Greg Hawthorne, a first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a member of the franchise's Super Bowl XIV team, has died at 69, his family announced. Hawthorne, a Baylor product who played nine NFL seasons, was selected late in the first round of the 1979 draft. The family did not immediately release a cause of death.
Career snapshot
Hawthorne was taken 28th overall in the 1979 NFL Draft out of Baylor and spent his first five seasons in Pittsburgh, according to Pro Football Archives. He later joined the New England Patriots for three seasons and finished his career with the Indianapolis Colts, compiling 527 rushing yards and 92 receptions in the NFL.
Patriots playoff flash
Beyond Pittsburgh, Hawthorne had a memorable run with the 1985 Patriots. He hauled in a touchdown pass from Steve Grogan and recovered a Dolphins fumble in the AFC Championship Game that helped send New England to Super Bowl XX, per Patriots.com. That postseason spark remains one of the highlights fans remember from his time in Foxborough.
Local reaction and next steps
At the time of reporting, the Steelers organization had not posted an official statement about Hawthorne's death, and the family had not shared service information, Steelers Now noted. Pro Football Archives lists Hawthorne's birthplace as Fort Worth and traces his collegiate career at Baylor, where he drew enough pre-draft attention to be taken in the first round.
Former teammates, fans, and local sports pages began posting condolences on social platforms Thursday, and more details are expected as the family and former clubs confirm arrangements. Updates are expected when official notices or service information are made public.
