McKay has been a mainstay in the National Football League for more than 30 years. McKay joined the Falcons as general manager in 2004 and rose to the highest ranks of owner Arthur Blank’s organization over the past two decades. Under McKay’s leadership, the Falcons have made the playoffs seven times, appeared in the NFC Championship game three times and appeared in Super Bowl LI in 2017.
Since being promoted to CEO of the organization in 2011, McKay has been considered one of the most influential front office executives in the NFL. In 2011, NBC Sports’ Peter King ranked McKay number 10 on his list of the 100 Most Influential People in the NFL. In 2019, The Athletic McKay was named one of the 100 most influential businessmen in NFL history.
Mr. McKay was promoted to his current role in January 2023 and will oversee the day-to-day operations of AMBSE, the parent company of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as well as stadium management. ing. Falcons football operations.
McKay is the son of legendary college football coach John McKay and continues a family legacy of significant contributions to the sport of football. Prior to his time with the Falcons, McKay served as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 10 years (1994-2003). Among his notable accomplishments are leading two franchises to Super Bowl appearances (Tampa Bay in 2003, Atlanta in 2017), and active participation in various NFL committees that oversee various aspects of the league. This includes participation. Mr McKay was an integral part of the last collective bargaining agreement, which was signed in 2011 and expired in 2020.
He has also served on the league’s powerful competition committee for the past 30 years, which includes NFL head coaches and league executives and studies the game and ensures player safety. We encourage rule changes and modifications to promote competitiveness. Mr. McKay has served as co-chair and then chair of the committee for the past 26 years. In addition to his contributions to the advancement of the game, McKay was also heavily involved in collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which led to the current multi-year agreement signed between the NFL and the NFL Players Association in 2011. Additionally, McKay is the only executive to successfully complete two stadium negotiations: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay in 1998 and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2017.
McKay’s commitment to sports is as steadfast as his commitment to the Atlanta community. McKay served for two years as chairman of the board of Atlanta Progress, a private nonprofit corporation that plans and promotes downtown Atlanta and strives to create a robust economic environment in downtown Atlanta. Ta. This year, McKay was honored with the CHRIStal Vision Award by local nonprofit CHRIS 180 at his CHRIStal Ball in recognition of his support of this influential Atlanta organization. McKay is a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Chamber is the organization responsible for positioning Atlanta as a global competitor with a focus on promoting economic growth, expanding business opportunities, and improving the quality of life for its residents.
“Mr. Rich is a world-class executive, and his impact on football and Atlanta is remarkable and profound,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council. “From Mercedes-Benz Stadium to the Falcons’ success, his legacy is etched in our city’s history. We look forward to working with Rich on our efforts to secure major sporting events for the region. “Atlanta, and the entire NFL, make McKay a natural candidate for the Lifetime Achievement Award.” ”
“Atlanta has meant so much to me and my family over the past 20 years, and I am honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlanta Sports Council,” McKay said. “We are grateful to everyone we have worked with over the years and are proud of what we were able to accomplish for the city by working together to not only bring the biggest event to Atlanta, but also to serve Atlanta.” I believe in community.”
McKay recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Coca-Cola, along with Andrew Young (2022), Warwick Dunn (2021), Steve Kunin (2020), Dikembe Mutombo (2019), and John Schuerholz. He joins some of Atlanta’s most famous athletes to receive the award. (2018), Arthur Blank (2017), John Smoltz (2016), Tom Glavine (2015), the late Tommy Nobis (2014), Chipper Jones (2013), Dominic Wilkins (2012), Bobby Cox (2011).
The Atlanta Sports Awards will be held virtually in a one-hour special in partnership with 11Alive (WXIA-TV) that will air Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. The special program will be rebroadcast on the following dates and channels:
- December 17th 8pm (WATL)
- December 24th, 11am (11Alive) and 9pm (WATL)
- December 31st 11am (11Alive)
Prior to the awards ceremony, fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite athletes, teams, coaches and more at https://www.11alive.com/sportsawards. The award was created in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council and focuses on Atlanta’s high school, college and professional sports communities.
About the Atlanta Sports Awards
Established in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta Sports Awards are a way for Atlanta’s sports community to come together to recognize outstanding athletes each year. The Atlanta Sports Awards recognize outstanding accomplishments among Atlanta’s 5 million people. This includes all of Atlanta’s professional sports teams, universities, colleges, and more than 250 public and private high schools. For more information, visit https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/events/featured/atlanta-sports-awards.
About the Atlanta Sports Council
The Atlanta Sports Council (ASC), a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, promotes the growth and development of sports in Metro Atlanta by serving as the recruiting agent for major regional, national, and international sporting events. I am. The organization plays an important role in improving the quality of life for local residents through sport, strives to promote economic growth and visibility, and acts as an advocate for community teams and annual sporting events. . For more information, visit https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/councils/atlanta-sports-council.