Former Green Bay Packers tight end and college Hall of Famer Rich McGeorge died on Saturday. He was 77.
McGeorge played nine seasons with the Packers from 1970-78 after being the No. 16 overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. He caught 175 passes for 2,370 yards and 13 touchdown passes in 116 games (101 starts) for Green Bay.
McGeorge had more than 400 yards on three occasions for the Packers.
Prior to his NFL career, McGeorge was a force for Elon (N.C.) College from 1966-69 during an era where tight ends were mainly used for blocking.
McGeorge set then-school records for receptions (224), receiving yardage (3,486) and touchdown catches (31). His 285-yard outing in 1968 still stands as the school record and his four touchdowns in the same game are tied for the school mark.
McGeorge was a two-time All-American at the college division level.
“Rich McGeorge represented the very best of college football as a player, later devoting his life to the game as a coach,” National Football Foundation Chairman Archie Manning said in a news release. “As Elon’s first College Football Hall of Famer, he was a true pioneer whose impact transformed the tight end position and elevated his university onto the national stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who were touched by his remarkable legacy.”
McGeorge also scored 1,044 points in 76 games with the Elon basketball program.
His assistant coaching career included college stints at Duke and Florida and NFL stints with the Miami Dolphins and Packers.
McGeorge, a native of Roanoke, Va., was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. He was enshrined into the Elon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 and also has his No. 85 football jersey retired, and inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1980.
