ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – Professional Football Hall of Fame Floyd Little, known as “The Franchise” in his Denver Broncos career, died on New Year’s Day. He was 78 years old.
Little had been diagnosed with cancer, which went public last May, and was transferred to palliative care in November.
“Floyd Little was a true hero of the game. He was a man of great integrity, passion and courage,” said President and CEO of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, David Baker, in a statement. “His contributions off the field were even greater than his incredible accomplishments. Floyd’s smile, heart and character epitomized what it meant to have a life in the Hall of Fame.
Little’s family said in a statement: “The family extends its gratitude to everyone who supported Floyd Little and his family during this time with prayers, connections and their sincere expressions of love. ”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that everyone around Little was proud to have met him.
“I was fortunate enough to meet Floyd and witnessed firsthand the impact he had on others,” Goodell said in a statement. “Whenever he represented the Broncos in the annual NFL Draft, others immediately sought to congratulate him and his genuine excitement for being with his fellow Legends and his pride and passion for the Broncos was unmistakable.” Football, Broncos and the NFL were a big part of his life, but nothing could beat his love and affection for his wife DeBorah and their children, Marc, Christy and Kyra. We extend our deepest condolences to them and to the whole small family. “
For many fans, Little was the team’s first star. Always a vibrant presence in the team’s roles, Little has also become a regular presence at ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, for the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Little was consecrated in the Hall Class of 2010. Three times All American in Syracuse, Little is in the College Football Hall of Fame as well.
“I feel so blessed in everything, and as long as I can, I will always be back [to Canton], and I always hope to see many more Broncos here with me over the years, ” is how Little said in 2019, when Champ Bailey and Pat Bowlen, owner of the Broncos, were consecrated. “Football has given me a lot and I will always try to give back in any way to young people who need our help.
“I have always been blessed around the game and through all the pain and suffering I will always feel that way. ”
After the Broncos’ November 22 victory over the Miami Dolphins, when the team ran 189 yards while Denver South High School’s Phillip Lindsay finished 89 yards in 16 runs, the team sent Little a ball. Little’s wife, DeBorah, posted pictures on social media of the ball in Little’s room at the madhouse.
Little, who was the sixth choice in the 1967 AFL-NFL draft for the Broncos, played nine seasons with Denver and ran for 6,323 yards with 43 touchdowns. Those early years of the Broncos franchise – one of the original AFL teams in 1960 – were generally a field fight, as Little starred in teams that didn’t make it to the playoffs.
The Broncos ended with a winning record only twice in Little’s career – in 1973 and 1974. But he was selected five times in the Pro Bowl and led the AFL in combined yards in 1967 and 1968.
He also became the first player to lead the NFL in races while playing for a bottom team (1971 with 1,133 yards). The Broncos didn’t make it into the postseason until the 1977 season, two years after Little’s retirement.
Earlier this year, former Syracuse teammate Pat Killorin made Little’s cancer diagnosis public by creating a GoFundMe page called “Friends of Floyd”. Little had stage 2 neuroendocrine tumor cancer and more than $ 100,000 was raised to help the Littles with medical expenses.
From 2011 to 2016, Little worked in the athletic department of Syracuse and, in 2016, received the honorary doctorate from the school.
“Floyd Little personifies what it means to be Orange,” Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a statement. “He was an American student-athlete. He set NFL records. He achieved success in the business world. Floyd mentored countless student-athletes and devoted his time, energy and resources to improving other people’s lives. He was a great friend, for me and for his beloved Syracuse University. “
Syracuse’s male basketball coach, Jim Boeheim, paid tribute to Little in a tweet, calling him a “great friend” and one of the school’s “greatest ambassadors”.
I lost a great friend and Syracuse University lost one of its greatest ambassadors of all time. Floyd Little brought a smile to the face of everyone he met. Juli and I send our condolences to the family of DeBorah and Floyd. pic.twitter.com/sIdzEdwhkV
– Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) January 2, 2021
Little had his 44 retired both from Syracuse and the Broncos.
Little was called “The Franchise” because his signing, when players could choose between the NFL and the AFL, was credited for preventing the team from moving in the 1960s and for helping to convince local voters to approve funds to build the Mile High Stadium.