2020 Obituaries

[74_75_78_79_]

Phyllis George

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-s ... spartanntp

A nice chunk of my childhood, following football for the very first time, has definitely died! Rushing out of my Sunday School clothes and hearing that opening of 'NFL Today' blaring downstairs and running down in time to hear Brent make the opening announcements! Yes, 'NFL on NBC' and, of course, 'NFL Films' as well as the Classic MNF crew of Howard/Frank/Don greatly helped assist in preventing my following football from being just merely a 'fad'; but so DEFINITELY did that very Beatles-like quartet of Brent, Irv, Jimmy, and Miss America 1971 herself...the trailblazing Phyllis George! Despite Brent the broadcaster and Irv the former player, they both seemed more alike than the other two while Jimmy and Phyllis certainly were salt-and-pepper. But all four such diversified figures helped to make it happen for us all in that very era before ESPN (hence football/sports-inundation) became a household name! When it was "must-see" TV! Thank God for YouTube! Yes, going to watch a bunch of Classic 'NFL Today'!

RIP Phyllis
Thank You for helping to properly launch my NFL fandom out of the exosphere!

[Eagles One]

Michael McCaskey, former president and chairman of the Chicago Bears (Halas' grandson) died on May 16, at the age of 76:


https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/291 ... ies-age-76

[BD Sullivan]

Former Raider Rodger Bird, who was a safety from 1966-68 with them, died on Saturday:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 207980002/

[Eagles One]

Ben Williams, former defensive end with the Buffalo Bills died on May 18, at the age of 65:


https://www.buffalobills.com/news/forme ... asses-away

[Eagles One]

Jesse Freitas, Sr.,(according to multiple sources this is the correct spelling) former quarterback in the All-America Football Conference with the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Rockets and Buffalo Bills died on May 18, at the age of 99:


https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/l ... af2f7.html

[Eagles One]

Chuck Sieminski, former defensive tackle with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions died on May 16, at the age of 80:


https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/citiz ... =196215889

[BD Sullivan]

Former Chargers DB Joe Beauchamp died on Wednesday:

https://www.news-daily.com/sports/forme ... f408c.html

[Eagles One]

Dave Smith, former wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs died on May 22, at the age of 73:


https://www.wccsradio.com/2020/05/22/iu ... sses-away/

[BD Sullivan]

Dave Smith, former wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs died on May 22, at the age of 73:


https://www.wccsradio.com/2020/05/22/iu ... sses-away/

He was the Steelers WR whose pre-celebration in a 1971 MNF game on a would-be touchdown resulted in a touchback when he lost control of the ball.

[BrownsHistorian]

Former Chargers DB Joe Beauchamp died on Wednesday:

https://www.news-daily.com/sports/forme ... f408c.html

For the last game of the 1975 season, DB Joe Beauchamp was a Cleveland Brown