NFL player agent Gary Wichard, 60, dies

Gary Wichard, the record-setting quarterback at C.W. Post who went on to become one of the NFL's most prominent player agents, died on Friday at 60.

While he was best known for close friendships with the players he represented -- a Rolling Stone article on his relationship with Brian Bosworth is said to have been the inspiration for the movie "Jerry Maguire," and most recently Jets linebacker Jason Taylor dedicated his 2010 season to him -- Wichard's career ended in turmoil. Last year he was suspended for nine months by the NFL Players Association for his role in a recruiting scandal involving University of North Carolina player Marvin Austin. Ironically, that ban would have been lifted Friday when the NFLPA decertified and discontinued its agent regulation system.

The public relations firm Rogers & Cowan said Wichard died at his home in Westlake Village, Calif., from diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

A product of Glen Cove, Wichard's first high-profile clients included Rob Carpenter of the Giants and Richard Todd and Mark Gastineau of the Jets. He was also the representative for Taylor, Antonio Cromartie, who played for the Jets in 2010, and Keith Bulluck, who was with the Giants in 2010.

At C.W. Post, Wichard gained national attention when he received a vote for the 1971 Heisman Trophy. A year earlier he popped up on pro football's radar while shagging kicks during a Giants training session at Post. Wichard would throw the footballs back to the kicker on the fly, prompting Y.A. Tittle, the legendary 1960s Giants quarterback, to tell reporters that Wichard had a better arm than Joe Namath and Sonny Jurgensen.

Wichard's record of 5,373 career passing yards stood for more than 20 years and is currently third in C.W. Post history. He was inducted into the C.W. Post Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

He played in the 1971 Senior Bowl and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. A year later, while playing for the New England Patriots, an injury ended his playing career. Fellow Long Islander Julius Erving urged him to try the agent business, according to reports, and introduced him to his own agent, Irwin Weiner.

Wichard is survived by his wife, Maire, whom he met at C.W. Post; two daughters, Dana and Jessica; and brothers, Neal of La Jolla, Calif., and Alvin of New York. Funeral arrangements were not finalized.