On Sunday night, the New York Jets announced that former AFL All-Star linebacker and former Super Bowl and AFL champion Larry Grantham had passed away. He was 78.
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From the Jets' statement on his passing:
And Grantham, who played at 6'0" and 210 pounds, was a starter and contributor from the day he arrived. He was speedy, impactful, and displayed the hands of a sure tackler and a defensive thief. That first season he came up with five interceptions and three fumble recoveries, the first eight of his 43 individual takeaways, which to this day are the franchise career record.
Grantham, an Ole Miss product, was one of the top stars of the AFL before the merger with the NFL, being selected to the AFL All-Star game in five separate seasons. After the AFL/NFL merger, Grantham stayed productive, and he was a big piece on the defense when the Jets' took their lone Super Bowl crown in Super Bowl III.
Grantham played 13 seasons with the Titans/Jets before retiring from the NFL.
