Ray Mansfield
| No. 77, 73, 56 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Center | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | January 21, 1941 Bakersfield, California, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | November 3, 1996 (aged 55) Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Kennewick (Kennewick, Washington) | ||||
| College: | Washington | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1963 / Round: 2 / Pick: 18 | ||||
| AFL draft: | 1963 / Round: 5 / Pick: 37 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Burt James Ray Mansfield (January 21, 1941 – November 3, 1996), nicknamed "Ranger", was an American professional
Early years
Born in
Playing career
Mansfield was the 18th overall selection in the
Mansfield moved to the Steelers in
Mansfield played in 182 consecutive games,[3][10] and was succeeded at center by Mike Webster.
"Ray was a special person," former Steeler coach Chuck Noll said. "He was one of the guys who was a Steeler when I arrived in 1969, and he was great in the locker room. He was a guy that everybody rallied around. He always had a certain amount of levity, but he was a tremendous football player."[3]
After football
He retired from pro football in July 1977,[11] and went on to a successful career as an insurance broker in the Pittsburgh area, previously his off-season job.[3]
Death
Known by his Steeler teammates as "Ranger" for his love of the outdoors, Mansfield died at age 55 from a heart attack while hiking with his son in the Grand Canyon in Arizona in November 1996.[1][3][10][12][13] He was buried at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in his hometown of Kennewick.
References
- ^ a b Silver, Jonathon D. (November 5, 1996). "Ray Mansfield dies in Grand Canyon hike". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A1.
- ^ Cook, Ron (November 6, 1996). "Former Steeler loved people and life". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B6.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rockne, Dick (November 5, 1996). "Husky great Mansfield dies in Grand Canyon -- former UW, Pittsburgh Steeler lineman, 55, collapses during hiking trip". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- ^ a b STATE OF WASHINGTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME
- ^ "Ray Mansfield Stats".
- ^ Pittsburgh Steelers 40 at Baltimore Colts 14
- ^ Pittsburgh Steelers 7 at Oakland Raiders 24
- ^ Bechtel, Sam (December 20, 1976). "Gerela not kicking about leg pain". Beaver County Times. Pennsylvania. p. C2.
- ^ "Walden alive and kicking". Beaver County Times. Pennsylvania. October 21, 1974. p. B4.
- ^ a b "Steelers mourn the death of former center Ray Mansfield". Kingman Daily Miner. Arizona. Associated Press. November 5, 1996. p. 3.
- ^ "Ray Mansfield quits football". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. July 8, 1977. p. 23.
- ^ "Ray Mansfield dies on hiking trip". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. wire services. November 5, 1996. p. D3.
- ^ Grand Canyon claims the life of Ray Mansfield
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Ray Mansfield at Find a Grave