Wow, we are so glad that 2020 has finally come to an end. Some many things have happened over the course of a single year! There are a global pandemic and all the revolutions that took place in different parts of the world. The world of sports also went through a lot of changes this year. None of them are more striking than the loss of many amazing athletes. This year, we had to say goodbye to legends like Diego Maradona and Kobe Bryant. Even though some of these deaths took us by surprise, others had been less so. We lost some sports legends to the pandemic and a couple of them to accidents. Let us take this opportunity to look at the achievements of athletes who recently passed away. This is the best we can do to honor their memory!
It Was Tough To Say Goodbye To These Athletes In 2020
Don Shula
No other NFL head coach enjoyed the same number of wins that Don Shula did. In fact, he was the only one to lead an NFL team to a perfect season from beginning to end. He was truly in a league of his own. The former defensive back bagged 328 regular-season victories and 19 in the playoffs. Isn’t it impressive that he led back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the past? He had been 90 years old when he died on May 4.
Don Shula
Gale Sayers
If you are a Kansas fan, you probably know Gale “Kansas Comet” Sayers. He played for the school as its star running back from 1962 to 1964. On the other hand, you might also remember him for the time he spent on the Chicago Bears. He definitely deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Pop culture buffs might know him as a good friend to Brian Piccolo. Did you know that their friendship was the inspiration for Brian’s Song? The team’s founder once had this to say about Sayers: “His like will never be seen again.” He passed away at the age of 77 on September 23. He had dementia at the time.
Gale Sayers
Kobe Bryant
The man, the myth, the legend – the whole world grieved when the media reported Kobe Bryant’s death. He led the Lakers to five NBA titles during his time on the court. At the time of his death, he had been 41 years old. Sadly, the same helicopter crash also claimed the life of his daughter Gianna.
Kobe Bryant
Paul Hornung
Life tends to humble every single one of us. This rule applies to golden boys as well. Paul Hornung called himself the gridiron star who bagged the Heisman Trophy for Notre Dame. He also earned the MVP award during his time with the Green Bay Packers. He was a lady’s man and collaborated with electric shavers and Marlboro in the past. Sadly, he and Alex Karras were suspended for the 1963 season since they bet on games. You are now going to find his name on both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame! At the time of his death, he had dementia. The end came for him in November.
Paul Hornung
George Perles
Are you familiar with George Perles? If so, you might know him as a legendary Michigan State player. He went on to be a head football coach and later held the athletic director position. It goes without saying that he was an NFL icon as well. He was the defensive guru for the Steelers during its Steel Curtain era!
George Perles
Bob Gibson
We are not at all joking when we say that the amazing Bob Gibson changed the game. He literally did so after his amazing performance at the 1968 season. He managed to make 38 runs in 304.2 innings! The MLB decided to lower the mounds by five inches after that. As you can see, this Hall of Famer was truly a legend. He also earned two Cy Young awards, a National League MVP trophy, two World Series rings, and 251 games. He managed to do all that in a career of 17 years. He passed away on October 2.
Bob Gibson
Curly Neal
For some time in the ‘70s and ‘80s, this talented athlete showed us what he was made of as part of the Harlem Globetrotters. His shiny dome and unrivaled skills helped make Curly Neal the icon that he now is. The team went on to retire his jersey in 2008. At age 77, he passed away this March 26.
Curly Neal
Phyllis George
Mind you. Miss America Phyllis George was more than just a pretty face! We added her to the list thanks to her sportscasting career. You might not have known that she made history as the first woman to be a sportscaster on a major TV network! In 1974, she did this by joining The NFL Today team. “If I hadn’t made that work, women eventually would have come into sportscasting,” she shared, “but it would have taken them longer.” In May, she passed away after a battle with a blood disorder at age 70.
Phyllis George
Pat Dye
Are you a fan of college football? If you know your history, you probably know Pat Dye for leading the Auburn Tigers from 1981 to 1992. He was also the head coach for other teams. He was at East Carolina and Wyoming at different points of his career as well. At the time of his passing, he was 80 years old.
Pat Dye
Tom Seaver
In 1969, Tom Seaver had been a hero for fans of the New York Mets. Over the course of his career, he raked in three Cy Young awards, 311 wins, and 3,640 strikeouts. That is enough proof that he is an icon. For decades, the Baseball Hall of Famer dominated the baseball scene. His career went on from 1967 to 1986. Sadly, he contracted COVID-19 and died from the complications related to it on August 31.
Tom Seaver
Diego Maradona
Some people are simply iconic, no matter what they do. Diego Maradona made a name for himself when he led Argentina to a back-to-back World Cup victory. There are so many great moments from his career. A lot of people really like his “Hand of God” goal from the 1986 World Cup! In the past, the athlete struggled with health and drugs. Sadly, he passed away on November 25. He will be missed.
Diego Maradona
Pat Patterson
The first man is Pat Patterson, and to his right is Sgt. Slaughter. These men met at the Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1981. They then engaged in what has since become called the Alley Fight. It was a no-holds-barred match that did not make for a pretty sight. Patterson told WWE.com, “I think it was instrumental in the molding and thinking of what we have in the matches like it today.” He made history as the first WWE international champion and the first gay major wrestler! What a guy. He bit the dust on December 2. At the time, he had been 79 years old. He is gone, but he will never be forgotten!
Pat Patterson
Joe Morgan
Up next, we have another key figure in the MLB. This Cincinnati Reds infielder did not just win back-to-back National League MVP awards, but he also won back-to-back World Series rings! Joe Morgan had a great run. His career went on from 1963 to 1984. In the past, he also played for San Francisco and Houston. Both teams are no longer around. After he retired, he joined the team of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. He kicked the bucket on October 11 at the age of 77.
Joe Morgan
John Thompson
When people call John Thompson a giant, you can take this literally and figuratively. For one thing, he was 6 feet, 10 inches tall! He was also the head coach of the men’s college basketball team at Georgetown. The team would not be what it is now if it weren’t for him. In 1984, Patrick Ewing helped the team land a victory under his guidance. This also made Thompson the first African-American coach to win an NCAA title. Aside from this, he coached the American men’s basketball team and led them to a bronze model at the Summer Olympics in 1988. At the age of 78, he breathed his last breath in August.
John Thompson
Kevin Greene
It feels like Kevin Greene is capable of overcoming whatever obstacle comes his way. The Auburn walk-on went on to be a part of the Tigers’ starling lineup after playing for the Army ROTC intramural team of his school. He was honored to be a fifth-round pick at the NFL Draft of 1985. While 112 players were chosen before him, he was one of five to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He enjoyed a run of 15 seasons, during which he overcome various setbacks. He has the third-highest record for sacks at 160. Sadly, he passed away on December 21 at the age of 58.
Kevin Greene
Chadwick Boseman
Many people know Chadwick Boseman from Black Panther, but he once played Jackie Robinson in 42 as well. By the name of David Denby, a New Yorker writer, even said, “He plays Robinson better than Robinson played himself [in the 1950 biopic, The Jackie Robinson Story].” Aside from that, the actor played a fictional linebacker for the Ohio State called Vontae Mack. He brought the character to life in Draft Day (2014). With these things in mind, the actor passed away on a shockingly fitting day. August 28 is the annual Jackie Robinson Day. Sadly, that also happened to be the day of his death. The world found out that he had been hiding his battle with colon cancer for years. He lost his life at the young age of 43. You know what they say – the good die young.
Chadwick Boseman
Tarvaris Jackson
For a decade, Tarvaris Jackson made a name for himself as the QB of the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Buffalo Bills. An Alabama State alum, he was a second-round pick in the NFL Draft of 2006. He went on to be a coach at Tennessee State. Sadly, he died in a tragic car accident on April 12.
Tarvaris Jackson
Whitey Ford
For eleven years, this MLB player pitched more than most people do in their entire lives. Whitney Ford was the signature hurler of the New York Yankees in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He broke into the world of sports at age 21. However, he had to spend the next two years in the military during the Korean War. After that, he went on to earn six World Series rings, 236 regular-season wins, and ten All-Star selections. What a talented guy! This Hall of Famer kicked the bucket on October 8 at age 91.
Whitey Ford
Joe Laurinaitis
The name is probably unfamiliar to you, but you will recognize his face and ring name. Joe Laurinaitis is simply the birth name of Road Warrior Animal! At 6 feet 2 inches and 300 pounds, he named himself in WWE as part of a tag team with Michael Hegstrand, also known as Road Warrior Hawk. The two of them made up the Road Warriors. They had been the kings of the wrestling scene from the ‘80s until 2003, when Hegstrand died of a heart attack. This year, Laurinaitis kicked the bucket at age 60.
Joe Laurinaitis
Chance Waz
When he entered college football, Chance Waz was a three-star recruit from Hendrickson High School. From 2014 to 2017, he played for Baylor in 43 games. The school released a statement about the death of the former safety on December 14. He had only been 25 years old at the time.
Chance Waz
Al Kaline
Also known as “Mr. Tiger,” Al Kaline made 399 home runs in the regular seasons. He did this during the time that he spent in Detroit from 1953 up to 1974. For 22 years, he was active in the major leagues. He bagged a World Series ring during that period of time. He breathed his last breath on April 6.
Al Kaline
Carlton Haselrig
This former All-Pro guard passed away from natural causes on July 22. He was still young since he was only aged 54. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Carlton Haselrig out of Pitt-Johnstown after looking at his wrestling record. The school had no football program then. He once played for the New York Jets too.
Carlton Haselrig
Markus Paul
The Dallas Cowboys honored Markus Paul before their Thanksgiving game with Washington Football Team. At the age of 54, the strength and conditioning coach passed away after suffering a heart attack at their practice facility in Frisco, Texas. It happened on November 25. The All-American Syracuse alum spent six years in the NFL but ultimately decided to focus his efforts on coaching instead.
Markus Paul
Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya
In 2018, Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya represented Australia in the Olympic Games. Some folks were not surprised to see her excel in the industry, the child of Russian figure skaters. Sadly, the athlete passed away recently. CBS Sports reported that the young athlete took her own life. What makes it even worse is that she was only 20 years old.
Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya
Jim Kiick
It takes a lot of hard work to make it big in the NFL. Jim Kiick was the power back for Wyoming and helped the Miami Dolphins win two Super Bowls under Don Shula’s guidance. Aside from that, he was also on the team during its undefeated season in 1972. He died on June 20 at age 73.
Jim Kiick
Titus Davis
You are looking at a photo of Titus Davis at the 2015 NFL Combine. He became known as a talented wide received for Central Michigan. Some people know him betters as the brother of Corey Davis, however. Sadly, he died after a battle with kidney cancer in November. He had only been 27 years old.
Titus Davis
Lute Olson
The head coach of the Arizona men’s basketball program worked with Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, and Mike Bibby before making it big in the NBA. For 24 years, Lute Olson worked with the Wildcats. During that time, they made 23 appearances in the NCAA tournament. The team also bagged the title in 1997 under his guidance! He spent 1974 to 1983 in Iowa. Sadly, he kicked the bucket on August 27.
Lute Olson
J.B. White
This prep hoops standout received a lot of offers but committed to New Mexico in 2019. It was said to be a “massive pickup” for the Mountain West university. J.B. White was known as a four-star recruit from Santa Fe High School in the area. Sadly, he did not get to train with the Lobos since he was killed on August 1. This was a tragic and frustrating story, especially since he was only 18 years old back then.
J.B. White
Lou Brock
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that Lou Brock managed to run away with Cardinals fans’ hearts in the same way he ran from one base to another. He racked up 900 stolen bases and 3,000 hits during the 19 years he spent in the MLB. This Baseball Hall of Famer met his end in September. He was 81 at the time. His legacy has been immortalized by the statue in his likeness outside Busch Stadium.
Lou Brock
Rickey Dixon
At the age of 53, Rickey Dixon met his maker on August 1, 2020. Six years before that, he found out that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The photo below was taken when the College Football Hall of Famer played for Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl of 1988. He soon became famous for his time as a defensive back for the Sooners. In 1988, he was the fifth overall pick at the NFL Draft! According to Barry Switzer, an Oklahoma coach, “He was one of the greatest players ever played the Sooners!”
Rickey Dixon
Harvey Updike
Even though he was not a sports star, Harvey Updyke did make a ruckus among sports enthusiasts. In 2013, he owned up to poisoning the oaks at the Toomer’s Corner in Auburn. Can you believe that he was the one who blew the whistle on himself? He did so during a call to a sports talk radio show called Paul Finebaum. A fan of Alabama shared that he used herbicide on the trees after Auburn defeated the Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl of 2010. At age 71, he kicked the bucket on July 30.
Harvey Updike
Clifford Robinson
Before he started his NBA career, Clifford Robinson first impressed basketball fans as a UConn player. As a pro payer, the forward was chosen for the All-Star team and spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers. He joined four others during the course of his career. On August 29, the baller died of lymphoma.
Clifford Robinson
Jamari Smith And Allen Merrick
It was very tragic when Jamari Smith drowned to his death on the 27th of March. Meanwhile, Allen Merrick passed away in an accidental shooting incident on the 14th of August. They were members of the AUB Blazers football team, so it was a double-whammy. It did not help that they were both still so young! The former came from Robert E. Lee High, while the latter was from Gadsden High. “I know both families have faith, but at the same time, it’s hard,” said head coach Bill Clark when he talked to WBRC in August about it. He said, “We just let them know they’re going to be part of our UAB family forever.”
Jamari Smith And Allen Merrick
Tom Dempsey
He was 73 years old when he kicked the bucket on April 4. The NFL player died due to complications from his COVID-19 infection. While Tom Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot, this did not stop him from setting a field goal record in 1970! He once played for the Rams, the Bills, and the Eagles.
Tom Dempsey
John Schlarman
In 2018, the Kentucky assistant coach found out that they had bile-duct cancer. Even so, John Schlarman decided to continue working the O-line. It was partly thanks to his efforts that the team beat Tennessee in 2020. Unfortunately, he met his end only a month after that. He was only 45 years old at the time.
John Schlarman
John Blake
There was a time when John Blake was the nose guard for the Oklahoma Sooners. He went on to coach in both college football and the NFL after that. After a while, he returned to his former team and helped them earn the title from 1996 to 1998. The first Black head coach of the school passed away at age 59.
John Blake
Jamain Stephens
For a while, Jamain Stephens was the defensive lineman for the California University of Pennsylvania. His father, who had the same name, was a former O-line player in the NFL. At the age of 20, the young man passed away on September 8. He had a fatal blood clot after he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Jamain Stephens
Ken Riley
When Ken Riley entered the big leagues after his time at Florida A&M, he spent 15 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He retired after 1983, but he still holds the fifth spot in all-time interceptions to this day. We are sad that he did not get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but this can still change in the future. He kicked the bucket at the age of 72 on June 6.
Ken Riley
Isi Holani
It is always awful to hear about the death of a young person. At only 24 years old, Isi Holani died on August 22. We do not know the cause of death. He made a name for himself as the Kansas Jayhawks defensive tackle from 2016 to 2018. He was in 17 games and raked in 23 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
Isi Holani
D.J. Looney
This athlete first made a name for himself on the Mississippi State team from 2007 to 2010. He boosted the offensive line of the Bulldogs during that time. In 2017, he started working as the tight ends coach of his alma mater. He later moved to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, however. The assistant coach suffered a fatal heart attack during an on-campus practice on August 1. Isn’t it tragic? He was only 31.
D.J. Looney
Eddie Sutton
We think that it is neat how Eddie Sutton secured more than 800 wins as a coach in various teams in the men’s college basketball circuit. The list includes Arkansas and Oklahoma State, among others. He worked as a coach for five decades! At the age of 83, he kicked the bucket on May 23.
Eddie Sutton
Max Tuerk
The USC Trojans had a great offensive line from 2012 to 2015. This can be attributed in part to Max Tuerk. Sadly, he collapsed while he and his parents had been on a hiking trip. At the time of his death, he had been 26 years old. He had only been in the NFL for two seasons back then.
Max Tuerk
Johnny Majors
As the Tennessee Volunteers coach, Johnny Majors took the reins of the team from 1977 to 1992. He breathed his last breath on June 3. The College Football Hall of Famer was 85 years old. Aside from this, he coached at Pittsburgh and Iowa State. This was what his wife said about his death: “He spent his last hours doing something he dearly loved: looking out over his cherished Tennessee River.”
Johnny Majors
Stanley Robinson
UConn let the world know of the death of Stanley Robinson on July 22. He was only 32 years old. Also known as “Sticks,” he was the forward for the Huskies as a part of the Final Four team in 2009. He went on to enjoy a pro career, the bulk of which had been in Chile. We don’t know the cause of death, sadly.
Stanley Robinson
Chris Doleman
From Pitt, Chris Doleman, it all the way to the NFL. Not only that, but he also earned a spot on the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The defensive end spent most of his pro career as a part of the Minnesota Vikings. On January 28, he kicked the bucket after a battle with brain cancer. He had only been 58 years old.
Chris Doleman
Wes Unseld
It is impressive to hear that We Unseld was both the NBA Rookie of the Year and the NBA Finals MVP at one point or another. The athlete was on the Washington Bullets for some time. He later became a front-office exec and coach. His family said that he passed away on June 2 after “lengthy health battles.”
Wes Unseld
Sam Wyche
In 1989, Sam Wyche helped the Cincinnati Bengals reach the Super Bowl. The longtime NFL coach met his end after a battle with metastatic melanoma. At the time of his death, he was only 74 years old. A long time ago, he was a journeyman QB. He was also the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sam Wyche
Ryan Wetnight
If you watched the NFL from 1993 to 2000, you probably Ryan Wetnight. The former Stanford Cardinals player spent most of it as a tight end with the Chicago Bears. There was a time when he was with the Green Bay Packers as well. On May 1, he passed away after a battle with gastric cancer.
Ryan Wetnight
Jerry Sloan
For a decade, Jerry Sloan flaunted his athletic prowess in the NBA. He became even more famous during his tenure as the Utah Jazz head coach, however. He took the team to back-to-back appearances in the NBA championships in the ‘90s. Sadly, he passed away on May 22 at the age of 52. Rest in peace, Jerry.
Jerry Sloan
David Forney
During his time in the Navy, David Forney was the team’s offensive lineman for four years. It was actually rather sad. He was set to finish training in May 2020 but suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in February. We are sure that not a single person knew that something like this was going to happen.
David Forney
Willie Davis
The Pro Football Hall of Famer took home two wins at the Super Bowl together with Vince Lombardi. At the age of 85, the Green Bay Packers legend Willie Davis breathed his last breath on April 15. The defensive end for the Grambling State started his pro career on the Cleveland Browns team in 1958.
Willie Davis
Ben Williams
Also known as “Gentle Ben,” this athlete was an impressive addition to Ole Miss. In 1971, Ben Williams and James Reed made history as the first black students to receive football scholarships. Not only that, but he was also the first black player from Ole Miss to be chosen at the NFL draft. He spent an entire decade with the Buffalo Bills. Sadly, he passed away on May 18 at the age of 65.
Ben Williams
Michael Ojo
Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall, Michael Ojo made sure to take advantage of his physique. He served as the center of Florida State from 2013 to 2017. After he graduated, he started his pro career in Serbia. In August, the basketball player had been in the middle of practice when he had a fatal heart attack.
Michael Ojo
Ashley James
When he was a student at the Chatham Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, this basketball player showed off his court skills. Sadly, Ashley James met his end on March 2. Despite this, the police said that it had been nothing more than an accidental shooting. He was only 19 years old at the time.
Ashley James
David Lewis
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans heard the sad news on July 14. They found out that David Lewis kicked the bucket on that day! He had only been 65 years old. The Bro Bowl linebacker graduated from USC and served as the football coach of the Tampa Catholic High School in the Sunshine State.
David Lewis
Richard Richardson
We are sad to report that another athlete fell victim to COVID-19 in 2020. Richard Richardson was best known for his time with the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1979 to 1982. At the age of 60, he passed away from complications brought about by the virus. It is comforting to think that he is no longer in pain.
Richard Richardson
Lee Green
The standout was a guard for St. John’s from 1991 to 1994. Lee Green graduated from Tolentine High School in the Bronx before that. He also died from complications courtesy of the COVID-19 virus. Did you know that he was a police officer at one point? He was 49 years old at the time of his death.
Lee Green
Roy Lester
Many people know Roy Lester as a great coach for various football teams on the high school and college levels. From 1969 to 1971, he led the Terrapins. He was also the head coach for the University of Maryland at one point. At 96 years old, he died from COVID-19 complications on May 3.
Roy Lester
Donnie Young
There was a time when Donnie Young was the West Virginia University assistant football coach. Aside from that, he also worked for the Mountaineers. He stayed with them from 1970 all the way up to 1012. At the age of 77, the former grid aide kicked the bucket on April 7. We hope he is in a better place now.
Donnie Young
Claudell Washington
During his teens, Claudell Washington made it to the big leagues. He got to play for a bunch of teams during his pro career. For one thing, he was a player for the Chicago White Sox for a while. He had been 65 years old at the time of his death. He lost his battle with prostate cancer on June 10.
Claudell Washington
John Holmes
You will be amazed when you hear how athletic John Holmes was. He did not only excel in one sport but two when he was a student at Grand Rapids Christian School! Even though he was also good at basketball, he decided to play for the Brown Bears. The football player died in a car crash at the age of 18.
John Holmes
Joe Bugel
The esteemed NFL O-line coach served as the head coach of the Phoenix Cardinals from 1990 to 1993. Four years later, he started working with the Oakland Raiders instead. Joe Bugel made a name for himself as one of the greatest offensive line coaches. At age 80, he breathed his last breath on June 28.
Joe Bugel
John Altobelli
Do you remember when we mentioned the chopper crash that claimed Kobe and Gianna Bryant? They were not the only victims. John Altobelli, who headed the Orange Coast College basketball team, was another one. His wife and daughter perished in the same accident as well. His young daughter Alyssa and Gianna were players on a youth team together.
John Altobelli
Reche Caldwell
After Reche Caldwell finished high school, he declined the chance to play for the Cincinnati Reds. He decided to play in Florida instead. Over the course of his six years, he became a part of three NFL teams. Unfortunately, he was fatally shot in his hometown on June 6. He was 41 years old when he died in Tampa. Unfortunately, no one has been held responsible for his death thus far.
Reche Caldwell