NFLPA Director Gene Upshaw Dead at 63

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) executive director Gene Upshaw died last night at his home in Lake Tahoe, CA. Gene had pancreatic cancer, but the news comes as a shock because he was diagnosed only this past Sunday. The NFLPA Web site issued the following statement today:

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden and unexpected death of our leader, Gene Upshaw. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Terri, and their three sons – Eugene, Justin and Daniel. Gene learned he was sick just this past Sunday and he died with his family at his side. We ask that the media respect our need to begin the process of dealing with this unexpected tragedy and to begin the grieving process.”

Gene has been Executive Director of the NFLPA since June 1983, after a successful 16-year career as a player. Since then, he worked diligently at enhancing, protecting and defending the individual rights of professional football players throughout the National Football League. He also served as Chairman of National Football League Players Incorporated.

Gene was an All-Pro offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, his first year of eligibility. He played in 217 league games and appeared in six Pro Bowls. He was named Lineman of the Year in the AFC in 1973 and 1974. In 1977, he was voted top lineman in the NFL, and runner-up for that honor in 1980. Gene is the only player in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls in three different decades—in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

Gene was a team captain, while also serving as an NFLPA player representative and officer for 13 years. He served as alternate representative or player representative for the Raiders from 1970 to 1976 and was a member of the executive committee from 1976 through 1980 when he was elected president of the NFLPA, a post to be held until 1983. As an officer of the NFLPA, Gene took part in all negotiations leading up to the 1977, 1982 and 1993 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFLPA and the NFL, and extensions of the CBA in 1996, 1998, 2002, and most recently, 2006.

Source: NFLPlayers.com, Photo: Newscom