Mackey was born in Gladewater, Texas and lived part of his life in Alpine, Texas when his father was a high school coach after leaving the NFL. His family moved back to East Texas before his high school years. As a student (at Spring Hill High School in Longview, Texas) he set multiple passing records and was selected to the all-state team in both his Junior and Senior years. Mackey accepted an athletic scholarship to Texas A&M-Commerce (then East Texas State University) where he was to play both Football and Basketball.
College career
Freshman Season
Mackey played for the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions from 1980 to 1983. As a Freshman in 1980, he backed up All-American and future All-Pro Wade Wilson, a year in which the Lions were NAIA National Semifinalists.
Sophomore Season
Mackey took over at the starting spot during the 1981 season. He led the Lions to a 7–4 record and a fifth-place finish in the Lone Star Conference, throwing for 2.074 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was an Honorable Mention All Lone Star Conference Selection.
Junior Season
As a Junior Mackey threw for 1,667 yards and 11 touchdowns and led the Lions to a 6–4 record, good enough for LSC conference runner-up (2nd place). He was a First-team All Lone Star Conference Selection and also was named to the Associated Press All-American team.
Senior Season
As a Senior in 1983 Mackey led the Lions to a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship with an 8–2 record, throwing for 1,960 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named the LSC Second-team All-Conference team. During his time in Commerce he established himself as an athletic roll-out passer who was a dual threat either running or throwing the football. His career numbers were 5,814 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes and a 21–10 record as a starter.
NFL career
Mackey was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1984 NFL draft, being selected in the 11th round as the 296th overall pick. In his two-year National Football League career as a backup quarterback for the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, Mackey passed for 729 yards and 3 touchdowns, rushed for 563 yards, and threw 6 interceptions.[1] Mackey started for the Dolphins against the Seattle Seahawks during Week 4 of the 1987 NFL season as a replacement player due to the National Football League Players Association strike.[2]
Arena Football League career
Kyle Mackey ended his Arena Football League career completing 187 of 346 passes attempted (54.0% of passes completed), 2,253 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, only 14 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 81.96.