Former NFL player Russ Francis died in a plane crash in New York
The Super Bowl XIX winner was killed during takeoff at Lake Placid Airport Former NFL tight end Russ Francis was killed in a plane crash at the Lake Placid Airport on Sunday, October 1st.
A 70-year-old man appeared on the plane shortly after takeoff from the airport in Franklin County, New York, USA.
The disaster happened shortly after 4pm and the Air Force and Pilots Association said the plane tried to return to the runway but failed. Francisco was on the Cessna 177 Cardinal with Richard McSpadden, who also died.
McSpadden was senior vice president of AOPA’s Aviation Safety Institute. In August, Francis bought Lake Placid Airways, which sells charter flights and scenic flights.
The #49ers are saddened to hear of the tragic passing of former tight end and Super Bowl XIX champion Russ Francis. Remembering Russ Franciscus Born in Seattle on April 3, 1953, Francis was drafted 16th overall in the first round of the 1975 draft by the Oregon Ducks. He spent 13 seasons in the NFL, playing for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers from 1975-1989. He had 393 career receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns and was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. in 1993.
Francis’ career highlight was Super Bowl XIX in 1984. The 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16 when Francis scored his only career touchdown and had five receptions for 60 yards. Outside of football, he was a generally successful athlete who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the MLB and competed in wrestling, most notably at WrestleMania 2.
He also set a record of 23.91 seconds in the 50-yard dash, before it later was broken by an Olympic jumper. He also tried to run for Congress in Hawaii, but lost the election with 36 percent of the vote.
