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Paul Hornung, a Hall of Fame running back who played for the Green Bay Packers, has passed away. He was 84 years old.
Hornung died in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., After a long battle with dementia, the Louisville Athletic Commission said in a statement.
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Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy with Notre Dame as a quarterback. He turned pro in 1957 and played for the Packers as a fullback after being selected first overall.
He spent nine seasons with the Packers and was suspended for the entire 1963 season due to a suspension from play.
He was part of the 1966 Packers team that won the very first Super Bowl, beating the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League 35-10.
Paul Hornung has played his entire NFL career with the Packers. (Photo by Focus on Sport / Getty Images)
However, he did not play in the game due to neck issues. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the expansion draft the following season, but never played for them.
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Vince Lombardi once described Hornung as “the most versatile man to ever play the game”. He ended his career with 50 touchdowns and 3,711 rushing yards. He won the MVP award in 1961 and was an All-Pro selection twice.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Hornung has been at the center of some controversy throughout his career and beyond.
He was suspended for the entire 1963 season because he was caught betting on NFL games. To get back into the league, he agreed to stay away from Las Vegas and not attend the Kentucky Derby.
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In 2004, he was criticized for saying Notre Dame had to do a better job of recruiting black athletes. He has been scrutinized by Notre Dame and legendary head coach Ara Parseghian.
The New York Times kept saying he lacked common sense. He tried to clarify his point by saying he wasn’t trying to offend anyone, he just wanted the team to improve regardless of race.
He would also become a sports broadcaster on several networks and he wrote a few books.
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He is survived by his wife Angela Hornung. A public celebration of his life is expected to take place at a later date.
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