Paul Hornung, a Pro Football Hall of Famer with the Green Bay Packers and a Heisman Trophy winner with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, passed away on Friday at the age of 84.
The Louisville Sports Commission announced that one of the most iconic football players in the sport’s history died after a prolonged battle with dementia.
Hornung was one of just three players to win the Heisman Trophy, be the No. 1 overall pick and get elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the lone player in the history of college football to win the Heisman Trophy while playing for a losing team.
Raised in Louisville, Hornung emerged as a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball. He turned down the chance to play for Bear Bryant at Alabama, signing on to be a part of the Fighting Irish.
A two-time First-Team All-American (1955, ’56), Hornung won the Heisman Trophy in 1956. During that season, he threw for 917 passing yards, compiled 420 rushing yards and scored nine total touchdowns in 10 games. After an incredible collegiate career, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.
Hornung served as Green Bay’s halfback and kicker during his NFL career. A two-time Pro Bowl selection (1959, ’60) and twice named First-Team All-Pro (1960, ’61), he won Super Bowl I and four NFL championships with the Packers. Hornung also won NFL MVP in 1961.
He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Due to his extraordinary versatility, the Paul Hornung Award was created in his honor in 2010.
Given to the player who performs at a high level and shows outstanding versatility for his team, Lynn Bowden Jr. won the award in 2019 for playing quarterback, receiver and returning kicks. Past winners include Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rondale Moore.
Following Hornung’s death, the sports world came together to mourn and honor the unforgettable football legend.
Paul Hornung liked to say his epitaph should be: "He went through life on scholarship." In the foreword to his book Lombardi and Me, I wrote that there's an element of truth to that, but Paul also made good on his scholarship–with talent, grace and charisma. RIP, Golden Boy.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) November 13, 2020
In a year in which we've already lost Willie Wood, Willie Davis and Herb Adderley, now Paul Hornung has died, as well. He was something else.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) November 13, 2020
Spoke to Paul Hornung once.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 13, 2020
Not about football.
About a horse.
“My whole life I wanted to own a horse that runs in the Derby,” Hornung said.
Titletown Five didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby but did in the Preakness.
This was the story from the @gbpressgazette in 2013 #RIP pic.twitter.com/uZEN0wb1Ob
Paul Hornung, one of the all-time great college and pro football players, passed away today in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., at age 84 after a long battle with dementia.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 13, 2020
Sad news for Louisville, and everywhere. The Golden Boy, Paul Hornung, passed away in the wee hours of this morning. pic.twitter.com/Df0yZL2cKM
— Eric Crawford (@ericcrawford) November 13, 2020
Paul Hornung has passed away….Louisville legend and a NFL great
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 13, 2020
Sad day in Kentucky
RIP Paul Hornung "The Golden Boy" of a golden era in football: pic.twitter.com/LmF0eVAYv2
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 13, 2020
RIP to Packers legend Paul Hornung, seen here kicking a FG during the 1960 NFL Championship Game. He was 84 pic.twitter.com/BFzhrPwOej
— Old-Time Baseball Photos (@OTBaseballPhoto) November 13, 2020
Last night our family watched an old episode of the Paul Hornung show with dad as his guest. They were high school competitors and friends for life. #1 pick in the NFL and #2 in the NBA. We appreciate all that Paul and his family have done for his/our hometown. Legendary Heisman pic.twitter.com/q5n6nazwhI
— Vince Tyra (@vincetyra) November 13, 2020
Hall of Famer and @packers legend Paul Hornung has passed away at the age of 84.
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 13, 2020
We will keep his legacy in the Game alive forever at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Read: https://t.co/OqJyp74UWH#HOFForever pic.twitter.com/6J8mtaXYkS
Got to meet Paul Hornung during an autograph show in Stevens Point. I was just a kid, and my dad took me. My dad shared many stories of those great Lombardi #Packers teams, but there was something about the Golden Boy that made it seem like he was The Man. #legend #hof #5 pic.twitter.com/W7gGvFgLUu
— Brett Christopherson (@PCBrettC) November 13, 2020
One interview that I will never forget, sitting in Paul Hornung’s office in the early 2000s. We were talking about a number of topics and when we finished he says to me, “Jody, I’ve lived my whole life on scholarship and it’s been a damn good ride.” RIP Golden Boy
— Jody Demling (@jdemling) November 13, 2020
RIP Paul Hornung, "The Golden Boy"
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) November 13, 2020
HB-FB-K, #Packers 1957-62, '64-66
• PFHOF (1986)
• 4x NFL Champion
• 1961 NFL MVP
• All-Decade 1960s
• 2 Pro Bowls
• 2x First-Team All-Pro
• Led NFL with 15 TDs in 1960
• Led NFL in scoring 3x
• Scored 5 TDs in game @ BAL ('65) pic.twitter.com/yTXVseGYiz
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!