NORTHPORT, New York, November 6
BY: Andrew Wroblewski
When the Northport-East Northport Athletic Hall of Fame named 1983 alumni Craig McEwen to its inaugural class on Sept. 20, it did so with high praise. “One of the best football players ever to wear a Tiger uniform,” the hall’s board of directors said of McEwen in a prepared biography.
So what made McEwen great?
Well, during his time with Northport High School’s varsity squad, the receiver was once named the Tigers Offensive Player of The Year while also receiving All-League, All-Conference and All-County honors over his high school career.
Moving on from Northport, McEwen moved up to the next level with Santa Ana College in California. There, playing tight end, the former Tiger reached All-Division, All-State and 3rd Team Junior All-American status.
To the University of Utah he went – and for two years McEwen was ranked eight in the nation for receptions while playing for the Utes.
Upon his departure from Utah, McEwen then took his game to the highest possible level: The National Football League. In 1987 he signed with the Washington Redskins as a tight end and played four games as a part of the Super Bowl XXII championship team. The next year, McEwen returned and started eight games – he appeared in six others – for the Redskins while averaging 14 yards per reception.
Moving over to H-back, McEwen signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1989 and played there for the next two years. He finished his career with six touchdowns and 1,310 receiving yards.
Today, McEwen resides in San Diego, Cal. where he’s found work in career service training while doubling as the president of the NFL Alumni Association’s San Diego chapter.
Originally published: Long Islander News: The Record
(Thursday, November 6, 2014; A30)
Andrew Wroblewski 