Y.A. Tittle, who played 17 seasons of professional football and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, died Sunday at age 90.
Tittle’s death was confirmed to his alma mater LSU by his family on Monday.
Tittle played for the AFL Baltimore Colts and NFL San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants during his professional career and led the Giants to three straight division titles in the early 1960s. He was known as “The Bald Eagle” because of both his hairline and his leadership on the field. He was best known for his passing, especially with the Giants.
The quarterback never won a championship but came to embody football’s competitive spirit after a photo of him was taken during his final season with the Giants. Tittle is pictured sitting on the field, spent and exhausted after throwing an interception. He is bleeding from a head wound and also had an injured rib, ESPN reported.
Tittle was named the league MVP in 1963.
He owned a successful insurance business after retiring from football and was active at memorabilia shows and auctions, ESPN said.
Tittle was the first professional football player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Some on Twitter commented on Tittle’s greatness and suggested he was disheartened by the current Giants’ dismal season.
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