Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Charley Mitchell, former halfback with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills died on June 27th, at age 85:


https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituar ... l-12439488


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... tcCh00.htm

Former Dallas Cowboy Pettis Norman (TE: 1962-70) passed away today; he was 86.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl ... db58695408

Luis Sharpe, former tackle with the St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals death was announced on July 12, at the age of 65:


https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 784633007/


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... arLu00.htm

https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obi ... 1092977147

Tim Rooney, a great football man who had a hand in the successes of the Steelers, Lions, and Giants, at 84.

Bryan Braman, former linebacker/special teams player with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles died on July 17th, at the age of 38:


https://www.foxnews.com/sports/super-bo ... cer-battle


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... amBr00.htm

Billy Howton, end, Green Bay Packers 1959-‘58, Cleveland Browns 1959 and Dallas Cowboys 1960-‘63. Two-time All Pro, four Pro Bowls and was the league’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards when he retired after twelve seasons. Died August 4th at 95.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ho ... d=59150360

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... wtBi00.htm

Ronfitch wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:28 am Billy Howton, end, Green Bay Packers 1959-‘58, Cleveland Browns 1959 and Dallas Cowboys 1960-‘63. Two-time All Pro, four Pro Bowls and was the league’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards when he retired after twelve seasons. Died August 4th at 95.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ho ... d=59150360

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... wtBi00.htm

The CBS obit says he founded and was the first president of the NFLPA. Rest in peace, Mr. Howton

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bill ... ies-at-95/

RIP

Lionel Taylor

fgoodwin wrote: ↑Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:51 am

Ronfitch wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:28 am Billy Howton, end, Green Bay Packers 1959-‘58, Cleveland Browns 1959 and Dallas Cowboys 1960-‘63. Two-time All Pro, four Pro Bowls and was the league’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards when he retired after twelve seasons. Died August 4th at 95.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ho ... d=59150360

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... wtBi00.htm

The CBS obit says he founded and was the first president of the NFLPA. Rest in peace, Mr. Howton

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bill ... ies-at-95/

Same obit says he was believed to be the oldest living former NFL player. He was not. I did a deep dive on this a few weeks ago when Rosey Grier turned 93, the claim that Rosey is the oldest living former NFL player made the rounds. Dub Jones died last year just a few weeks shy of 100, so I found this claim to be suspect. I found seven 95-year-old NFL veterans who were still alive, of whom Billy Howton (born July 5, 1930) was the youngest.

We've got Lou Tepe (born June 18, 1930, played for the Steelers 1953-1955), Maury Nipp (born March 21, 1930, played for the Eagles 1952-53 & 1956), Ken Bahnsen (born February 19, 1930, played for the 49ers in 1953), Brad Myers (born February 14, 1930, played for the Rams in 1953 & 1956 and the Eagles in 1958), Willie Irvin (born January 3, 1930, played for the Eagles in 1953), and Ed Listopad (born August 28, 1929, played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1952).

There may be some older than 95, I didn't have the time to research players born before mid-1929 to see if any were still around. But this is what ails journalism these days...a writer says "believed to be" and moves on. Less than a generation ago, when I was a working journalist, you'd have three or four layers of editors checking this, making sure your claim was accurate, removing wishy-washy statements like "believed to be" in favor of a clear, provable fact. With dwindling revenue, shrinking newsrooms, and competition from so-called "social media journalists" who aren't held to any sort of standards at all, this kind of robust fact-checking is simply not done anymore. Sigh...

Derreck Robinson, who played defensive end for the Chargers, Dolphins, and Browns, died Aug. 13 at age 43.