Greg Hawthorne, a former first-round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Super Bowl champion, has died at the age of 69, his family announced on social media Thursday.
"On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night," a Facebook post from the family stated. "Please keep his mother and his children, his brother and sisters as well as the whole family in your prayers."
The cause of death has not been released.
Hawthorne was drafted by the Steelers with the 28th overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft following his college career at Baylor. Despite playing only three games in his senior season, he was selected in the first round. He appeared in 15 games during his rookie season, which the Steelers won the Super Bowl. However, Hawthorne found it challenging to break into a starting lineup that included prominent running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, and Sidney Thornton.
His most productive season with the Steelers was in 1980, where he started five games due to an injury to Harris. During that season, Hawthorne rushed for 263 yards on 63 carries and scored four touchdowns. He later transitioned to wide receiver for the Steelers but struggled to secure significant playing time in the new role.
After his tenure with Pittsburgh, Hawthorne played three seasons with the New England Patriots and one season with the Indianapolis Colts. With the Patriots, he played multiple positions including running back, wide receiver, and tight end. In New England, he recorded 34 receptions for 361 yards and one touchdown. He also reached the Super Bowl in 1986 with the Patriots, who lost to the Chicago Bears.
In his final NFL season with the Colts, Hawthorne appeared in three games, registering three catches for 41 yards.