Mike Quick may not have been the quickest receiver in NFL history, but he had great hands and could turn a routine catch into a huge gain.
A first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1982, he led the NFL in receiving yards in just his second year.
By the end of his fourth season, Quick had three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, and in 1985, he set a team record with a 99-yard touchdown.
Former Eagles' 5x Pro Bowl Receiver @MikeQuickSix joins us now as we discuss AJ Brown's media availability yesterday and the Eagles-Lions game this Sunday
Listen▶️https://t.co/wQu8crlBtD pic.twitter.com/FfoGrfHVUZ
— WIP Morning Show (@WIPMorningShow) November 13, 2025
The receiver also appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls (a franchise first) and played long enough in Philly that he caught passes from Eagles icons Ron Jaworski and Randall Cunningham.
Unfortunately, Quick’s final three years were marked by injuries before he quit for good after the 1990 season.
Since then, he has been a color commentator for Eagles radio.
This is the story of Mike Quick.
Growing Up in Hamlet
Michael Anthony Quick was born on May 14, 1959, in Hamlet, North Carolina.
May 14th BOTD
1959 Mike Quick, ( 65 Years old)
NFL wide receiver (Philadelphia Eagles)@jodymacman @TMacPhils @Ike58Reese @Bighugh53 @howardeskin @RealGlenMacnow @BaldyNFL @JoeGiglioSports @Eagles @PHLEaglesNation pic.twitter.com/mdf6x0fPsd— Dan El Captain (@Mrstanleycup) May 14, 2024
Initially, Mike and his eight siblings grew up in a small house in Hamlet before moving to a housing project on the other side of town.
As luck would have it, barely 100 yards outside their front door was a basketball court and a wide swath of green yard to play on.
It was that environment, along with endless competition with his brothers and sisters, that helped develop Quick’s athletic ability early.
“…the main thing I remember is playing games. All I wanted to do was wear a jockstrap and sweat,” said Quick.
He would soon find himself as a member of the Hamlet Recreation sports teams and played youth football under head coach Clyde Norton.
“The coaches, at that time, weren’t actual coaches, they were mostly kids’ fathers. But they had an interest in the kids in the neighborhood and put together a program,” said Quick in 2020.
Quick continued playing sports, and excelled at track, basketball and football when he attended Richmond High School.
Mike Quick is a former American football wide receiver. The Hamlet native played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1982-1990.
Quick was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in 2010 and was also inducted into the Eagles' Honor Roll.https://t.co/PMUN5sDj2i pic.twitter.com/uabt3s3vH4
— Richmond Co. Schools (@rcsraiders) February 19, 2021
On the track, Mike was fast enough to help his 4×100-meter relay team win the state title his senior year and he was an outstanding hurdler.
Basketball was his favorite sport, and Quick was the leading scorer in Richmond’s conference, also in his senior year.
Aspiring Football Star
Although Quick dreamed of playing on the hardwood in college, his high school football coach intervened.
During his final year, Quick’s coach, Ron Krall, encouraged his young pass-catcher by sharing that he was better than he thought at the sport.
“Son, you don’t even know how good you are!” Krall said one day.
Coach Krall was so confident in Quick’s ability to compete at the next level that he persuaded him to play a prep season at Fork Union Military Academy.
It didn’t go the Philadelphia Eagles' way last night but two alumni got to reunite at the game: Mike Quick (on left), Class of 1978 & longtime Eagle WR, & Patrick McDowell, Class of 1991, currently on staff with the Eagles.#forkunion #GoFUMA #Brotherhood #superbowlilvii pic.twitter.com/vmzSuwiJiB
— Fork Union Military Academy (@forkunion) February 13, 2023
College would be delayed a year, the coach explained, but the refinement of his skills at Fork Union would bring in big-time college coaches.
Quick listened to Krall and headed to Fork Union, Virginia, to play football and basketball.
While there, he continued to shine on the court but also set a school record in receptions.
“I thought he could have played pro ball by the end of his year here. He was one of the finest athletic talents that I’ve seen in my 25 years of coaching,” said FUMA coach Red Pulliam.
Just as Krall predicted, numerous colleges recruited Quick before he decided to play for the N.C. State Wolfpack.
Modest Numbers, Huge Talent
In 1978, N.C. State head coach Bo Rein’s ball club went 9-3 and was selected to a bowl game for the second season in a row.
Meanwhile, Quick played in every game and caught 11 passes for 270 yards but failed to find the end zone.
A year later, N.C. State went 7-4 yet still finished first in the ACC Conference.
Quick saw an increase in targets, and snagged 30 receptions for 524 yards and four touchdowns.
Each spring, the receiver worked on his speed by competing on the Wolfpack track team.
During one event, he blazed a 13.6-second time in the 110-meter hurdles, still one of the fastest marks in school history.
After being asked 102929303 times if he’s my dad, I finally met Mike Quick today. I get it…
– Quick isn’t a common surname
– We both ran high hurdles at NC State
– Both affiliated with the NFL pic.twitter.com/cCrblV8ojb— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) December 9, 2024
Before the 1980 football season, Rein was hired away to be the new head coach at LSU.
Tragically, he died less than two months later in a plane crash while on a recruiting trip.
That same year, new head coach Monte Kiffin led the Wolfpack to a 6-5 record while Quick caught 43 passes for 632 yards and three scores.
“I’ll tell you what kind of competitor he was,” said Kiffin. “One time in a game he was split wide on our side of the field. As the quarterback was calling the signals, he yelled over to me, ‘Throw me the ball, Coach. I can beat this guy.'”
Senior Year
In 1981, the program regressed to 4-7, but Quick had 32 receptions for 508 yards and three touchdowns.
Although he never played in another bowl game after his freshman year, Quick led by example even though he didn’t say much.
“I was never a person who had a whole lot to say,” Quick said in 2023.
Throughout his Wolfpack career, the 6’2”, 190-pound pass-catcher focused on running precise routes and working hard to get open for his quarterbacks.
Quick tallied 116 receptions (a school record at the time), 1,934 yards (still good for eighth all-time in team history) and 10 touchdowns.
He was invited to the Blue-Gray Game in December 1981 and was named the MVP.
In 2010, Quick was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Philly Drafts Quick
In 1980, the Philadelphia Eagles won 12 games, a new franchise record, and advanced to Super Bowl XV, losing to the Oakland Raiders.
The ‘80 team boasted receivers Harold Carmichael and Charlie Smith.
A year later, Coach Dick Vermeil’s crew went 10-6 and lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs.
Following the season, Smith left Philly and would eventually play in the USFL.
His departure left a huge hole in the receiving core, and Vermeil had his sights set on Perry Tuttle, a receiver from Clemson.
In pre-draft workouts, Tuttle posted a 4.4-second, 40-yard dash time while Quick ran a slower 4.6.
As the organization prepared to select Tuttle with its 20th overall selection in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills traded up to the 19th spot and stole him from Philly.
Philadelphia Eagles WR, Mike Quick pic.twitter.com/uhAKAleMi6
— Dan El Captain (@Mrstanleycup) May 20, 2024
Although the Eagles lost their coveted pass catcher, the scouts had already done their due diligence on Quick.
“We had a highlight film of him and most of it was blocking,” Philly’s director of pro personnel, Lynn Stiles said. “I liked his toughness and ability to go into a crowd. On the basis of what I’d seen, I called him the most competitive and sure-handed receiver in the draft.”
The Eagles picked Quick and placed him behind Ron Smith on the depth chart.
His rookie season closed with 10 catches, 156 yards and a touchdown.
Quick Leads the League
Not long after the 1982 strike-shortened season ended, Vermeil stepped down, citing burnout.
Eagles defensive coordinator Marion Campbell took over in 1983, and so did Quick.
In 1983, Mike Quick led the #NFL in receiving with the Philadelphia Eagles. He caught 69 passes for 1,409 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, etching him in Eagles franchise history for most receiving yards in a single season and earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl! pic.twitter.com/Bys1OISuhu
— PFRPA (@ThePFRPA) June 27, 2023
The new coach believed that his second-year receiver had the tools necessary to become great.
“I saw his ability in camp this summer,” said Campbell. “He was flashing, by which I mean he really stood out. I had to see how well he could catch, and the only way to do that was to put him in.”
He sure did.
Quick started every game and caught 69 passes for 1,409 yards (which led the NFL) and had a career-high 13 touchdowns, leading to All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades.
October 30, 1983#Eagles 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael hits Mike Quick with a 45-yard touchdown pass at The Vet — Harold's only career completed pass.
He then scores the penultimate touchdown of his Hall of Fame career.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/4gDE540jCd
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) October 30, 2025
Teammates and opponents noted that Quick wasn’t super quick, but that didn’t matter.
“Quickness is one of the most overrated factors in football,” said Philly tight end John Spagnola.
As defenders witnessed throughout the season, the receiver had deceptive speed, leapt like a gazelle, caught nearly everything in his vicinity, and blocked like a champ.
“He’s very smooth,” said Eagles corner Herm Edwards. “And those long strides can lull you to sleep. Suddenly, he’s in your face, and it’s too late.”
It was those long strides that helped Quick take the top off the secondary and open up holes underneath.
“He stretches the zones with his deep routes. Even when he’s not the primary receiver, he helps the others by creating more of an area for them to work in,” said quarterback Ron Jaworski.
“Silk”
1983 was no fluke for Quick.
In 1984, he caught 61 passes for 1,052 yards and nine scores, good for Pro Bowl number two.
Philly won six games, then started 1985 with a 6-9 record, leading to Campbell’s dismissal with a game left.
By then, Quick was dubbed “Silk” by his teammates.
The moniker was appropriate since he was silky smooth before and after the catch.
His fourth year as a pro brought a league-high 158 targets, a career-best 73 receptions, 1,247 yards (second in the NFL) and 11 touchdowns.
During a Week 10 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles were backed up to their own one-yard line in overtime.
At the snap, Jaworski spied Quick and zipped him the ball.
40 Years Ago Today
November 10, 1985Longest Offensive Play From Scrimmage in #NFL Overtime History
Ron Jaworski hits wideout Mike Quick for 99 yards and a 23-17 #Eagles victory over the Falcons at The Vet.
The sixth 99-yard pass in NFL history, the only one in overtime pic.twitter.com/3g3nZ0hDcW
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) November 10, 2025
Weaving through traffic, he ran unfettered 99 yards to the house for the game-winning score, setting a franchise record in the process.
Pro Bowl number three and a second All-Pro nod followed.
More Records
When 1986 dawned, Philly had a new coach in former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.
OTD 1986#Bears #Eagles #GOTW
Buddy Ryan returns to Chicago
Walter Payton (34-177-1) surpasses 15000 yards rushing and scores his 100th rushing TD.@miketomczak18 1st start start.
Quick 5-67-1
Andre Waters and Mike Richardson have 2 INT’s
13-10 #Bears
pic.twitter.com/dE2F4EP5R4— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 14, 2025
Ten weeks into the season, Jaworski was injured, and second-year QB Randall Cunningham took his spot.
Quick hauled in passes from both to the tune of 60 receptions for 939 yards and nine scores.
11-8-1987- Randall Cunningham exhibits that even though growing pains are evident with young quarterbacks, that he will be the ultimate weapon as the Eagles in those beautiful uniforms come from behind to beat Washington 31-27 @2008Philz pic.twitter.com/TvmPFi6bRd
— Phillies and Eagles throwbacks (@Philsbirdsthrow) November 8, 2025
In 1987, Silk missed four games and had just 46 catches for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His 53 receiving touchdowns from 1983 through 1987 led all NFL players.
Furthermore, after yet another All-Pro and Pro Bowl season, Quick’s five Pro Bowls set a Philly record for wide receivers (Tommy McDonald went to five Pro Bowls between 1958 and 1962, but he was listed as the Eagles’ halfback in 1960).
Injuries Take a Toll
Just when Quick established a model of consistency as a receiver and as a Pro Bowler, the bottom fell out.
Eight games into the 1988 season, he had 22 receptions for 508 yards and four touchdowns.
However, during a Week 8 contest against Dallas, Quick broke his leg and missed the rest of the season.
Injuries persisted in 1989, limiting him to six games, 13 receptions, 228 yards and two scores while Philly advanced to the wild card round before losing to the LA Rams, 21-7.
Mike Quick#Eagles
pic.twitter.com/f1tV26pnQn— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) May 15, 2024
Team management realized that Quick was closing in on football mortality and selected four receivers in the 1990 NFL Draft.
(Cris Carter, a third-year pro who was in Ryan’s doghouse, was cut during the preseason).
Two of their picks were Fred Barnett and Calvin Williams, who would spend the next five years in Philly.
That left Quick to help tutor the rookies.
He spent 1990 doing just that, but mostly from the sideline as tendinitis kept him from playing in 12 games.
When the season concluded, so did Quick’s career.
During his time in Philly, number 82 caught 363 passes for 6,464 yards and 61 touchdowns.
He was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and NFL receptions leader once.
Quick was eventually inducted into the Eagles’ Hall of Fame, and he is a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Life After Football
In the years following his retirement, Quick has been a busy man.
He began his post-NFL life by selling electronics and electrical commodities supplies.
Mike quick with @DPommellsNBCS last night on Eagles Gameday final on Saquon’s hat trick pic.twitter.com/l6JRlhFtTx
— rob kuestner (@rkuestnernbc10) September 7, 2024
Then, in 1998, he was asked to be the color commentator for Eagles games on two Philadelphia area radio stations, a job he’s held for a quarter century.
“I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Quick said in 2023, “but [broadcasting’s] one of the best things I’ve ever tried.”
When he’s not on the radio, the former All-Pro gives back to his community by serving on the board for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program in Philly.
Quick is also a member of the board for the Archway Programs Foundation, which assists children and adults with special needs in Southern New Jersey.
References
https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com
https://athletics.forkunion.com
https://visitrichmondcounty.com
https://www.sports-reference.com
https://www.pro-football-reference.com
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