Pete Mandley
Encyclopedia
William "Pete" H. Mandley (born July 29, 1961 in Mesa, Arizona
), is a former professional American football
player who was selected by the Detroit Lions
in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL Draft
. A 5'10" 191 lbs. wide receiver
from Northern Arizona
, Mandley played in 7 NFL
seasons from 1984-1990. His best year as a pro came during the 1987 season
for the Lions when he caught 58 receptions for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns.
On August 16, 1987, Mandley and his family were supposed to be on Northwest Airlines Flight 255
from Detroit to Phoenix when his daughter had taken ill. He cancelled his reservation and decided that he and his family would stay in Detroit an extra day. He later learned that the flight had crashed on takeoff killing all but one on board.
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
), is a former professional American football
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 who was selected by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL Draft
1984 NFL Draft
The 1984 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 May 1-2, 1984. No teams elected to claim any players in the regular supplemental draft that...
. A 5'10" 191 lbs. 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...
from Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
, Mandley played in 7 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...
seasons from 1984-1990. His best year as a pro came during the 1987 season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
for the Lions when he caught 58 receptions for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns.
On August 16, 1987, Mandley and his family were supposed to be on Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Northwest Airlines Flight 255 was a flight that originated at MBS International Airport in Saginaw, Michigan, and was scheduled to terminate at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, with intermediate stops at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, near Detroit,...
from Detroit to Phoenix when his daughter had taken ill. He cancelled his reservation and decided that he and his family would stay in Detroit an extra day. He later learned that the flight had crashed on takeoff killing all but one on board.