Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey dies at age 77

**pwaldo** · 12-04-2021, 10:07 PM

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...es-age-77.html

Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey died unexpectedly at the age of 77 Friday night, his daughter confirmed.

He is remembered as one of the NFL's most fearsome pass rushers during the 1970s with the Atlanta Falcons but was long overlooked on mostly losing teams.

Humphrey was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 2003, 2005 and 2006, but he failed to get in each time. He finally was elected as a senior candidate in February 2014.

The pro football player, who also reached the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, died in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, according to the Hall of Fame. His cause of death has not been reported.

Humphrey was the No. 3 overall pick by the Falcons out of Tennessee State in 1968 and went on to play 11 years with the team, earning the last of six Pro Bowl appearances as a member of the famed 'Grits Blitz' defense in 1977.

The Tennessee native also made first-team all-pro five times during his time in Atlanta.