:Russ Francis
{{Short description|American football player (1953–2023)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Russ Francis
|image=
| number = 81, 49
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|04|03}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|10|01|1953|04|03}}
| death_place = Lake Placid, New York, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 242
| high_school = Kailua (HI)
Pleasant Hill (OR)
| college = Oregon
| draftyear = 1975
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 16
| teams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1975|1980}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1982|1987}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1987|1989}})
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (XIX)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1976, 1978)
- 3× Pro Bowl (1977–1979)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (1975)
- New England Patriots All-1970s Team
- New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team
- First-team All-Pac-8 (1973)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 393
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 5,262
| statlabel3 = Receiving TDs
| statvalue3 = 40
| pfr = FranRu00
}}
Russell Ross Francis (April 3, 1953 – October 1, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a tight end for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. He was also a professional wrestler.
Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
In 2021, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Francis to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.{{cite web |url= https://www.football-learning-academy.com/pages/blog?p=pfras-hall-of-very-good-class-of-2021&fbclid=IwAR13MohRgCFNeiEZEefXV5gktK68rgKAADNdXH9-vaOh_hqVjhnv-dNp2zU |title= PFRA's Hall of Very Good Class of 2021 |author= Ken Crippen |access-date= November 21, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211121200009/https://www.football-learning-academy.com/pages/blog?p=pfras-hall-of-very-good-class-of-2021&fbclid=IwAR13MohRgCFNeiEZEefXV5gktK68rgKAADNdXH9-vaOh_hqVjhnv-dNp2zU |url-status= live }}
Early life and career
Francis began high school at Kailua High School on Oahu, Hawaii, and finished at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, southeast of Eugene.{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |title=Russ Francis – Football |publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301212526/http://oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }} He set the national high school record for the javelin as a senior in 1971 at {{height|ft=259|in=9}}; the record stood until 1988.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |title=Lists: High School: All-Time: Men |publisher=Track and Field News |date=November 15, 2005 |access-date=February 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104849/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |archive-date=February 17, 2013 }} Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Brett |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Oregon legend Russ Francis killed during plane crash |url=https://www.kezi.com/sports/local/oregon-legend-russ-francis-killed-during-plane-crash/article_2ab4218c-6172-11ee-9a51-eb60f115d5f4.html |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=KEZI |language=en |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015211/https://www.kezi.com/sports/local/oregon-legend-russ-francis-killed-during-plane-crash/article_2ab4218c-6172-11ee-9a51-eb60f115d5f4.html |url-status=live }}
College career
At the University of Oregon in Eugene, {{height|ft=6|in=6}} Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the Ducks. Injured after three games as a sophomore in 1972, he played in 1973,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C5544845 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Newnham |first=Blaine |title=Russ has a choice |date=January 25, 1974 |page=1D |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502001410/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546,5544845 |url-status=live }} but sat out his senior season in 1974.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KEhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717%2C3799630 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Conrad |first=John |title=Francis comes full circle in return to Eugene |date=October 16, 1993 |page=4D |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509204757/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KEhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717,3799630 |url-status=live }}
Francis enrolled at rival Oregon State University in order to expire his collegiate eligibility and be eligible for the 1975 NFL draft.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U0cgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E50EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7183%2C4347392 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros |agency=Associated Press |date=January 26, 1975 |page=12B |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504060233/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U0cgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E50EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7183,4347392 |url-status=live }} Briefly a pro wrestler,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xcdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6497%2C913394 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Cawood |first=Neil |title=Russ resurfaces |date=December 4, 1974 |page=1B |access-date=May 30, 2018 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002103606/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xcdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6497,913394 |url-status=live }} he trained for the Superstars competition and was selected in the first round by the New England Patriots, the 16th overall pick and signed in May.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9_RGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147%2C2359828 |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal |location=(Maine) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis the wrestler signs with Patriots |date=May 16, 1975 |page=22 |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429223050/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9_RGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147,2359828 |url-status=live }}
Professional career
=New England Patriots (1975–1980)=
During the Patriots 30–27 win in 1976 over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers on September 26, Francis caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Steve Grogan on fourth and one. In that same game, Francis had a career-best 139 yards receiving.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iWdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=COgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6622%2C6802953 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis hexes Steelers |date=September 27, 1976 |page=2C |access-date=May 30, 2018 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002103603/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iWdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=COgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6622,6802953 |url-status=live }} As a result, Howard Cosell proclaimed him as the "All-World Tight End".{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Eric |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Former 49ers tight end Russ Francis, 70, dies in plane crash |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/former-49ers-tight-end-russ-francis-70-dies-18401775.php |access-date=October 8, 2023 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}
In 1978, Francis had a career-longest 53-yard reception and 126 yards receiving in the Patriots {{nowrap|21–14}} win over the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24. That season, he led the Patriots in receptions with 39 catches for 543 yards.{{Cite web |last=Touri |first=Amin |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Looking back at the career of Russ Francis: All-Pro tight end, free spirit, and a subject of legend |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/02/sports/russ-francis-career-timeline/ |access-date=October 8, 2023 |work=The Boston Globe|archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015213/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/02/sports/russ-francis-career-timeline/ |url-status=live }}
Francis was a Pro Bowl selection for three consecutive seasons (1977–1979).{{Cite web |last=Castaneda |first=Carlos |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Russ Francis, former 49ers and Patriots Pro Bowl TE, dies in plane crash |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/russ-francis-killed-plane-crash-49ers-patriots-tight-end-pro-bowl/ |access-date=October 8, 2023 |work=CBS San Francisco |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008000217/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/russ-francis-killed-plane-crash-49ers-patriots-tight-end-pro-bowl/ |url-status=live }}
Following the 1980 season, Francis opted to retire from professional football{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U5BTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476%2C3514756 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |last=Tosches |first=Rick |title=Russ Francis: no regrets about early retirement |date=January 18, 1982 |page=D1 |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519235943/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U5BTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476,3514756 |url-status=live }} after the Patriots refused to give him his promised bonus for making the Pro Bowl that he missed due to injury,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9wZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6uEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706%2C3934170 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Stingley has some feeling after surgery |date=August 14, 1978 |page=4C |access-date=May 30, 2018 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002103604/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9wZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6uEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706,3934170 |url-status=live }} and when the team tried to cancel Darryl Stingley's medical insurance after he was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit two years earlier. Francis, who was roommates with Stingley, said that it was tough to play after Stingley's injury.{{Cite web |url=http://starbulletin.com/2006/08/08/sports/simpson.html |title=starbulletin.com |access-date=February 27, 2008 |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726030345/http://starbulletin.com/2006/08/08/sports/simpson.html |url-status=live }}
=San Francisco 49ers (1982–1987)=
After sitting out the {{nfly|1981}} season, Francis came out of retirement and joined the 49ers for the 1982 season. In the 49ers' win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, he had five receptions for 60 yards. In 1985, he had a career-high 44 receptions.
=New England Patriots (1987–1988)=
Francis was released by the 49ers in 1987 and rejoined the Patriots before the season's final game.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/24/sports/sports-people-francis-rejoins-patriots.html |title= Sports People; Francis Rejoins Patriots |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 6, 2010 |date=December 24, 1987 |archive-date= May 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524213210/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/24/sports/sports-people-francis-rejoins-patriots.html |url-status= live }} He was on the roster in 1988 but after missing the 1989 season due to injury and then being released, he retired for the second time.{{cite web |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3D6123FF934A25752C1A96F948260 |title= Sports People: Pro Football; Morgan Out for Season |work=The New York Times |access-date= December 6, 2010 |date= November 17, 1989 |archive-date= October 9, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015212/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/17/sports/sports-people-pro-football-morgan-out-for-season.html |url-status= live }}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the Super Bowl |
| Bold
| Career high |
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 1975 | NWE
| 14 || 11 || 35 || 636 || 18.2 || 48 || 4 | ||||||
| 1976 | NWE
| 13 || 12 || 26 || 367 || 14.1 || 48 || 3 | ||||||
| 1977 | NWE
| 10 || 10 || 16 || 229 || 14.3 || 31 || 4 | ||||||
| 1978 | NWE
| 15 || 15 || 39 || 543 || 13.9 || 53 || 4 | ||||||
| 1979 | NWE
| 12 || 12 || 39 || 557 || 14.3 || 44 || 5 | ||||||
| 1980 | NWE
| 15 || 15 || 41 || 664 || 16.2 || 39 || 8 | ||||||
| 1982 | SFO
| 9 || 4 || 23 || 278 || 12.1 || 26 || 2 | ||||||
| 1983 | SFO
| 16 || 16 || 33 || 357 || 10.8 || 25 || 4 | ||||||
| 1984 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| SFO
| 10 || 8 || 23 || 285 || 12.4 || 32 || 2 | ||||||
| 1985 | SFO
| 16 || 16 || 44 || 478 || 10.9 || 25 || 3 | ||||||
| 1986 | SFO
| 16 || 14 || 41 || 505 || 12.3 || 52 || 1 | ||||||
| rowspan="2" | 1987 | SFO
| 8 || 7 || 22 || 202 || 9.2 || 19 || 0 | ||||||
| NWE
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| 1988 | NWE
| 12 || 8 || 11 || 161 || 14.6 || 51 || 0 | ||||||
| colspan="2"| | 167 | 148 | 393 | 5,262 | 13.4 | 53 | 40 |
= Playoffs =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 1976 | NWE
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 96 || 24.0 || 40 || 1 | ||||||
| 1978 | NWE
| 1 || 1 || 8 || 101 || 12.6 || 24 || 1 | ||||||
| 1983 | SFO
| 2 || 2 || 8 || 123 || 15.4 || 27 || 0 | ||||||
| 1984 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| SFO
| 3 || 3 || 8 || 89 || 11.1 || 19 || 1 | ||||||
| 1985 | SFO
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 39 || 9.8 || 20 || 0 | ||||||
| 1986 | SFO
| 1 || 1 || 3 || 26 || 8.7 || 20 || 0 | ||||||
| colspan="2"| | 9 | 9 | 35 | 474 | 13.5 | 40 | 3 |
Professional Wrestling career
He was the son of wrestling promoter Ed Francis and got into wrestling in 1974 in Vancouver. He briefly competed full-time in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) from 1976 to 1977.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Jerry |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Russ Francis, tight end on SF 49ers' 1984 Super Bowl team, dies in plane crash |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/10/02/russ-francis-tight-end-on-sf-49ers-1984-super-bowl-team-dies-in-plane-crash/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |work=The Mercury News|archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008112235/https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/10/02/russ-francis-tight-end-on-sf-49ers-1984-super-bowl-team-dies-in-plane-crash/ |url-status=live }} He also competed in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hawaii from 1977 to 1978 where at one time he held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship with his older brother, Billy Roy Francis.{{cite web|title=NWA Hawaiian Tag Team Title History|work=Solie's Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/hawttnwa.html|access-date=April 25, 2009|archive-date=July 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726162913/http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/hawttnwa.html|url-status=live}} In 1978, he left wrestling and continued playing football.
Francis appeared in a 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2 along with other NFL stars.{{Cite web |last=Marbone |first=Aaron |date=October 3, 2023 |title=Living to fly {{!}} NFL great, longtime pilot Russ Francis dead in Lake Placid plane crash |url=https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2023/10/living-to-fly/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003062051/https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2023/10/living-to-fly/ |url-status=live }} In 1987, he returned to AWA for a few matches and then retired.
Outside football
Francis qualified for The Superstars final and the World Superstars in 1980 and 1981, finishing second in the 1980 final and third in the 1981 event.{{Cite web |last=Touri |first=Amin |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Looking back at the career of Russ Francis: All-Pro tight end, free spirit, and a subject of legend – The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/02/sports/russ-francis-career-timeline/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |work=Boston Globe |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015213/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/02/sports/russ-francis-career-timeline/ |url-status=live }} He won the football preliminary in 1981 and set a record of 23.91 seconds in the {{convert|50|yd|0|adj=on}} swimming event.{{Cite web |last=Entel |first=Jessi |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Former Super Bowl Champion and KODI Radio Host Russ Francis Dies in Plane Crash |url=https://mybighornbasin.com/former-super-bowl-champion-and-kodi-radio-host-russ-francis-dies-in-plane-crash/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |work=Big Horn Basin Media |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007152701/https://mybighornbasin.com/former-super-bowl-champion-and-kodi-radio-host-russ-francis-dies-in-plane-crash/ |url-status=live }} That record stood until 1986, when it was broken by Greg Louganis.{{Cite web |title=1986 Men's Final |url=http://www.thesuperstars.org/comp/86final.html |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=www.thesuperstars.org |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522094544/http://www.thesuperstars.org/comp/86final.html |url-status=live }}
After retiring, he hosted The Russ Francis Show from 9 am to noon on 107.7 WTPL "The Pulse", out of Concord, New Hampshire,{{Cite web |last=M. Clark |first=Ian |date=July 27, 2005 |title=Russ Francis brings experiences to local radio |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Russ-Francis-brings-experiences-to-local-radio-104221433/ |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=247Sports |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814043353/https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Russ-Francis-brings-experiences-to-local-radio-104221433/ |url-status=live }} and later he hosted Forever West Outdoors from 4 to 6 pm on 1400 AM KODI, out of Cody, Wyoming.{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Lew |date=April 18, 2016 |title=Russ Francis: Plenty of life after football |url=https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_48ad4614-059f-11e6-9f42-cb0ccbd4f911.html |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Cody Enterprise |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002182357/https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_48ad4614-059f-11e6-9f42-cb0ccbd4f911.html |url-status=live }}
In 2015, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as a contributor.{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Former Hawaii resident, NFL standout Russ Francis dies in plane crash |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/sports/2023/10/02/hawaii-native--former-nfl-standout-russ-francis--70--dies-in-plane-crash |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Spectrum Local News |publisher=Associated Press |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015213/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/sports/2023/10/02/hawaii-native--former-nfl-standout-russ-francis--70--dies-in-plane-crash |url-status=live }} Francis was also the president of Lake Placid Airways, a scenic and charter-flight airline.{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2023 |title=Plane crash in Lake Placid kills 2, including former NFL player Russ Francis of Patriots, 49ers |url=https://apnews.com/article/lake-placid-plane-crash-russ-francis-c5cd04f8eeea4b6a19efb569a576d8b3 |access-date=October 8, 2023 |work=AP News |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007152731/https://apnews.com/article/lake-placid-plane-crash-russ-francis-c5cd04f8eeea4b6a19efb569a576d8b3 |url-status=live }}
Politics
In 2000, Francis challenged long-time Democratic incumbent Patsy Mink for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 2000 |title=Russ Francis deals with troubled past |pages=1 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser/120006333/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009015213/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser/120006333/ |url-status=live }} Running as a Republican, Francis was defeated, winning 35.97% of the vote to Mink's 61.59%.{{Cite web |title=Statewide Summary Report |url=https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2000/primary/histatewide.pdf |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814074751/https://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2000/primary/histatewide.pdf |url-status=live }}
Death
On October 1, 2023, Francis and AOPA Air Safety Institute vice president Richard McSpadden were both killed in a plane crash in Lake Placid, New York, after the 1976 Cessna 177 flown by Francis out of Lake Placid Airport experienced power failure and attempted to return to the airport, but struck a berm on the runway and crashed into a ravine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38559269/power-loss-led-ex-nfler-russ-francis-fatal-plane-crash|title=Power loss led to ex-NFLer Russ Francis' fatal plane crash|author=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=October 3, 2023|accessdate=October 3, 2023|archive-date=October 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003221959/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38559269/power-loss-led-ex-nfler-russ-francis-fatal-plane-crash|url-status=live}} Francis was 70 years old.{{cite magazine |last1=D'Abate |first1=Mike |title=Russ Francis, Former Patriots TE, Dies at 70 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-tight-end-russ-francis-dies-plane-crash-obituary |access-date=October 7, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=October 2, 2023 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007070222/https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-tight-end-russ-francis-dies-plane-crash-obituary |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Footballstats |nfl=|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=FranRu00 |dbf=FRANCRUS01 |rotoworld=}}
{{1975 NFL Draft}}
{{Patriots1975DraftPicks}}
{{PatriotsFirstPick}}
{{Patriots1970s}}
{{Patriots35th}}
{{Super Bowl XIX}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Russ}}
Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:American football tight ends
Category:College football announcers
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Oregon Ducks football players
Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes
Category:People from Pleasant Hill, Oregon
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Players of American football from Hawaii
Category:Players of American football from Oregon
Category:NFL replacement players
Category:Oregon State University alumni
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2023
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
Category:Accidental deaths in New York (state)
Category:American male javelin throwers
Category:American male decathletes
Category:Professional wrestlers from Washington (state)
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football