King Corcoran – The Minor League Legend
This is one of the few times I will do a player that is not a raider. It is also a player who barely even played in the NFL. Also a player that made a big impact on my life.
James King Corcoran was considered the greatest minor league QB in the history of the NFL. He was also maybe the biggest character ever. Even Stave Sabol who ran NFL said that the King was the biggest character he ever met.
King went to the University of Maryland where he was a backup quarterback and completed 46 percent of his passes for 646 yards 5 tds and 13 ints. His claim to fame was in his freshman year he was the Maryland freshman’s teams starting QB and led Maryland to a 29-27 victory over Navy who were led by hall of famer Roger Staubach.
After his college career king sort of bounces around the minors and NFL. In 1966 he played for the Wilmington Clippers and then in 1967 for the Waterbury Orbits throwing for over 2000 yards and 21 tds. He was in the Broncos camp in 1966 and 1967 and rumour has it that he was cut when he was found in bed with 6 women.
His breakthrough came in 1968 with the Lowell Giants who were the feeder team for the Boston Patriots of the AFL he threw for over 2100 yards and 20 tds with Bill Murphy (who would also get called up for the Patriots) catching 60 passes for 790 yards and 6 TDs.
Bill would catch 18 catches for 268 yards in only 6 games for the Patriots before being hurt . The King would go 3 for 7 and 2 ints passing and never play in the NFL again. Also on his one of Ints he changed the play in the huddle and threw a pick 6 and the coach went ballistic.
Before I get into the rest of King’s career I will go into how I became with his former roommate and WR Bill Murphy. My main job is to write about financial investing. About 24 years ago in 2002 or so I was at an investment conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Bill was ahead of GATA, an organization that had said the price of gold was being manipulated and was speaking at the show.
Just a few months prior I had seen the documentary on the Pottstown Firebirds (more that to come) and King Corcoran. I had always been a football/stat nut . I saw Bill’s stats, saw that he played on the Patriots and saw his stats.
I go over to Bill in the lobby of the hotel and all I say is “Bill Murphy 18 catches 268 yards”. He immediately goes crazy! ONLY MY MOTHER KNOWS THAT!! He yells! Then I saw you played with a guy named King Corcoran. He tells me that the King was his roommate. When he met the King he told Bill he dressed like crap, he threw all Bill’s clothes in a pile and burnt them!! I have been friends with Bill ever since.
After burning out with the Patriots the kind had other try outs. He tried out with the Jets but Weeb Ewbank told him there is no way he could deal with Joe Namath and the King on the same team.
This is where the King hit his stride in 1969 signed with the Pottstown Firebirds (who were the minor league team for the Philadelphia Eagles) he split time as starter and the Firebirds won the ACFL championship. King signed a 3 year 125,000 dollar contract for the Firebirds which was unheard of at the time for a minor league player.
In 1970 King became the starter and the team was on their way for an undefeated season. He led the league in passing throwing for 2129 yards and 24 tds and 13 ints. But again the King’s refusal to listen to coaches cost him. In a 22-7 loss to Norfolk which cost them an undefeated season he changed a play the line which led to an int return touchdown. He was benched for the championship game despite being league MVP.
In 1971 he played for the Norfolk Neptunes throwing for over 1700 yards 17 tds 16 ints and winning his third straight ACFL championship.
In 1972 he made the Montreal Allouettes but was third string and declined to play for them.
In 1973 he played in Flint, Michigan and went 7-2 as a starter.
In 1974 the newly formed WFL came calling and he came back playing for the Philadelphia Bell whose HC was Ron Waller who had been the Kings OC in Pottstown. In 1974 he had the best statistical year of his career throwing for over 3600 31 tds and 30 ints! The original Jameis Winston !
Many said his arm was almost done by 1974 but his intelligence and knowledge of the offense allowed him to put up huge numbers. He also played with Vince Papale of the Invincible fame.
Life after football was difficult for the King. He was used to the spotlight even if it was the small spotlight of minor league football . He had a hard time dealing with no longer being a professional athlete. In 1977 he had a nervous breakdown. He even tried to play Polo to replace football.
He ended up disappearing and committing a lot of small-time and not so frauds from selling his wife’s Silver to Real Estate and Income Tax Fraud. He even spent time in prison.
He was a larger than life personality always telling crazy stories about Hollywood and hanging around beautiful women. He probably suffered from narcissistic personality disorder which is also why he wanted to be the center of attention.
In the end he passed away penniless.
He was a larger than life character who made a huge impact on many peoples life some good some bad.
Below is the original Pottstown Firebird documentary which appeared before the 1972 super where ironically the dolphins became undefeated and also is the 2000 30th year anniversary documentary of the team in which they track down the King (he was on the lam after not paying his rent).
Finally is a documentary on his life which I highly recommend.