Denver Broncos Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little dies at 78

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ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – Floyd Little, known as the “franchise” in his career with the Denver Broncos, died on New Year’s Day. He was 78 years old.

Few had been diagnosed with cancer, which went public in May last year and was moved to hospice care in November.

“Floyd Little was a true hero of the game. He was a man of great integrity, passion and courage,” Pro Bak Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. “His off-field contributions have been even greater than his amazing accomplishments. Floyd’s smile, heart, and character were what it meant to have a Hall of Fame life.

Little’s family said in a statement: “The family extends its gratitude to all those who supported Floyd Little and his family during this time with sincere prayers, calls and expressions of love.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said those around Little are proud to have met him.

“I was so lucky to meet Floyd and witnessed directly the impact he had on others,” Goodell said in a statement. “Whenever he represented the Broncos at the annual NFL Draft, others immediately sought to greet him and his real enthusiasm for being with his Legends colleagues and his pride and passion for the Broncos were unmistakable. part of his life, but nothing could surpass his love and affection for his wife DeBorah and his children, Marc, Christy and Kyra. For them and for the whole Little family, we offer them the deepest sympathy. “

For many fans, Little was the first star of the team. Always a vibrant presence at team functions, Little had also become a regular at Canton, Ohio ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall.

Little has been in the Hall class since 2010. Three times All American at Syracuse, Little is also in the College of Hall of Fame.

“I feel so blessed in everything and, as long as I can, I will always come back [to Canton], and I always hope to see more Broncos here with me as the years go by, “Little said in 2019 when both Champ Bailey and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen were consecrated.” Football has given me so much. and I will always try to give back in all ways to the young people who need our help.

“I’ve always been blessed around the game, and through all the pain, I’ll always feel that way.”

After the Broncos’ Nov. 22 victory over the Miami Dolphins, when the team rushed for 189 yards, while Phillip Lindsay of Denver South High School finished 89 yards for 16 yards, the team sent a game ball to Little. Little’s wife, DeBorah, posted on social media photos of the ball in Little’s hospice room.

Little, who was the sixth pick of the 1967 AFL-NFL draft by the Broncos, played nine seasons with Denver and rushed for 6,323 yards with 43 touchdowns. Those early years of the Broncos franchise – one of the original AFL teams in 1960 – were usually a battle on the field, as Little played for teams that didn’t make the playoffs.

The Broncos finished with a two-time winning record in Little’s career – in 1973 and 1974. But he was a five-time Pro Bowl and led the AFL in combined courts in both 1967 and 1968.

He also became the first player to lead the NFL in a hurry while playing for a last-place team (1971, 1,133 yards). The Broncos did not reach the postseason until the 1977 season, two years after Little’s retirement.

Earlier this year, former teammate from Syracuse Pat Killorin made Little’s cancer diagnosis public, while creating a GoFundMe page called “Floyd’s Friends.”

From 2011 to 2016, Little worked in the athletics department in Syracuse, and in 2016 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school.

“Floyd Little embodies what it means to be orange,” Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a statement. “He was an American student-athlete. He set records in the NFL. He was successful in business. Floyd guided countless student-athletes and dedicated his time, energy and resources to improving the lives of others. a great friend, for me and for his beloved University of Syracuse “.

Jim Boeheim, the men’s basketball coach from Syracuse, honored Little in a tweet, calling him a “great friend” and one of the school’s “greatest ambassadors.”

The little one had his number 44 withdrawn by both Syracuse and Broncos.

Little was called a “franchise” because his signing, when players could choose between the NFL and AFL, was credited with preventing the team from moving in the 1960s and helping persuade local voters to approve funding for the construction of the Mile High Stadium. .

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