Former NFL Pro Bowler & NCAA National Champion Has Tragically Passed Away /d

New York Giants helmet (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The New York Giants organization is mourning the loss of one of their former players and has taken some time to remember him following the news of his passing.

Former Pro Bowl center Greg Larson passed away on June 20 at the age of 84 with his 63-year-old wife, Joey, by his side. No cause of death was disclosed.

Larson spent his entire career with the Giants after being selected as the 81st overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. His career ran from ‘61 to ‘74, following a National Title-winning spell with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

While injuries shortened his career, Larson is ninth in all-time career games for the New York Giants and was second in such regard at the time of his retirement. He was named in the team’s Top 100 Giants list when it celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

“As the story of his life is told through pictures, Greg was consistently surrounded by family during get togethers, life long friends from grade school, high school and new friends that he made wherever he was in life.” the Giants wrote. “He truly was a person who made special connections with nearly everyone he met through life and was amazingly humble despite all of his gifts and successes in life.”

Greg Larson Was A Mainstay For The New York Giants Until Surgery Forced Him To Retire

Larson was a walk-on for the Golden Gophers but earned a full scholarship for his ability to play both offense and defense. He went on to become a team captain and was an All-Big Ten pick en route to a National Championship win in 1960.

He only missed three games in 13 seasons with the Giants before retiring in ‘74, having played 179 games.

“If I hadn’t had surgery, I definitely wouldn’t have given retirement a thought and would have come back,” he told the New York Times that year. “But the leg wasn’t responding the way I would like, and I said last year if I ever had another operation, that would be it.”

John Mara, the New York Giants, owner, referred to Larson as “our leader, our captain, one of the most popular players that we had.”

“He really epitomized what it meant to be a Giant in that era,” he added.

We at Total Pro Sports would like to extend condolences to Larson’s family, friends, and loved ones.

R.I.P, Greg Larson. 1939-2024.