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| John Spagnola | |
|---|---|
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| Date of birth: | August 1, 1957 |
| Place of birth: | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Tight end |
| College: | Yale |
| NFL Draft: | 1979 / Round: 9 / Pick: 245 (By the New England Patriots) |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1979-1987 1988 1989 |
Philadelphia Eagles Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers |
| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
John Stephen Spagnola (born August 1, 1957 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and the Green Bay Packers.
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Early life
Spagnola played tight end at Bethlehem Catholic High School (Class of 1975) in Pennsylvania and went to Yale University (Class of 1979).
He left Yale University as the all-time leading receiver in receptions (88) and yards (1554). He was an honorable mention All-American tight end at Yale in '79.
He was a high school classmate of running back Mike Guman, who later starred at Penn State, and played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL career
Spagnola was drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
He played in ten NFL seasons from 1979 to 1982 and 1984 to 1989.
Spagnola was voted the Eagles' MVP (offensive) in 1984.
His best year in the NFL came during the 1985 season for the Philadelphia Eagles when he caught 65 receptions for 701 yards and five touchdowns.
In 1985, Spagnola and Mike Quick combined to set two club records; most receptions by two players (135) and most combined receiving yards (2,019), breaking a record previously shared by Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald and Timmy Brown.
He also appeared in Super Bowl XV for the Eagles versus the Oakland Raiders, catching one reception for 22 yards.
Spagnola served as a player representative of the National Football League Players Association. During the labor strike in 1982, Spagnola's Philadelphia Eagles were the only team in the NFL whose players did not cross the picket line.
Spagnola was the first executive vice president of the National Football League Players Association.
In 2008-2009 Spagnola was sought by the National Football League Players Association's executive search firm, Reilly Partners (Chicago, IL), to succeed Gene Upshaw as executive director. Spagnola remained in the running after the union paired its list of finalists to five.
Broadcasting career
Spagnola began broadcasting for ABC-TV in 1992. He covered college football as a color analyst, a sideline reporter and also as a studio analyst through the 1998 season.
Financial services career
In 1984 he began his career in the financial services industry working for the First Boston Corporation in New York and Philadelphia. During this time, Mr. Spagnola worked in institutional sales and trading where he developed an in-depth knowledge of the capital markets, proprietary trading and corporate underwriting.
In 1992, with Michael Cosack, he co-founded Spagnola-Cosack, Inc., an independent investment consulting firm that serviced Public, Taft-Hartley, Corporate, Hospital, Endowment, and Foundation Funds. Over a ten year period the assets grew to over $3.5 billion and in 2003 Spagnola-Cosack, Inc. was acquired by PFM, a financial advisory firm located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He brings over twenty-three years of investment experience to PFM Advisors.
As the Managing Director of PFM Advisors, Spagnola's duties include serving on the investment committee, overseeing marketing and client service and consulting with Public, Hospital, Endowment, and Taft-Hartley Fund Trustees.
Academia career
Mr. Spagnola has taught a course on managing public funds for the Fels Institute of Government, at the University of Pennsylvania.
Current Life
Spagnola currently resides in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania with his wife, Kathleen, and three daughters, Nicole, Megan and Kelly.
External links
- John Spagnola records at Ivy League Sports.
- [1]
- The Eagles Encyclopedia, By Ray Didinger, Robert S. Lyons
- John Spagnola PFM Bio
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