BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey, a uniquely gifted athlete who revolutionized the role of the tight end, has died, the Hall of Fame said on Thursday.
Mackey, 69, passed away on Wednesday in Baltimore, the Hall of Fame said in a statement. He had suffered from dementia in recent years.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called the former Baltimore Colts player "one of the great leaders in NFL history, on and off the field."
Mackey teamed with quarterback Johnny Unitas to lead the Colts to two Super Bowls, including a 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in 1971.
Named the greatest tight end of the NFL's first 50 years, Mackey was voted first-team All-NFL three consecutive seasons from 1966-68 and was selected to five Pro Bowls.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Off the field, he was a highly respected leader of the NFL Players Association.
"He led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and ferocious drive," current NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement.
"His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten."
Goodell praised Mackey for his work both in the NFL and with the union.
"He was a Hall of Fame player who redefined the tight end position," the commissioner said in a statement.
Mackey played with the Colts, now the Indianapolis Colts, from 1963-71 and the San Diego Chargers in 1972. He caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns.
"Previous to John, tight ends were big strong guys like (Mike) Ditka and (Ron) Kramer who would block and catch short passes over the middle," former Colts coach Don Shula once told reporters.
"Mackey gave us a tight end who weighed 230 (pounds), ran a 4.6 (seconds over 40 yards) and could catch the bomb. It was a weapon other teams didn't have."
Mackey proved that in the Super Bowl win over Dallas. He grabbed a deflected pass from Unitas and ran 75 yards for Baltimore's first score. At the time, it was the longest touchdown pass in a Super Bowl.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
