Floyd Little, a member of the college and professional football Hall of Fame, died after “almost a year of battling, even battling cancer”, his son Marc Little said in a statement on Saturday.
The great back runner who starred in Syracuse and the Denver Broncos passed away early Friday night at home in Las Vegas with his wife, DeBorah Little, by his side, the family said. Little, born in Waterbury, Connecticut, was 78 years old.
He went all-American three times in Syracuse, where he wore No. 44 as Jim Brown and Ernie Davis before him. From 1964 to 1966, he ran for 2,704 yards and 46 touchdowns.
“Floyd Little is a Syracuse treasure,” John Wildhack, director of athletics at Syracuse University, said in a statement. “The legacy he leaves here is much more than just the one he wore # 44, he was an All-American, he was at the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Floyd’s legacy is that he was a wonderful , wonderful person.”
“It is a legacy that will last forever and will never be replaced,” said Wildhack.
Little was the sixth overall choice in the 1967 draft of the AFL-NFL. He played nine seasons in Denver, where he earned the nickname “The Franchise” because his hiring was credited with preventing the team from moving and helped persuade voters to approve funds for the iconic old Mile High Stadium, which has since been replaced by Empower Campo at Mile High.
He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
“Floyd Little was a true hero in the game. He was a man of great integrity, passion and courage. His contributions off the field were even greater than his incredible accomplishments, “said David Baker, president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in a statement.” Floyd’s smile, heart and character sum up what it meant to have a life in the Hall of Fame. “
In 2011, Little returned to Syracuse as a special assistant to the athletics director, a position he held until 2016, when he received the honorary doctorate from the university. After that, he moved to Las Vegas with his wife, DeBorah.
“Floyd mentored countless student-athletes and dedicated his time, energy and resources to improving other people’s lives,” he said. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud, in a statement.
Syracuse male basketball coach Jim Boeheim posted a tribute to Little on Twitter, saying, “I lost a great friend and Syracuse University lost one of its greatest ambassadors of all time. Floyd Little brought a smile to everyone’s face. found. Juli and I send our condolences to the family of DeBorah and Floyd. “
A five-time Pro Bowler, Little led the NFL in races in 1971 with 1,133 yards and in touchdown races in 1973 with 12. He was also one of the league’s best kick returns, leading the AFL in punt returns as a rookie in 1967.
During his nine-year professional career, Little ran for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns and picked up 215 passes for 2,418 yards and nine TDs. He had the most all-purpose yards in professional football and ranked second only to OJ Simpson in yards throughout his career.
A former Little teammate in Syracuse, Pat Killorin, made Little’s cancer diagnosis public in May, when he created a GoFundMe page to help the family with treatment costs.
“On January 1, 2021, my best friend, my father, met Jesus Christ. I can’t be happier for him. I will miss him more than I can imagine. I was blessed to have Floyd Little as my father. I am the son luckiest in the world, ” Marc Little tweeted.
In addition to his wife and son, Floyd Little left his daughters Kyra Little DaCosta and Christy Little Jones.
The Associated Press contributed.