(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff, who helped the New York Giants secure six NFL title games in the 1950s and 1960s passed away Saturday at the age of 87.
In a statement after Huff’s death, Giants president John Mara called Huff “one of the greatest Giants of all time.”
Huff, who later became a popular player and announcer in Washington, died of natural causes in Winchester, Virginia. The obituary released by the Giants said Huff had been diagnosed with dementia in 2013.
Huff is remembered as the hard-hitting middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme developed for him by his defensive coordinator, fellow Hall of Famer, and legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry.
Raised in coal country in rural West Virginia, Sam Huff became a two-time All-Pro in a career that spanned from 1956 until 1969.
Huff was drafted out of West Virginia in the third round in 1956 where he played for New York until 1963. Before the 1964 season, he was traded to Washington where he played until retiring in 1967. Huff sat out the 1968 season but returned as player-coach under Vince Lombardi in 1969.
In 1959, Huff was selected as the NFL’s top linebacker. He played in five Pro Bowls – four with the Giants and one with Washington. In November 1959, Huff became the second NFL player to make it to the cover of Time magazine.
After retiring as a player, Huff coached for a year with Washington in 1970.
Huff spent three seasons as a radio color commentator for the Giants before moving to a similar job with Washington in 1975. He spent 38 years as Washington’s broadcaster.
Washington owners Dan and Tanya Snyder remembered Huff as “an iconic player and broadcaster for the franchise for over 40 years.”
Robert Lee “Sam” Huff was born in a mining camp in Edna, West Virginia on Oct. 4, 1934, to a coal miner father. He began playing as a two-way lineman in high school before going on to West Virginia where he played guard his sophomore year and tackle for his final two years.
