gene upshaw has passed away at 63

[Coach K-LO]

Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw has died. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63.

Upshaw played for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 through 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro, playing on two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Raiders. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, but has been better known for the past 25 years as the executive director of the NFL Players Association.

From his involvement with the NFLPA as a player through his tenure as executive director, Upshaw took part in negotiations of the 1977, 1982 and 1993 Collective Bargaining Agreements between the NFL and NFLPA, and extensions of the CBA in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Upshaw was born on Aug. 15, 1945, in Robstown, Texas, and played collegiately at Texas A&M. He was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 1967 and became the starting left guard as a rookie. He quickly became part of one of the NFL's most dominant offensive lines, lining up between fellow Hall of Famers Art Shell at tackle and Jim Otto at center. Upshaw became the first player who was exclusively a guard to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Upshaw is survived by his wife, Terri, and sons, Justin, Daniel and Eugene Jr.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

May God Bless his family!

[Coach_J]

Oh this is so sad. I am stunned. Not only did he pass at age 63 but coincidentally that was the number he wore. I just turned to Sports Center and many people including his friends are in shock because they were unaware. I remember how dominant he and Art Shell were in Super Bowl XI when the Raiders won there first Super Bowl against the Vikings. As Coach K-Lo he was best known for the last 25 years as Executive Director of the NFLPA. He was one of the All Time greats and will be missed.

Coach J

[artlax]

One of the all-time greats and continued his commitment to the game with the NFLPA.

[canadatabletopgames]

R.I.P # 63


Benster from north of the border

[HOOP]

[sweetka]

I guess Jim Marshall, formerly of Ohio State, then NFL Vikings, can finally see half of the sun now. Marshall was quoted as saying after the Superbowl Blowout that Upshaw and Shell blocked out the sun.

Rest in peace All time great!

[GrandMasterKC]

flg$ flg$ flg$ flg$ flg$ flg$ flg$

[detroitchild]

...he was a part of my favorite offensive line ever. In fact, some of us were talking about that o-line a few weeks ago.

May he rest in peace.

[rjackson]

.........now we can get someone in there for the players whom have given their blood and tears for this game and are having problems getting their benefits. So I am sad but there is hope for the veteran players now with him gone.