Derrick Jensen, a running back who won two Super Bowls and later became a scout who specialized in uncovering overlooked talent, died after a five-year battle with ALS. He was 60.
Jensen was a running back with the Oakland Raiders from 1979 to 1986, and won Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. Here he is, with a blocked punt and touchdown, in Super Bowl XVIII.
After he retired, he became a scout for the Seattle Seahawks, and spent 22 years with the team. The Associated Press reported he was known for finding overlooked players, and noted he discovered Ricardo Lockette, Jordan Babineaux and J.R. Sweezy.
Jensen's death is the latest in a series of bad news about former players suffering from various ailments related to their football careers. In just the last month, the former Oakland Raiders running back, Charlie Garner, 45, said doctors told him they believe he has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)—a brain disease that has affected numerous former NFL players. Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame running back and Chicago Bears, has dementia, his family announced. Dwight Clark, the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver known for one of he biggest catches in NFL playoff history, recently announced he has Alzheimer's.