Pro Bowl Tight End Russ Francis Dies in Plane Crash at 70

Pro Bowl Tight End Russ Francis Dies in Plane Crash at 70

Former Pro Bowl tight end Russ Francis died in a plane crash in Lake Placid, New York, according to family members. Francis was 70 years old. Francis and former U.S. Air Force Thunderbird commander Richard McSpadden rolled hard to the left after takeoff from Lake Placid Airport, according to an NTSB spokesman. It was not immediately clear whether Francis or McSpadden, 63, was piloting the plane.

 

The New England Patriots took Francis in the first round of the 1975 draft. He made three Pros for the team. In 1982, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he won the Super Bowl in the season of 1984. Francis returned to the Patriots in 1987 before retiring the following season.

He totaled 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. The Patriots released a statement on social media: and quot;We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of former New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis. Our condolences to Francisand #039; family and friends.andquot; A football dropout, Francis explored his passion for aviation and recently purchased Lake Placid Airways.

 

The Boston Globe reports that FAA records show he was licensed to fly single- and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters. andquot;My oldest brother, Russ Francis, just died in a plane crash in Lake Placid, New York,andquot; Francisand#039; brother Ed Francis wrote on Facebook Sunday. andquot;Flying was my brother’s lifelong passion and perhaps the right path for him. God speed you my big brother!!andquot;

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