Denvr_Sports_Insider's Blog

Gene Upshaw, the National Football League Players Association executive director and Hall of Fame Football player has passed away.

“Right now we are being told Gene died from Pancreatic Cancer.  I am on my way to the office right now,” a highly placed NFL source confirmed to Fox 31 sports Thursday morning.

The Post Chronicle was first to report Upshaw’s death Thursday morning.

Sources told Fox 31 sports Upshaw apparently had been dealing with serious health problems for a while.

“You would be blind or crazy not to know.  It was never discussed or talked about, except among some people.  People would say he doesn’t look well,” added the NFL source.

USA Today reported that Upshaw learned he had Pancreatic Cancer on Sunday night.

NFL spokesmen Greg Aiello, contacted by Fox 31 sports reporter Josina Anderson by cell phone Thursday, said that, “the union needs to issue a statement and then the NFL will follow suit.  Right now we are all just learning of this and we’ll have no further comment at this time.”

Upshaw, 63, was the Oakland Raiders’ first round draft choice in the first combined AFL-NFL draft in 1967. Upshaw had a successful 16-year career as a player.  The 11-time All-Pro offensive guard was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility.

He was the only player in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls in three different decades, the 60's, 70's and 80's. His team won two of those Super Bowls.

Upshaw has been the executive director of the National Football League Players Association since June 1983.