FILE-Greg Hawthorne #27 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns a kickoff during an NFL football game circa 1983 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Greg Hawthorne, a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Super Bowl champion, died at the age of 69.
Hawthorne’s family announced the news of his passing on social media. His cause of death is unknown, according to FOX Sports.
"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 and his children, his brother and sisters as well as the whole family in your prayers."
Hawthorne was selected by the Steelers in the 1979 NFL Draft with the No. 28 pick overall out of Fort Worth Polytechnic. He was a rookie when the Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.
Who was Greg Hawthorne?
The backstory:
Greg Hawthorne played five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as both running back and a wide receiver.
Hawthorne appeared in 59 games, and accumulated 522 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, and 55 receptions for 710 yards and three touchdowns.
FOX Sports noted that he also played three years with the New England Patriots and another with the Indianapolis Colts.
Hawthorne had a crucial play in the 1985 AFC Championship for the Patriots, recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half, and New England went on to win that game, punching their ticket to Super Bowl XX.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by FOX Sports and NFL.com. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.