Another former NFL great is gone.
This time, he was taken from us via a plane crash in New York.
Legendary tight end Russ Francis is dead at the age of 70.
One of the Greats
Francis had become part owner of an air tour company in Lake Placid, New York.
This was an obsession of his even going back to his days in the NFL.
His plane apparently had some issues when it was coming in for its landing, crashing near the end of the runway, killing Francis.
Francis was a first-round draft pick in the 1975 draft by the New England Patriots.
He briefly left the NFL, but he was convinced to return by then-49ers Coach Bill Walsh.
After a stint with the 49ers, he returned to the Patriots, then retired for good in 1989.
During his initial hiatus, Francis tried out for and made the Superstars event, also making the World Superstars qualifying in both 1980 and 1981.
Francis retired from the NFL with 393 catches for 5,262 yards, and 40 TDs.
He was a pass-catching machine in an era where tight ends were primarily an extension of the offensive line, which makes his numbers all the more impressive.
Rest in peace, Russ.
Source: Adirondack Daily Enterprise
