Former Packers QB Announces Tragic Personal News

 In a social media post on April 14, Matt announced that Don suffered cardiac arrest and passed away. He was 70.

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of our father, Don Hasselbeck, who suffered cardiac arrest and passed away today," Matt wrote. "There is a 6’ 7” hole in our hearts. He will be so missed by so many. We are beyond grateful that he was our dad and look forward to Heaven and being all together again.".

Don was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1977 draft and played seven seasons in New England. He also played for the Los Angeles Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants before hanging up his cleats in 1986.

Don's second son Tim Hasselbeck was an NFL backup quarterback and is currently an ESPN analyst. His third son, Nathanael Nicolas played wide receiver at Boston College and the University of Massachusetts.

Here's Matt's full post memorializing his father:

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of our father, Don Hasselbeck, who suffered cardiac arrest and passed away today. We want to thank our parents’ neighbors and all the medical professionals who came to his aid. 

He was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, player, coworker, artist, mentor, and storyteller. Despite being an All-American at Colorado and a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, what we are most proud of is the leader he was for our family.

He helped set our feet on solid ground. Married to and in love with our mom, Betsy, for 50 years, they built their house on the rock of Jesus Christ. Our dad’s prayer journals, in his meticulous handwriting and in a rainbow of pen colors, hold each of our names and needs. Many of you who have known our father, have been thoughtfully prayed for in the pages of his journals.

There is a 6’ 7” hole in our hearts. He will be so missed by so many. We are beyond grateful that he was our dad and look forward to Heaven and being all together again.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” - Matthew 7: 24-25