NFL and college football great Lee Roy Selmon, 56, has reportedly passed away following a stroke on Friday, according to WTSP in Tampa. He suffered the stroke on Friday afternoon and was taken to the hospital after paramedics found him unconscious and not breathing. The cause of the stroke has not yet been ascertained.
Lee Roy Selmon Suffers Stroke; Condition Unclear
Selmon enjoyed an outstanding career as a defensive lineman with the Oklahoma Sooners before he entered the NFL as the first-ever draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him with the first overall pick in 1976. He went on to a nine-year career, all with the Buccaneers, and joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He totaled 78-1/2 sacks in his career and made the Pro Bowl in his last six years. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1979.
Following his football career, Selmon joined the University of South Florida in the 1990s as the athletic director. He was the guiding force in starting the football program from scratch.
[UPDATE] Additional reports out of Tampa indicate that these earlier reports were in error. Selmon’s brother, Dewey, has told WTSP that Lee Roy is still alive.
See More:
