2025 Obituaries

[Eagles One]

Mike Battle, former defensive back with the New York Jets death at age 78 was announced on March 11th:


https://nypost.com/2025/03/11/sports/mi ... ead-at-78/


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... ttMi20.htm

[Eagles One]

Olen Underwood, former linebacker with the New York Giants, Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos died on February 28th, at age 82:


https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/co ... d=57868606


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... deOl20.htm

[Eagles One]

Norris Thomas, former cornerback with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers died on March 7th, at age 70:


https://www.unityfh.net/obituary/norris-thomas


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... omNo20.htm

[Citizen]

Paul Flatley, wide receiver for the Vikings and Falcons and 1963 NFL Rookie of the Year, died March 15 at 84.

https://www.vikings.com/news/paul-flatl ... f-the-year

[Eagles One]

Ken Hall, former halfback with the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, in addition to the CFL died on March 14th, at the age of 89:


https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports ... 221829.php


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... llKe00.htm

[Ronfitch]

Bob Long, reciever for the Packers, Falcons and Redskins from 1964-‘70) died Sunday.

Bob was a guest at the PRFA Meeting in Green Bay in 2016 (I believe Rick Schabowski drove him up from Milwaukee). They got there early Friday night and Bob grabbed a seat to listen to speakers (he was to speak with Zeke Bratkowski) and ended staying for the entire meeting, walking to dinner with a group of us either Friday or Saturday from the hotel.

I had a seat in the second row, middle with an empty chair next to me where speakers rotated in and out Friday night (Cliff Christl, Chuck Lane - neither stayed long). The next morning, Bob took that seat and stayed there all day (except when he and Zeke spoke) and kept turning to me say, “How do you guys know all this stuff?”

He had a great time at the meeting in Green Bay and was suggesting that next meeting in held in D.C. (“I still know people there! I’ll make calls!”).

With Green Bay, Bob was a member of three NFL Championship teams. He was traded to the Falcons for the ‘68 season and missed much of that season after a car accident left him with a broken back. Lombardi- then with Washington - called him to inquire if he would be interested in joining him in D.C. for the ‘69 season. Bob then played for the Rams.

https://www.packers.com/news/former-pac ... -long-dies

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... ngBo00.htm

[Eagles One]

Derrick Gaffney, former wide receiver with the New York Jets died on March 17th, at the age of 69:


https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/derric ... s-obituary


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... ffDe00.htm

[Gary Najman]

Bob Long, reciever for the Packers, Falcons and Redskins from 1964-‘70) died Sunday.

Bob was a guest at the PRFA Meeting in Green Bay in 2016 (I believe Rick Schabowski drove him up from Milwaukee). They got there early Friday night and Bob grabbed a seat to listen to speakers (he was to speak with Zeke Bratkowski) and ended staying for the entire meeting, walking to dinner with a group of us either Friday or Saturday from the hotel.

I had a seat in the second row, middle with an empty chair next to me where speakers rotated in and out Friday night (Cliff Christl, Chuck Lane - neither stayed long). The next morning, Bob took that seat and stayed there all day (except when he and Zeke spoke) and kept turning to me say, “How do you guys know all this stuff?”

He had a great time at the meeting in Green Bay and was suggesting that next meeting in held in D.C. (“I still know people there! I’ll make calls!”).

With Green Bay, Bob was a member of three NFL Championship teams. He was traded to the Falcons for the ‘68 season and missed much of that season after a car accident left him with a broken back. Lombardi- then with Washington - called him to inquire if he would be interested in joining him in D.C. for the ‘69 season. Bob then played for the Rams.

https://www.packers.com/news/former-pac ... -long-dies

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... ngBo00.htm

I remember very well Mr. Long at the meeting. He said that when Lombardi called him to join Washington Long said that the accident had left him without his speed, so Lombardi answered: "I want your hands, not your speed". He was the only player with Lombardi in both the Packers and Redskins.

He also praised Boyd Dowler a lot. He said Dowler was the Randy Moss of the 1960s.

[Eagles One]

Kenneth Sims, former defensive end with the New England Patriots died on March 21st, at age 65:


https://www.patriots.com/news/former-pa ... asses-away


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... msKe21.htm

[Eagles One]

Matt Stevens, former safety with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots and Houston Texans died on March 20th, at age 51:


https://www.walkersfuneralservice.com/o ... ew-stevens


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... evMa22.htm