Retired boxing champion Frankie Randall died on Wednesday at age 59. Randall’s former trainer Aaron Sowell announced the news via Facebook after hearing it first hand from Randall’s son DeMarcus. Randall was battling Parkinson’s disease and pugilistic dementia.

Randall was borning in Birmingham, Alabama and later moved to Morristown, Tennessee. He first turned pro in 1981 after working in amateur boxing. While he won his debut in June of that year, he did not box again until 1983. Between the years of 1983 and 1998, Randall’s record was 55-5-1 and he was one of the top fighters in the sport within his weight class during his best years.

Randall was best known for his three boxing matches against Julio Cesar Chavez in the 1990s. In 1994, Randall fought champion Chavez for his title on MGM Grand Garden’s grand opener in Las Vegas. Randall became the first boxer to defeat Chavez, whose record at the time of their fight was 89-0-1. Not only did this victory earn Randall his first world title, but he also earned the nickname, “The Surgeon.”

However, Randall lost the title in their rematch. This was a controversial split decision because the fighters accidentally clashed heads, and Chavez was unable to continue fighting, so a point was deducted from Randall and he ultimately lost the match until it was later named a split decision.

In the third and final fight that “The Surgeon” and Chavez had fought, Chavez had chosen Randall as the opponent for his last fight before going into retirement. Randall lost that 10-round decision that took place in Mexico City.

Randall announced his retirement on January 1, 2005 after losing a fight to boxer Marco Antonio Rubio. Randall is a three-time welterweight champion, having held the WBA, WBC and lineal titles between 1994 and 1997. By the end of his remarkable career, Randall was 58-18-1 and he is due to be inducted into the Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that legendary pass rusher and former Jets assistant coach Kevin Greene died at age 58 in his home on Monday. No cause of death has been announced.

“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Kevin Greene,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker said in a statement. “I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense. He possessed the most incredible can-do attitude of anyone I ever met. He was a great player, but more than that, he was a great man. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin’s wife, Tara, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Kevin’s memory.”

A walk-on player out of Auburn, Greene was a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams apart of the 1985 NFL draft. Greene played a total of 15 seasons in the NFL between 1985 and 1999 with teams including the Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. Throughout his time in the league, Green appeared in five Pro Bowls and he ended his career with 160 sacks which was third all-time best when he retired after the 1999 season.

During the end of his football career, Greene found himself immersed in the world of professional wrestling until he had to leave the WCW in 1998 because of the terms of his NFL contract. Nearly a decade after retirement, Greene returned to coach in the NFL. First, he was hired with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then he took a position with the Green Bay Packers as their outside linebackers coach in 2009. After winning a Super Bowl with the Packers, he stayed with them until 2013.

In 2013, Greene took another hiatus during which he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside greats including Brett Farve and Orlando Pace in 2016. A year later, Greene ended up taking another coaching job with the New York Jets. Greene worked under former Jets coach Todd Bowles and stayed in New York through 2018.

The wrestling world has lost a star Wednesday when Pat Patterson died at 79.

The WWE confirmed the news with a tweet, saying, “WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson has passed away.”

Patterson born Pierre Clemont first started his wrestling career in 1958 in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. Patterson later emigrated to the U.S. in 1962 and start wrestling in various promotions such as the Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Big Time Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association. Patterson even toured Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling which is one of the biggest wrestling promotions in Japan.

Patterson joined the WWE in 1979 when it was known as the World Wrestling Federation. There he became the first inaugural Intercontinental Champion. He retired from wrestling in 1985, but he remained in the company with a backstage role. He eventually became part of the trusted circle of WWE owner Vince McMahon.

Even during his backstage role, he showed off his innovations and is  credited as the creator of the “Royal Rumble” format. The Royal Rumble became the main staple of WWE and a fan favorite from its creation in 1989 to the present day.

Patterson continued to gain fame when he and Gerald Brisco became the on-screen henchmen of Vince McMahon during the “Attitude Era.” His role as henchmen was a success as he was able to elevate McMahon’s villainous character to popularity as it boosted ratings. He helped in developing nefarious schemes and storylines that became a fan favorite.

In 1996 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his achievements. Patterson was regarded as one of wrestling’s most influential minds. He broke barriers when he became the first openly gay wrestler.

Basketball Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn has died at 86. Celtics confirmed on Tuesday that the legend passed away via Twitter.

Heinsohn was drafted by the Celtics in 1956 as a power forward. Heinsohn played for the Celtics from 1956-1965. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1956, selected to six all-star games. He was able to help the Celtics win eight championships during his tenure as a player.

Heinsohn retired in 1965 and his jersey was retired that same year. He became the head coach for the Celtics from 1967-1978. As head coach, he helped the Celtics win an additional two championships and won the 1973 Coach of the Year award. He was also a four-time all star-head coach.

Heinsohn was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1986 as a player. He was inducted again in 2015 but as a coach. He became one of four players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a coach and player.

Fellow Celtics Hall of Famer and teammate Bill Russell took to Twitter to post a tribute to his teammate after his passing was announced.

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former San Francisco 49er Fred Dean died last Wednesday at 68. “The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Fred Dean,” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. “He exemplified many of the values learned from this great game — commitment, integrity, courage — over the course of his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fred’s wife, Pam, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations.”

Dean played from 1979 to 1985, with both the 49ers and Chargers and in that time made four Pro Bowls, two first-team all pro’s and won two Super Bowls. “I could consider it being born by the Chargers but having a renewal life with the 49ers,” Dean said in his Hall of Fame speech. “And being with the 49ers, I found that on the other side of that bridge, on the other side was my rainbow, the true ending of a rainbow. Not financially, but with all the people there.”

Dan is survived by his kids, grandkids and his wife, Pam.

While spearfishing off the coast of his native Australia Wednesday, two-time world champion snowboarder and former Winter Olympian, Alex Pullin, drowned and died at the age of 32. 

According to authorities while speaking to reporters, “another diver was out there and located him on the seafloor and raised the attention of nearby surfers who sought lifeguards to bring him in. He didn’t have an oxygen mask. We understand he was freediving and spearfishing out on the reef.”

Pullin won two gold medals at the 2011 and 2013 world championships in the cross event. He was also the flag bearer for Australia during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. 

In a statement Snow Australia, who is the winter sports governing body in Australia, commented on Pullin’s untimely death. “Our deepest condolences are with Alex’s family, as well as his teammates and support staff. Alex was a beloved member of the Snow Australia community and he will be dearly missed.”

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Snow Australia, among other groups in the country to social media to honor Pullin:

While attempting to row across the Pacfic Ocean alone, three-time Paralympic rower Angela Madsen died at the age of 60. This according to Madsen’s wife Deb Madsen.

Madsen’s body was recovered by the Coast Guard, although the cause of her death has yet to be revealed. Had Madsen successfully rowed across the Pacific, she would have become the first paralympian, the oldest women and first openly gay athlete to accomplish the feat. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Deb issued a statement regarding the passing of her wife on the RowofLife Facebook page in which she said: 

“With extreme sadness I must announce that Angela Madsen will not complete her solo row to Hawaii. I received her last text Saturday night. Sunday she was not responding to my text messages. When I checked the main message inbox she had not returned any messages. When I looked at the tracking it did not appear that she was rowing the boat, but rather that is was drifting. Knowing she was planning to enter the water to fix her hardware to deploy the para-anchor from the bow, I was concerned she did not text when she got back on the boat. She was about as far from any land as she could get and the communication can be a challenge, I was hopeful but still had a feeling of heaviness in my chest. Soraya contacted the US Coast Guard and explained our concern. They diverted a Cargo Ship to render aid. German registered ship, Polynesia, answered to call. They were in route to Tahiti from Oakland. They were 11-12 hours from RowofLife. In the meantime, the US Coast Guard, sent a C17 for a fly over about 8-9pm. The plane saw Angela in the water, apparently deceased, tethered to RowofLife but was unable to relay that information due to poor satellite coverage. When the Polynesia arrived about 11PM Monday night they found and recovered Angela’s body. RowofLife is adrift and we are working on its recovery. Angela is now in route to Tahiti without me, which was not our agreement. Angela was living her dream. She loved being on the water as you could see from the photos she sent. Please be patient with me as I am not a phone person and I’m pretty overwhelmed with tasks at the moment. I am sad but ok. I never planned a life without her so be patient with me while I figure all of this out. Thank you for all your support. Angela was truly touched by your support. Thank you to the US Coast Guard and the Captain and Crew of the Polynesia. Deb.”

Angela Madsen was a former U.S. Marine veteran, had qualified for the paralympic games back in 2008 as a part of their rowing team. She later participated in track and field events during the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, during which she won the bronze medal in shot put in 2012.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Legendary University of Tennessee and University of Pittsburgh head football coach Johnny Majors died on Wednesday morning at 85. 

Majors led Pittsburgh to a national championship in 1976 going 12-0, five years after the Panthers went 1-10. After winning the national championship, Majors returned to his alma mater in Tennessee where he served as their head coach from 1977-1992. During which time the Volunteers won three SEC championships in 1985, 1989, and 1990. Majors also won SEC Coach of the Year in 1985.

In a statement released by his family, Majors’ wife Mary Lynn Majors announced the death of her husband of 61 years. “It’s with a sad heart that we make this announcement. John passed away this morning. He spent his last hours doing something he dearly loved: looking out over his cherished Tennessee River,” she said.

Majors was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1987. One of Majors’ former players, Charles Davis, commented on the passing of his former coach. “Coach Majors is Tennessee and Tennessee is him. I was fortunate to have played for him and to have been on that 1985 team that won the Sugar Bowl and brought us back in a lot of ways,” he said. “But that was his mission. It’s why he came back to Tennessee. He could have stayed at Pitt and kept kicking butt. But the bottom line is that Tennessee was home for him, and all of us who also consider Tennessee home are fortunate that he did come back.”

Both Tennessee and Pittsburgh posted on their social media accounts expressing their sadness in Majors’ passing.

Tennessee:

Curtis Cokes, the first world champion boxer to come from Dallas, died on Friday at 82 from heart failure. Cokes has spent the week leading up to his death in hospice care, according to Erwin Sparks, Cokes’ business partner.

Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. He had a career record of 62-14-4, which included 30 knockouts. Cokes was also a former welterweight champion, holding the title from 1966-1969. Cokes also claimed a vacant Texas title belt in 1965. After losing his WBC and WBA title, Cokes never really returned to the top of the mountain. 

Following his career, Cokes would serve as a trainer. One of the guys Cokes trained was Quincy Taylor, who is a former middleweight title holder. Cokes opened a gym along with Sparks in Dallas, the ‘Home of Champions’ gym.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

On Tuesday, WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard had gone missing after being swept out to sea while swimming at Venice Beach in California. On Wednesday morning, Gaspard’s body was found and he was pronounced dead, according to police.

At around 1:25 a.m., a person at the beach found Gaspard’s body near the shore, which was later identified as Gaspard by the coroner’s office, according to the LAPD.

On Sunday, Gaspard was swimming in the ocean with his 10-year old son when they were swept about 50 yards off the shore. A lifeguard saw that a wave had crashed over the two. According to the lifeguard, when he went to go save Gaspard and his son, Gaspard told him to save his son in his last words. 

Shad Gaspard was 39-years old and is survived by his wife and son.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

The winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula died peacefully in his home Monday morning at 90.

In a statement, the Miami Dolphins posted on their Twitter page in regards to the passing of their legendary coach,

Shula played for seven seasons in the NFL from 1951-1957 for three different organizations as a defensive back. 

In 1960, Shula became the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, which he held until 1962. He went on to take the head coaching job of the Baltimore Colts from 1963-1969. 

Following the 1969 season, the Dolphins signed Shula to be their head coach, a position he held until he retired in 1995. With the Dolphins, Shula won two Super Bowls in Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII. In Super Bowl VII, the Dolphins completed the first and still only perfect season going 14-0. 

Shula won the Coach of the Year Award for the NFL four times. His NFL leading 328 regular-season wins, and 347 total wins as a coach, led Shula to be one of ten coaches named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary team in 2019 as well as being enshrined into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Former Baltimore Colts linebacker Mike Curtis died this week at the age of 77.

Curtis was known for being a hard-hitting set of pads behind the tackles, and proved his worth in a 14-year career, for three different teams, the majority of his time spent in Baltimore. 

The four time Pro-Bowler was known around the league as “Mad Dog” and was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft. The man out of Duke was named first-team All-Pro after the 1968 and 1969 seasons. During those years, Curtis spearheaded a defensive crew that allowed the fewest points in the league and ranked second in yards allowed. The Colts would go 13-1 in the ’69 season, unfortunately losing to the Jets in the third Super Bowl. 

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Interestingly enough, as hard-hitting of a linebacker as Curtis was on the field, his most memorable moment comes from a 1971 game against the Miami Dolphins, where a fan tried to run on the field and steal the ball. The fan was met with an blindsiding, smashing blow from Curtis seconds after making it on to the field. 

Two years after the loss to the Jets, Curtis and the Colts finally got their revenge, beating the Cowboys, 16-13 in Super Bowl V. Curtis sealed the victory in the fourth quarter with an interception late down the stretch. 

Curtis finished his career with the Washington Redskins, and also had a stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 1976, when the team was announced as a new, expansion club. 

New York Yankees’ co-owner Hank Steinbrenner died at the age of 63 “from a longstanding health issue” in his Clearwater, Florida, home on Tuesday. The Yankees’ released a heartfelt statement describing what Steinbrenner meant to the winningest club in Major League Baseball.

“Hank was a genuine and gentle spirit who treasured the deep relationships he formed with those closest to him,” the Steinbrenner family said in the Yankees’ statement. “He was introduced to the Yankees organization at a very young age, and his love for sports and competition continued to burn brightly throughout his life. Hank could be direct and outspoken, but in the very same conversation show great tenderness and light-heartedness. More than anything, he set an example for all of us in how comfortably he lived enjoying his personal passions and pursuits. We are profoundly saddened to have lost him and will carry his memory with us always.”

Steinbrenner was the oldest son of former Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner who died of a heart attack in 2010. Despite being passed over for the role of managing general partner which his younger brother Hal Steinbrenner assumed in 2008, Hank was in his 11th season as co-chairperson and was heavily involved in player recruitment and negotiations as well as managing the team’s business and baseball operations.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Steinbrenner also served on the board of the YES Network and worked with a youth baseball travel team called “Hanks Yanks” founded by former Yankees’ bat boy Ray Negron. Negron told The New York Times that Steinbrenner was very proud that kids who passed through the baseball program would eventually attend college.

“He could trust young people and open himself up to them,” Negron said. “He took so much pride in the fact that more and more of his kids were going to college.”

Negron later mentioned that Steinbrenner didn’t feel he was overlooked when Hal received full control of the franchise. “He never, ever mentioned it,” Negron said. “He was always extremely proud of his Yankee heritage and extremely proud of his brother and what his brother was doing with the team.”

Steinbrenner is survived by four children, daughters Jacqueline and Julia, and sons George Michael IV and John. One granddaughter, Anabel and his siblings, Jennifer, Jessica and Hal.

Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson died Sunday night after he was involved in a car crash in Alabama. He was 36 years old. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Jackson’s accident occurred when his 2012 Cheverolet Camaro “left the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned.” He was then transferred to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Jackson’s former coach during his four-year stint with the Seahawks, Pete Carroll, reacted to the news on social media offering his condolences. Former teammates also expressed their grief on Twitter, including the Minnesota Vikings, the team Jackson spent the first five years of his career with:

Jackson was originally drafted 64th overall in 2006 by the Vikings. He was utilized as a backup for most of his career in Minnesota, but started 21 regular season games and one playoff game. He later joined Seattle in 2011 and started all 16 games that season, the longest stretch in his career. In 59 career games, Jackson compiled 7,263 passing yards and 39 touchdowns. He was working as a quarterbacks’ coach at Tennessee state before his death and is survived by his wife, Lakitta, and three children, Tarvaris, Takayla and Tyson.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Former New Orleans Saints’ kicker Tom Dempsey died Saturday at the age of 73 after contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). His family told The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate that Dempsey was also battling dementia and passed away at the Lambeth House Retirement Community in New Orleans.

Originally diagnosed on March 25, Dempsey showed signs of improvement before things got worse, his daughter Ashley said. Because retirement home residents were quarantined, Dempsey’s family was not allowed to visit but would check in with him using video chat.  “We didn’t want him to think we had abandoned him,” she told the newspapers. “We wanted him to know we still loved him — always.”

Dempsey’s life was a unique story. Although he was an NFL kicker, he overcame the obstacle of being born without any toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand. He was able to use a flat-top shoe to kick the ball straight-on successfully while most of the league was shifting to kicking soccer style.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

“Tom’s life spoke directly to the power of the human spirit and exemplified his resolute determination to not allow setbacks to impede following his dreams and aspirations,” Saints’ owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “He exemplified the same fight and fortitude in recent years as he battled valiantly against illnesses but never wavered and kept his trademark sense of humor,” she said in a statement.

One of his most historic moments came during a game against the Detroit Lions on November 8, 1970. The Saints were trailing 17-16 with a couple of seconds left on the clock when Dempsey hit a game-winning 63-yard field goal breaking Bert Rechichar’s 56-yard record that he held for 17 years. In 2013, Broncos’ kicker Matt Prater broke the record with a 64-yarder.

Dempsey’s famous kicking boot is displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, alongside other memorabilia of players included in the “50 great NFL moments” section.

After two seasons with New Orleans, he also suited up for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills before retiring in 1979.

Dempsey is survived by Ashley and her siblings, Toby Dempsey and Meghan Dempsey Crosby. He also had three grandchildren.

Former Astros’ all-star Jimmy Wynn died Thursday at the age of 78. A fan-favorite in the 1960s and ’70s, Wynn was given the nickname “The Toy Cannon” for his hitting power and blasting long distance loopers that would send fans into a frenzy. The Astros announced Wynn had died in Houston Thursday but did not give more details.

“Jimmy’s success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings,” the Astros said in a statement. “After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on at Minute Maid Park, at the Astros Youth Academy and beyond.”

CORONAVIRUS FAQ: WIKI OF MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Wynn was working in the Astros’ front office as community outreach executive before his death.

Listed at 5’9, 160 pounds in his playing days, Wynn was known as a long-ball hitter with unique power. On June 10, 1967, he hit a bomb that carried above the scoreboard in left-center field before dropping onto the highway outside Cincinnati’s Crosley field.

Nearly three years later, Wynn was back at it again. In a game against the Braves on April 12, 1970, he made an even bigger statement crushing a pitch from Phil Niekro that traveled 500 feet down the left field line landing in the distant upper deck of the Astrodome.

In a career that spanned 15 years, Wynn played his first 11 with the Astros before short stints with the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers and Yankees. Upon his retirement, he was Houston’s franchise leader in hits, home runs, RBIs and walks. In total, Wynn compiled 291 homers, 964 RBIs and 225 stolen bases.

Among his accomplishments were two years of exceptional all-around play. He lead the league in walks (148) in 1969 and stole a career-high 43 bases in 1965. He also scored 100 or more runs three times with the Astros. Wynn never won a World Series, only appearing once on the big stage, but was able to hit at least 20 home runs in eight straight seasons including a career-high 33 in 1969.

His No. 24 jersey was retired by the Astros on June 25, 2005, and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on August 3, 2019.

Former Buffalo Bills linebacker Mike Stratton, best known for the “hit heard ’round the world’ in the 1964 AFL championship game, has died at the age of 78.

The longtime Bills linebacker, a Wall of Fame inductee and a member of the Bills’ 25th and 50th-anniversary teams, died on Tuesday of heart complications following a recent fall according to the team.

General manager Dick Gallagher selected Stratton in the 13th round of the 1962 AFL draft. He came in as a rookie and immediately locked down an outside linebacker position. He stayed there for 11 years. Stratton helped lead the Bills to two AFL championships while playing in the AFL all-star game six times. He finished his career with 21 interceptions, 18 as a Bill, before making three in his last season while playing for the Chargers in 1973.

Stratton authored one of the most famous plays in team history during the 1964 AFL championship game. His picture-perfect tackle of San Diego running back Keith Lincoln was called “the hit heard ’round the world,” which not only broke a couple of Lincoln’s ribs and knocked him out of the game but turned the tide that day at War Memorial Stadium. Down 7-0 at the time, the Bills rallied after Stratton’s tackle to win their first title, 20-7 over the Chargers.

“You can always tell when you get a good lick; I just didn’t know it would have that kind of effect,” Stratton said in 1994. “Thirty-five years later, I’m proud that people remember it. They’ve got a better memory than I do.”

What set him apart from so many linebackers of his era was his speed. Very few had the ability to go sideline to sideline to make plays the way the 6-foot-3, 230-pound did.

CORONAVIRUS FAQ: WIKI OF MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

A senior at the U.S. Naval Academy and offensive guard for the Midshipmen, David Forney, has died at the age of 22. He was found unresponsive in his room on Thursday and a CPR-certified midshipman attempted to revive him before he was transported to the nearby Anne Arundel County Medical Center.

“Words cannot express our pain and sorrow,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “First and foremost, our deepest condolences to the Forney family. The Navy Football Brotherhood is not a team, we are a family. We are devastated to have lost one of our brothers. We all love – and will always love – David. We pray for strength during this most difficult time.”

Forney was a member of the 9^th Company and was set to be a naval officer in May.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

One of Forney’s close friends and fellow teammate Ford Higgins said they developed a special bond the field.

“There are uncountable instances where I felt like Dave and I worked together as one mind,” Higgins said. “He was such a great guy and even better friend. He was universally loved on and off the field by teammates and classmates.”

Forney stood out early on, becoming an integral part of the offensive line. Despite injury he persevered and dedicated his workouts to the goal of overpowering opponents.

He is survived by his parents, Rick and Erika Forney, as well as his two brothers, Chris and Erik, and sister, Rebekah.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach and star linebacker for Penn State, Dan Radakovich, has died at the age of 84. His death was announced Thursday and there is no immediate cause available.

Radakovich was a star linebacker and center for Penn State in the 1950’s and upon graduation, stayed with the Nittany Lions and helped them earn their reputation as “Linebacker U.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

He spent time at many organizations, both in the NFL and collegiately, throughout his coaching career. His NFL stints include time with San Francisco, Denver, Minnesota, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Jets. Collegiately, he was involved with Cincinnati, North Carolina State, Westminster and the University of Colorado.

Radakovich won two Super Bowls as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Dan Radakovich,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “It was during his second stint on Chuck [Noll]’s staff that Dan introduced some offensive line techniques that were innovative for the era and still are used today.”

Radakovich’s autobiography, Football Nomad, details his career full of rich stories about his time at Penn State and in the NFL. Former Steelers linebacker and player under Radakovich, Jack Ham, wrote the foreword for the book.

Former Maple Leafs defenseman Brian Glennie has died at age 73. Glennie, who played 554 of his 572 games with Toronto, wore the blue and white jersey from 1969-78.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Glennie, who was never the biggest goal scorer on the ice, was known for his hip checks, providing a physical presence that gave offensive-minded players the chance to put up big points.

Glennie was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1978 and played 18 games before retiring with Los Angeles due to a back injury.

He won a bronze medal with Canada at the Grenoble Olympics in 1968 and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He was named one of the 100 greatest players in Maple Leafs history in 2016.

Glennie was easy to spot, with his mop of curly hair stuck underneath a helmet that looked like a bowling ball.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, although his health had been declining. Funeral arrangements are pending.