackle) from [1970](/source/1970_Philadelphia_Eagles_season) to [1972](/source/1972_Philadelphia_Eagles_season), and missing only one game in that span,[14] Key was moved to left [guard](/source/Guard_(American_football)) for the [1973 season](/source/1973_Philadelphia_Eagles_season).[15] He played in 12 games in 1973,[14] missing two due to injury,[16] and all 14 games in [1974](/source/1974_Philadelphia_Eagles_season),[14] despite suffering hand and thumb injuries in a game against the [Washington Redskins](/source/1974_Washington_Redskins_season).[17] During the [1975 season](/source/1975_Philadelphia_Eagles_season), he suffered a knee injury during [mini-camp](/source/Mini-camp) in May that required surgery,[18] a dislocated toe in the first game of the season against the [New York Giants](/source/1975_New_York_Giants_season) that was thought to take at least six weeks to recover from,[19] and a fractured forearm in practice on October 16 that also required surgery. He was placed on [injured reserve](/source/Injured_reserve) due to the broken arm on October 17[20] after playing in only two games during the season.[14] From [1976](/source/1976_Philadelphia_Eagles_season) to [1978](/source/1978_Philadelphia_Eagles_season), he played in 40 games and started in 39 of them.[14]

In [1979](/source/1979_Philadelphia_Eagles_season), Key was the Eagles' longest-tenured player with ten seasons played.[21] After missing six games in 1979 due to hamstring and groin injuries, and undergoing surgery to remove [calcium deposits](/source/Calcinosis_cutis) in his leg, he was waived by the team on September 1, 1980.[10]

Key finished his career with 121 games played,[14] and was selected as a member of a 75th anniversary team in honor of the Eagles' 75th season in [2007](/source/2007_Philadelphia_Eagles_season).[22]

## After football

After his NFL career was over, Key was a [track](/source/Track_and_field) and football coach for more than seventeen years for [John Jay High School](/source/John_Jay_High_School_(San_Antonio%2C_Texas)), Floresville Middle School, and [Sam Houston High School](/source/Sam_Houston_High_School_(San_Antonio%2C_Texas)) in San Antonio.[3][23] He was the [offensive coordinator](/source/Offensive_coordinator) at Sam Houston.[23]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Texas Gets Fourth Of All-Star Players"](https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald/1964-08-03/page-4/). *Del Rio News Herald*. August 3, 1964. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Corpus Ray Wins at Alice; Del Rio Team Finishes Fifth"](https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald/1963-03-17/page-4/). *Del Rio News Herald*. March 17, 1963. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SA_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SA_3-1) jbriggs (January 15, 2010). ["Wade Key shares fond memories of Reggie West"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120616054420/http://blog.mysanantonio.com/the-local-scene/2010/01/wade-key-shares-fond-memories-of-reggie-west/). *MySanAntonio.com*. Archived from [the original](http://blog.mysanantonio.com/the-local-scene/2010/01/wade-key-shares-fond-memories-of-reggie-west/) on June 16, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Cagers, Gridders Picked For All-Star Clinic Game"](https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald/1964-05-05/page-6/). *Del Rio News Herald*. May 5, 1964. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Wade Key"](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/k/key000600.html). Retrieved August 8, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["SWTexas Bobcats given 3rd place LSC rating"](https://newspaperarchive.com/seguin-gazette/1968-09-12/page-17/). *Sequin Gazette*. September 12, 1968. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Track_and_field_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Track_and_field_7-1) ["Fox Cracks BJ Record"](https://newspaperarchive.com/avalanche-journal/1967-05-13/page-27/). *Avalanche Journal*. May 13, 1967. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Texas Relays Summaries"](https://newspaperarchive.com/the-corpus-christi-caller-times/1968-04-07/page-31/). *The Corpus Christi Caller Times*. April 7, 1968. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Hall of Honor"](http://www.txstatebobcats.com/hof.aspx?hof=137). *TXStateBobcats.com*. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Waived_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Waived_10-1) ["Eagles Waive Veteran Wade Key"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CfYhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3416,533860). *[Reading Eagle](/source/Reading_Eagle)*. September 2, 1980. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Signs Key"](https://newspaperarchive.com/lebanon-daily-news/1969-02-17/page-13/). *[Lebanon Daily News](/source/Lebanon_Daily_News)*. February 17, 1969. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Huarte, Conjar Dropped by Eagles"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yNshAAAAIBAJ&sjid=baAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6644,541944). *Reading Eagle*. September 2, 1969. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-taxi_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-taxi_13-1) ["Eagles' Rookies Resume Drills"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hxBXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T0MNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6605,6711764). *Reading Eagle*. July 27, 1970. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-PFR_14-5) ["Wade Key"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KeyxWa20.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Olderman, Murray (September 10, 1974). ["Pro Charts: Philadelphia Eagles"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tWAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VlsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3354,1757799). *[The Victoria Advocate](/source/The_Victoria_Advocate)*. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Owen, Ray (September 29, 1973). ["A late look at pro weekend"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=01kfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xdgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1453,2696119). *[The Southeast Missourian](/source/The_Southeast_Missourian)*. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Chargers' Bacon Back On Squad"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034836/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aW9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uREEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7112,2158047). *[The Milwaukee Sentinel](/source/The_Milwaukee_Sentinel)*. November 27, 1974. Archived from [the original](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aW9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uREEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7112,2158047) on November 17, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Eagles' Guard To Undergo Surgery"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BIUlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1223,4716931). *[Gettysburg Times](/source/Gettysburg_Times)*. May 5, 1975. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Long Season For Eagles?"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QhBXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SkMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307,4082908). *Reading Eagle*. September 22, 1975. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Philly Eagles Sign 3 Players"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vnMlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6430,1254660). *Gettysburg Times*. October 18, 1975. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Eagles lose guard, linebacker"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UiFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1624,4443297). *[Star-News](/source/Star-News)*. September 20, 1979. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Eagles announce 75th anniversary team"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110926014449/http://articles.philly.com/2007-09-08/sports/24997360_1_75th-anniversary-andy-reid-voting). *[The Philadelphia Inquirer](/source/The_Philadelphia_Inquirer)*. September 8, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://articles.philly.com/2007-09-08/sports/24997360_1_75th-anniversary-andy-reid-voting) on September 26, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Where_23-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Where_23-1) Zimniuch, Fran (2004). [*Eagles: Where Have You Gone?*](https://books.google.com/books?id=euOj0m6s1j8C). United States: Sports Publishing, LLC. p. 98. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-58261-812-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58261-812-7). Retrieved January 10, 2012.

v t e Philadelphia Eagles 1969 NFL draft selections Leroy Keyes Ernie Calloway Bill Bradley Bob Kuechenberg Jim Anderson Dick Barnhorst Mike Schmiesing Bill Hobbs Kent Lawrence Lynn Buss Sonny Wade Donnie Shanklin Jim Marcum Gary Adams Wade Key Jim Ross Leon Angevine Tom McClinton Bob Haack

v t e Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team (2007) Offense QB McNabb RB Van Buren FB Byars WR Carmichael McDonald TE Pihos T Thomas Runyan G Key Andrews C Bednarik Defense DE Simmons White DT J. Brown Johnson LB Bednarik Joyner Wojciechowicz CB Allen Vincent S Waters Dawkins Special teams K Akers P Landeta KR T. Brown PR Westbrook ST Papale Coach Andy Reid

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wade Key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Key) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Key?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.