Former New York Giants RB Has Died

The New York Giants lost one of their own when former running back Dan Doornink passed away on October 31 at the age of 70 in Spokane, Washington.

The Yakima native, who began his professional career in blue, had battled two rare autoimmune diseases for years, according to his obituary.

For Giants fans, his death closes a brief but notable chapter from the late 1970s, when a seventh-round pick briefly carried the ball for a franchise still searching for consistent success.

Doornink arrived in New York after starring at Washington State, where he had established himself as a productive college back.

The Giants selected him 174th overall in the 1978 NFL Draft, hoping the 6-foot-3, 210-pound runner could contribute depth behind their established backs.

As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games and made three starts, rushing for 306 yards and a touchdown while averaging a solid 5.1 yards per carry. He also added 12 receptions for 66 yards.

A shoulder injury limited him at times, but the production offered a glimpse of the reliable runner he would become.

That potential never fully materialized in New York. In August 1979, the Giants traded Doornink to the Seattle Seahawks for a future seventh-round pick.

The move sent him home to the Pacific Northwest, where he spent the remaining seven seasons of his career and became a fixture in Seattle’s early years.

Giants supporters watched from afar as the player they had drafted developed into a steady contributor known for converting third downs and earning the nickname “Dr. Dan” while studying medicine during his playing days.

His time in New York was short, yet it marked the start of an eight-year NFL career that ultimately produced 1,836 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Those who followed the Giants in 1978 remember a young back who showed flashes of effectiveness in a transitional era for the franchise.

After football, Doornink returned to the Yakima Valley to practice internal medicine, following in his father’s footsteps and serving the community that raised him.

He coached his children’s teams, led church ministries, and built a life defined by service beyond the field.

Doornink’s path from a Giants draft pick to a doctor and family man reflected a career that prioritized substance over spectacle.

While his longest chapter unfolded elsewhere, his brief tenure in New York remains part of the franchise’s late-1970s history.

Giants fans who recall the 1978 season will remember the big-bodied back who briefly wore the blue, and the organization that gave him his first opportunity in the league.