Jets great, Hall of Fame WR Don Maynard dies at age 86

Pro Football Hall of Famer and New York Jets great Don Maynard died Monday at age 86, the Hall of Fame announced.

Maynard was drafted by the New York Giants in the ninth round of the 1957 NFL Draft, but didn't play much for the team before he was released in 1959. After playing a year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League, he signed with the New York Titans in 1960, who eventually became the Jets in 1963.

In 13 seasons with the Titans/Jets, Maynard caught 627 passes for 11,732 yards and 88 touchdowns. In his best season, Maynard led the NFL in 1967 with 1,434 receiving yards. A year later, Maynard was part of the Jets team that won Super Bowl III by beating the Baltimore Colts, 16-7.

"I came to play, and I came to stay," Maynard said during his enshrinement in the Hall of Fame in 1987. "Football was a game; Country Don was my name. I made a mark, and I became a star, with a lot of help from near and far. There are good ones and great ones, I played with and against. Thank you, good Lord, for that wonderful chance. As I played my part many times even late after dark, I don't have to look back as I played it with my heart."

According to the New York Times, the cause of a death was a combination of health problems, including dementia.