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Iconic Green Bay Packers staple and Hall of Famer Paul Hornung died Friday at the age of 84 after a long bout with dementia, via ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Louisville Sports Commission announced today that Hall-of-Fame legend Paul Hornung died after a battle with dementia. Hornung was 84.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2020
Hornung was one of the stars who defined the greatest era in Packers history.
The former Notre Dame standout led the Packers to four NFL championships and another Super Bowl title in the span of a nine-year career.
Hornung excelled as a halfback who could run the ball or pose as a capable receiver out of the backfield. He made his first Pro Bowl team in 1959, and just one year later was named first-team All-Pro after tallying close to 1,000 yards from scrimmage and leading the league with 15 total touchdowns.
Hornung's 176 points in 1960 were an NFL record at the time.
RIP Paul Hornung "The Golden Boy" of a golden era in football: pic.twitter.com/LmF0eVAYv2
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 13, 2020
Hornung was named to the All-Pro First Team yet again for the Packers the following season, also capturing MVP honors in the process. He had successfully cemented his place as one of the best skill players in football.
But the Louisville native faced his fair share of trials and tribulations.
Former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended Hornung and former Detroit Lions star Alex Karras in 1963 as a result of the two standouts betting on league games.
Hornung would miss a full season in the prime of his career, and he was never quite the same. While his 635 yards from scrimmage in 1965 marked the fourth-highest total of his career, he played his final season just one year later.
Still, Hornung is one of the definitive faces of the golden era, and widely regarded as one of the best running backs in franchise history.
