Al Toon
Encyclopedia
Albert Lee Toon, Jr. is a former professional American football
player. He was selected by the New York Jets
in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft
. A three-time Pro Bowl
wide receiver
who played his entire NFL
career with the Jets
from 1985 to 1992, Toon retired at the age of 29 in 1992 as a result of suffering at least nine concussions over his eight-year career. Toon's best year as a pro came in the 1988 season
when he led the league with 93 receptions.
In high school
Toon was well known for his accomplishments in track and field. Toon is one of three Newport News Peninsula District
athletes to surpass 50 feet in the triple jump
, which he did three times. He also reached 23 feet in the long jump
. Toon used that jumping ability as a wide receiver on Menchville High School
's football team. Toon played football
and ran track at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
from 1981 to 1984.
Toon, who suffered from post-concussion syndrome
, has improved to the point that he was able to compete in a triathlon in 2004. Toon has a son, Nick
, who was a football standout in high school at Middleton, Wisconsin
, and now plays as a receiver for the Wisconsin Badgers, as his father did. Toon is married to Jane and has three daughters in addition to his son. His daughter, Kirby, is also attending UW–Madison as a preferred walk-on in volleyball.
Toon is on the Board of Directors
of the National Guardian Life
Insurance Company (NGL). Toon was presented a ceremonial key to the city by Altoona, PA in 2004 which he proudly displays in his basement. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Bay Packers
.
In 1995 he was one of nine founding members of Capitol Bank, a local community bank on whose Board of Directors he stills serves. He was previously a president of the University of Wisconsin's National W Club, a varsity letter winners club.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was selected by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft
1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
. A three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who played his entire NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
career with the Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1985 to 1992, Toon retired at the age of 29 in 1992 as a result of suffering at least nine concussions over his eight-year career. Toon's best year as a pro came in the 1988 season
1988 New York Jets season
The 1988 New York Jets season was the 29th season for the team and the 19th in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 6–9 record from 1987 under head coach Joe Walton. The Jets finished the season with a record of 8–7–1. For the third time in his career, Ken...
when he led the league with 93 receptions.
In high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
Toon was well known for his accomplishments in track and field. Toon is one of three Newport News Peninsula District
AAA Peninsula District
In the USA, the Peninsula District is one of the four districts in the AAA Eastern Region of the Virginia High School League. It consists of the public high schools in the cities of Hampton and Newport News, plus Gloucester High School in Gloucester County....
athletes to surpass 50 feet in the triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
, which he did three times. He also reached 23 feet in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. Toon used that jumping ability as a wide receiver on Menchville High School
Menchville High School
Menchville High School is one of five high schools in Newport News, Virginia. The school was named in honor of Thomas H. Menchville.They are the top school in Newport News in terms of the number of students taking AP exams, and have the highest rate of passing.In 2008, Menchville High School was...
's football team. Toon played football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and ran track at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
from 1981 to 1984.
Toon, who suffered from post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome, also known as postconcussive syndrome or PCS, and historically called shell shock, is a set of symptoms that a person may experience for weeks, months, or occasionally up to a year or more after a concussion – a mild form of traumatic brain injury . PCS may also...
, has improved to the point that he was able to compete in a triathlon in 2004. Toon has a son, Nick
Nick Toon
Nick Toon is an American football wide receiver for the Wisconsin Badgers. He is the son of former New York Jets and Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Al Toon.-College Stats:-External links:*...
, who was a football standout in high school at Middleton, Wisconsin
Middleton, Wisconsin
Middleton is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a western suburb of the state capital, Madison but it was actually founded before Madison. It got its name from Middletown, Connecticut; the "w" being dropped was due to a paper work error made by long time historian Edward Kromrey...
, and now plays as a receiver for the Wisconsin Badgers, as his father did. Toon is married to Jane and has three daughters in addition to his son. His daughter, Kirby, is also attending UW–Madison as a preferred walk-on in volleyball.
Toon is on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the National Guardian Life
National Guardian Life
National Guardian Life Insurance Company is located in Madison, Wisconsin and was formed in 1910. Consistently rated as one of the country’s most successful independent mutual life insurance companies, NGL received an A- rating from A.M. Best in 2011. NGL’s mission is to provide financial peace...
Insurance Company (NGL). Toon was presented a ceremonial key to the city by Altoona, PA in 2004 which he proudly displays in his basement. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
In 1995 he was one of nine founding members of Capitol Bank, a local community bank on whose Board of Directors he stills serves. He was previously a president of the University of Wisconsin's National W Club, a varsity letter winners club.