Andy Russell, a former Steelers linebacker who won two Super Bowls with the team, died Thursday night at 82, Action News 4 in Pittsburgh reported.
The cause of death remains unknown.
Russell played his college ball at Missouri before being drafted by the Steelers in the 16th round of the 1963 NFL Draft.
After a rookie season in which Russell had three interceptions, a fumble recovery and two sacks, he missed the 1964 and 1965 seasons to fulfill ROTC military commitments from his college days.
He returned to the team in 1966 and played another 11 years.
Russell, a member of the famed “Steel Curtain” defense, made seven Pro Bowls in his career, including six straight from 1970-1975, and played all 14 games of the NFL schedule in every year he played.
He won Super Bowls IX and X with Pittsburgh before retiring after the Steelers lost to Oakland in the 1976 AFC Championship Game.
In a playoff game against the Baltimore Colts in 1975, Russell returned a fumble 93 yards for a touchdown to seal the game.
The Steelers would eventually win the Super Bowl that season, beating Dallas 21-17.
It was the longest fumble return in NFL postseason history the Bengals’ Sam Hubbard had a 98-yard return against the Ravens in a 2023 wild-card game.
The Steelers named him to their All-Time Team and inducted him into their Hall of Honor.
Russell, who spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, is also a member of the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame.
Russell finished his career with 18 interceptions, including a pick-six, ten fumble recoveries, and 38 sacks, starting in 162 of the 168 games he played.