Steelers Super Bowl Champion, First-Round Pick Greg Hawthorne Dies
Greg Hawthorne, a former first-round NFL draft pick who won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played nine seasons in the league, died Wednesday. He was 69.
Hawthorne’s family announced his death in a social media post. No cause of death was disclosed.
Hawthorne was born on Nov. 13, 1956, in Memphis. He emerged as one of Baylor’s top athletes before his senior season was interrupted by a broken hip.
“When I woke up from my hospital bed an Atlanta scout was there telling me they'd take me in the third round,” he said in a 2016 interview, “but I rehabbed and got better, and the Steelers drafted me.”
The Steelers selected the running back with the 28th overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, betting on his size and athleticism despite limited college production.
In Pittsburgh, Hawthorne joined one of the NFL’s deepest backfields, playing behind Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier and Sidney Thornton. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie and was part of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl XIV championship team, the franchise’s fourth title in six seasons and its last until 2005.
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Hawthrorne’s greatest contribution in Pittsburgh came in 1980, when injuries created an opportunity in the backfield. He started five games, rushed 63 times for 263 yards and scored four touchdowns - all career highs. He remained with the Steelers through the 1983 season, but never secured a full-time starting role.
After leaving Pittsburgh, Hawthorne spent three seasons with the New England Patriots. He contributed as a running back, receiver, tight end and special teams player, catching 34 passes for 361 yards and a touchdown. He reached another Super Bowl following the 1985 season, when the Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX.
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Hawthorne finished his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts in 1987. Across nine seasons, he appeared in 112 regular-season games, rushing for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 37 receptions for 402 yards and one receiving touchdown. His versatility allowed him to contribute at multiple positions even after his role as a traditional running back diminished.
Although Hawthorne never matched the expectations that accompanied his first-round selection, he carved out a lengthy NFL career and earned two Super Bowl appearances, including a championship with one of the league’s most accomplished teams.
Hawthorne is survived by his mother, children and siblings, according to a Facebook post from his family.
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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 3:59 PM.