Celebrity deaths
Sun illuminates the bust of Denver Broncos running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little late Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in the team's Ring of Fame plaza outside Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. Little, who was the franchise's sole star during years of struggles in the 1960s and 1970s, died at 78 from a rare form of cell cancer in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos 1/3/2021

Jan. 02, 2021 07:08 PM EST

FILE - This is a 1970 file photo showing Chicago Bears football player Gale Sayers. Sports in 2020 was an unending state of mourning. Football lost a big piece of its heart: Don Shula, Gale Sayers, Paul Hornung, Bobby Mitchell.(AP Photo/File)
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2020 12:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2019, file photo, Pro Football Hall of Fame outside linebacker Kevin Greene stands on the sideline during warmups before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh. Hall of Fame linebacker Greene, considered one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, has died. He was 58. Greene died Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, the family confirmed, as did the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
HOF linebacker, pass rush great Kevin Greene dies at 58

By Steve Reed Dec. 21, 2020 05:19 PM EST

Former Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro dead at 28

By David Ginsburg Dec. 17, 2020 01:11 PM EST
Lorenzo Taliaferro, who ran for 339 yards and scored five touchdowns during three injury-riddled seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, has died. He was 28. ...

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 1973, file photo, Miami Dolphins' Lloyd Mumphord, left, and Jake Scott (13) break up a pass to Washington Redskins' Charley Taylor near the goal line to stop a Redskins drive during NFL football's Super Bowl 7 in Los Angeles. Scott, the star safety who was the most valuable player in the Super Bowl that completed the Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. He was 75. Scott died after a fall down a stairway that left him in a coma, former teammate Dick Anderson said. (AP Photo, File)
Jake Scott, former Miami safety, Super Bowl MVP, dies at 75

By Steven Wine Nov. 19, 2020 08:21 PM EST

Paul Hornung, of the Green Bay Packers, in an undated photo. Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback, and kicker helped turn them into an NFL dynasty, has died, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo, File)
NFL Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung dies at 84

Nov. 13, 2020 01:29 PM EST

Paul Hornung, a Hall of Fame running back who starred for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers, has died at age 84.

Nov. 13, 2020 01:01 PM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Paul Hornung, a Hall of Fame running back who starred for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers, has died at age 84. ...

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2008, file photo, former NFL player Herb Adderley speaks as he sits in a room full of memorabilia from his playing days at his home in Mantua, N.J. Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley has died. He was 81. His death was confirmed Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, on Twitter by nephew Nasir Adderley, a safety for the Los Angeles Chargers. Adderley played on six NFL title teams over a 12-year career with Green Bay and Dallas. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
Herb Adderley, star cornerback with 6 NFL titles, dies at 81

By The Associated Press Oct. 30, 2020 02:12 PM EDT

Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley dies at 81; played on 6 title teams with Packers, Cowboys

Oct. 30, 2020 02:02 PM EDT
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley dies at 81; played on 6 title teams with Packers, Cowboys. ...

FILE - In this 1970 file photo, Baltimore Colts' Jimmy Orr poses for a photo, location not known. Orr, a sure-handed wide receiver who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Colts, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. He was 85. His death was confirmed Wednesday by Edo Smith and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, Ga. (AP Photo, File)
Jimmy Orr, former star WR for Colts and Steelers, dies at 85

By David Ginsburg Oct. 28, 2020 07:12 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 1975 file photo, Minnesota Vikings' Matt Blair (59) goes high to block the kick by Pittsburgh Steelers' Bobby Walden (39) during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl IX in New Orleans. The Vikings say Blair, one of the great linebackers in team history, has died. Blair had been suffering from dementia. (AP Photo/Jack Thornell, File)
Matt Blair, star linebacker for Vikings, dies at 70

Oct. 23, 2020 08:58 AM EDT

Former Raiders offensive lineman Mario Henderson dies at 35

Oct. 21, 2020 09:35 PM EDT
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Former Raiders offensive lineman Mario Henderson has died. He was 35. The team announced Henderson’s death Wednesday...

FILE - In this May 18, 2014, file photo, Minneapolis Star Tribune sports columnist Sid Hartman speaks during a ceremony in which the Minnesota Twins organization honored him before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Minneapolis. Hartman, an old-school home team booster who once ran the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers and achieved nearly as much celebrity as some of the athletes he covered, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. He was 100. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)
Mariners-Twins 5/18/2014

Oct. 18, 2020 10:44 PM EDT

File-In this April 21, 2009 file photo, Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman is shown in St. Paul, Minn. The Minnesota sports columnist and radio personality, Hartman, an old-school home team booster who once ran the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers and achieved nearly as much celebrity as some of the athletes he covered, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. He was 100. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
Longtime Minnesota sports columnist Sid Hartman dies at 100

By Jeff Baenen Oct. 18, 2020 05:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, file photo, former San Diego Chargers smiles during ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty, has died. He was 68. His death on Wednesday night, Oct. 14, 2020, was confirmed Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
Fred Dean, 68, fearsome pass rusher of 49ers' dynasty, dies

By Josh Dubow Oct. 15, 2020 09:17 AM EDT

CORRECTS TO $2 BILLION, NOT 1.9 BILLION AS ORIGINALLY SENT - FILE - In this July 22, 2020, file photo, the sun sets behind Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders football team, in Las Vegas. The NFL is opening in Sin City, something even the bookies in this gambling city would never have bet on happening. But on Monday night, Sept. 21, 2020, the gamble pays off when the Raiders meet the New Orleans Saints in the opening game of the glittering $2 billion stadium that Raiders owner Mark Davis dubbed the Death Star.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Raiders ready for big opening act on Las Vegas Strip

By Tim Dahlberg Sep. 18, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

CORRECTS TO $2 BILLION, NOT 1.9 BILLION AS ORIGINALLY SENT - FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Las Vegas Raiders players stretch during an NFL football training camp practice at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The NFL is opening in Sin City, something even the bookies in this gambling city would never have bet on happening. But on Monday night, Sept. 21, the gamble pays off when the Raiders meet the New Orleans Saints in the opening game of the glittering $2 billion stadium that Raiders owner Mark Davis dubbed the Death Star.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers 8/21/2020

Sep. 18, 2020 12:32 PM EDT

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) gives instructions to his teammates during an NFL football training camp practice at The Star, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Cowboys' Prescott acknowledges mental struggles of offseason

By Schuyler Dixon Sep. 10, 2020 07:50 PM EDT

Hardy, two-sport star, architect of Orange Crush dies at 87

Aug. 09, 2020 08:00 PM EDT
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (AP) — Carroll Hardy, a multi-sport star best known as the only man ever to pinch hit for Ted Williams, died Sunday at age 87. ...

Former NFL, USC offensive lineman Max Tuerk dies at 26

Jun. 21, 2020 08:21 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Tuerk, an All-America offensive lineman at Southern California who was drafted by the Chargers, has died. He was 26. ...