Greg Hawthorne, a former Super Bowl champion running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has died at the age of 69. His family shared the news on social media.
Hawthorne played a pivotal role for the Steelers after being selected with the No. 28 overall pick out of Fort Worth Polytechnic in the 1979 NFL Draft. His rookie season culminated in a Super Bowl XIV victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
“On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night,” a Facebook post read. “Please keep his mother, children, brother, and sisters, along with the entire family, in your prayers.”
The family did not disclose the cause of Hawthorne’s death.
Hawthorne wore No. 27 for the Steelers and played five seasons with the team, switching between running back and wide receiver. He played in 59 games, gained 522 rushing yards, scored seven rushing touchdowns, and caught 55 passes for 710 yards with three touchdown catches.
He also spent three seasons with the New England Patriots and one with the Indianapolis Colts. One of his memorable moments was during the 1985 AFC Championship, where he recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. His play helped the Patriots win the game and advance to Super Bowl XX.
Overall, Hawthorne participated in 105 NFL games, accumulating 1,639 yards from scrimmage and scoring 11 touchdowns.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.