Hall of Famer Ray Guy, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time in the NFL, has died at the age of 72 after a long illness and a career that included three Super Bowl wins with the Raiders
Ray Guy, considered by many to be the greatest punter in NFL history, died Thursday at the age of 72 after a long illness.
The death of the Pro Football Hall of Famer was announced by his alma mater in southern Mississippi.
A six-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler, Guy became the first punter in NFL history to be picked in the first round of the draft when he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in 1973. He won Super Bowls with the team three times – two in Oakland and a third in Los Angeles.
Ray Guy, considered by many to be the greatest punter in NFL history, died Thursday at the age of 72 after a long illness
Ray Guy #8 of the Oakland Raiders plays the ball during an NFL football game circa 1980. Guy played for the Raiders from 1973-1986
Oakland Raider punter Ray Guy starts a fundraiser for the Paramount Theater in 1975
Guy’s towering punts are credited with coining the phrase “hang time,” by which all players in the position are now judged.
In his 14 seasons, he never missed a game and appeared in 207 games.
Guy had two children, Ryan and Amber, with his wife Beverly.
In 2000, the annual Ray Guy Awards were created to honor the top collegiate player in the country.
In 2011, he filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell his Super Bowl rings at auction, earning $96,216 in the process.
Guy remains the only full-time player enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Guy averaged 42.4 yards per kick from 1973 to 1986 and led the league in that category three times. He also dropped a whopping 209 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
The longest punt of his career came in 1977 against the Denver Broncos when he threw the ball 74 yards.
Guy’s death follows the deaths of other Raiders legends such as quarterback Daryl Lamonica, who died in April, and former head coach John Madden, who died in December.
Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy #8 prepares to kick against the Baltimore Colts on September 28, 1975 at Baltimore Memorial Stadium in Baltimore