New North Allegheny hall of famer Mike McMahon tutoring next generation of QBs

By: Chris Harlan
Saturday, August 12, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Some quarterbacks get starting jobs early in high school, draw college offers as sophomores and hear fans predict how they’ll someday play on Sundays.

That’s not Mike McMahon’s story.

“I didn’t start until I was a senior, but I still had a goal set in my mind,” said the former North Allegheny quarterback, who’ll be inducted into his high school’s sports hall of fame this fall. “My goal was playing Division I football and going to the NFL. I remember even doing a class project and saying that and getting laughed at by one of the popular girls because I hadn’t started yet.”

McMahon shares his story nowadays with the high school quarterbacks he mentors as a real-life reminder that perseverance pays off.

As a senior and first-year starter in 1996, McMahon led North Allegheny to the WPIAL finals before becoming one of the all-time leading passers in Rutgers history and playing five seasons in the NFL.

“If you have a goal, if you have a dream, attack it,” McMahon said. “You don’t need help. It’s all up to you. It’s in your hands.”

His high school is honoring him this fall with induction into the North Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class. The 20-person class will be inducted Sept. 28 at the Chadwick in Wexford.

As a self-described “late bloomer,” McMahon earned all-state honors as a senior when he passed for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns for coach Jim Rankin. McMahon now focuses his time on preparing the next generation of quarterbacks.

After a 12-year professional career, McMahon works as a personal coach for some of the WPIAL’s best arms, including Penn Hills’ Julian Dugger, Gateway’s Brad Birch and Thomas Jefferson’s Luke Kosko.

McMahon served last season as a Pine-Richland assistant coach but resigned to offer individual instruction. For now, his organization is called the Quarterback Development Passing Academy by Former NFL Quarterback Mike McMahon, but he said that could be revamped in the near future.

He had four or five quarterbacks show up for his first workouts in February, but now has around 55 on his roster. Most find him through social media. His youngest pupil is 8 years old and the oldest is a junior in college.

He offers private and group sessions.

“It started out just being varsity quarterbacks before a couple of college guys reached out while on break,” he said. “Then I added some middle school guys and even youth. People want their children to have that opportunity to learn.”

As an NFL veteran, McMahon shares techniques he learned along the way, having played for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles under coaches Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci and Andy Reid.

He also teaches lessons he learned in high school.

“I just remember working my butt off,” he said. “I was always going to the field and working after we would do our morning conditioning. I would go up in the afternoon with a bag of balls and throw to garbage cans by myself.”

His first break came at Joe Butler’s Metro Index camp, which North Allegheny hosted the summer before his senior year.

As McMahon remembers the day, the campers included a three-year starter from Erie who college coaches coveted. McMahon said he outperform the out-of-town kid and caught the eye of Rutgers’ coaches, despite not yet being a starter at North Allegheny.

“All of the schools wanted (the Erie quarterback),” he said. “He had the size, he had good arm strength and everyone came to see him. I got offended by it. … I was going to show up and make sure I outplayed him.”

McMahon was invited to Rutgers’ camp, and his work there eventually earned him a scholarship offer. Rutgers coach Terry Shea waited until he saw film from McMahon’s first couple of games before making it official.

He committed to the Scarlet Knights that November.

“I tell all the players I coach now, ‘Go to these camps and be competitive,’ ” McMahon said. “Be confident in what you’re doing. Don’t shy away from that competition. Show them.”

McMahon ranks fifth in the Rutgers record book for both career passing yards with 6,608 and touchdowns with 41. The Detroit Lions selected him in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in 2001. After five seasons in the NFL, he played for several other pro teams, including time spent in the Canadian Football League.

He’d like to someday return to the professional ranks as a coach.

“I love the game,” McMahon said. “Honestly, my goal is to be coaching quarterbacks or be an offensive coordinator one day in the NFL. Those (quarterbacks) are getting paid a lot of money, but they‘re just kids and need to be coached too.”

2023 Hall of Fame

The North Allegheny Athletics Hall of Fame will induct its 2023 class at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Chadwick in Wexford. Inductees are listed with sport and graduation year.

Kayla Churman, swimming (2015); Erin Dauson, rowing (2007); Shirley Hirth Dunham, rifle (1976); Kevin Goth, boys tennis (2014); Jacquelyn Du , swimming (2015); Matt Gray, boys soccer (1993); Mike Hambrick, girls golf/track and field (coach); Allyson Hodnik, girls volleyball (2007); Garrett Larkin, track and field (2007); Ashley Hickel Lee, field hockey (1999); Kevin McCarthy, baseball/basketball (1994); Mike McMahon, football (1997); Taylor Gapczynski Sasson, girls soccer (2010); James “Max” Staresinic, water polo (2015); Jake Woodley, wrestling (2017)

Special honorees

Becky and Tom Greco – Joseph Drazenovich Award (Legendary Service); Jeff Trettel – Bob Miller Award (Outstanding Supporter of North Allegheny Athletics); Jerry Aufman – Dr. Lawrence Bozzomo Award (Distinguished Career Achievement Award); Andrew Siminerio (boys lacrosse coach) – Bob Austen Award (Distinguished Coaching Award)

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: North Allegheny