Greg Hawthorne, renowned former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Super Bowl champion, has passed away at the age of 69. The news was shared by his family on social media. Hawthorne was the 28th overall pick from Fort Worth Polytechnic in the 1979 NFL Draft, contributing as a rookie during the Steelers’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Hawthorne’s family expressed their grief through a Facebook post, stating: “On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night.” The family also requested prayers for his loved ones during this difficult time. The cause of his death has not yet been disclosed.

During his tenure with the Steelers from 1979 to 1983, Hawthorne switched between running back and wide receiver roles, appearing in 59 games. He amassed 522 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 55 catches, 710 receiving yards, and three touchdown catches.

After his time with the Steelers, he played three seasons with the New England Patriots and another with the Indianapolis Colts. In a significant highlight of his career, Hawthorne’s key play during the 1985 AFC Championship helped the Patriots secure a win by recovering a fumbled opening kickoff in the second half, paving their way to Super Bowl XX.

Throughout his career, Hawthorne played in a total of 105 games, accrued 11 touchdowns, and gained 1,639 yards from scrimmage, leaving a memorable record behind.