NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Greg Hawthorne, Super Bowl champion running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has died, his family announced on social media. He was 69 years old.
The Steelers selected Hawthorne with the 28th overall pick out of Fort Worth Polytechnic in the 1979 NFL Draft. He was a rookie when the Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Greg Hawthorne #27 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns a kickoff during an NFL game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hawthorne played for the Steelers from 1979 to 1983. (Focus on sport/Getty Images)
“On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night,” a Facebook post said. “Please keep his mother and children, brother and sisters and the entire family in your prayers.”
The cause of death has not been revealed.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Greg Hawthorne #27 runs with the football as he is tackled by Chicago Bears linebacker Gary Campbell #59 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers beat the Bears 38-3. (George Gojkovitch/Reuters)
Hawthorne played five years with the Steelers, splitting his time between running back and wide receiver. He played in 59 games, totaling 522 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also had 55 catches for 710 yards and three touchdowns.
He played three seasons with the New England Patriots and another with the Indianapolis Colts. He made a game-changing play in the 1985 AFC Championship for the Patriots, recovering a fumble on the second-half kickoff. New England won the game and advanced to Super Bowl XX.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll talks with Terry Bradshaw, Cliff Stoudt and Greg Hawthorne on the sidelines against the San Diego Chargers during the 1982 AFC Divisional Playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
He finished his career playing in 105 games with 11 total touchdowns and 1,639 yards from scrimmage.
