Sammy Price, a former Miami Dolphins running back who caught Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese's first career touchdown pass, died on Aug. 5 in Waterville, Ohio, according to his online obituary. He was 82.
Sammy Price, running back who caught Bob Griese's first NFL touchdown pass, dies at 82
Sammy Price, a former Miami Dolphins running back who caught Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese's first career touchdown pass, died on Aug. 5 in Waterville, Ohio, according to his online obituary. He was 82.
Price played three seasons in the NFL, all with the Dolphins, from 1966 to 1968. He was selected in the 11th round of the 1966 AFL draft out of the University of Illinois, where he was a three-year letterman. The New York Giants also chose him in the 1966 NFL draft, but Price signed with the expansion Miami franchise one year before the AFL-NFL merger.
His best season came in 1967, when he started nine games, rushed for 179 yards, and scored both of his career touchdowns. One of those scores was a 27-yard reception from a rookie Griese in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos. Over his three-year career, Price totaled 82 rushes for 313 yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 10 receptions for 70 yards and one receiving touchdown.
At Illinois, Price was a member of Pete Elliott's team that won the 1963 Big Ten title and defeated Washington 17-7 in the Rose Bowl. He was also on the field for Illinois's upset of Griese's No. 6-ranked Purdue in 1965.
Mike Pearson, former sports information director at Illinois, noted the passing on what he said was Wednesday, Aug. 9, writing that Price was 'a member of Pete Elliott's '63 Big Ten and '64 Rose Bowl championship team' who 'later played in the NFL for the @MiamiDolphins.'
- The source does not state a cause of death.
- The source does not state whether Price's family or the Miami Dolphins organization issued any formal statement beyond the Illinois sports information director's post.
- The source does not reconcile the Aug. 5 date of death given in the obituary with the Aug. 9 date Pearson cites as 'Wednesday' in his tribute.
- The source does not state where Price lived or what he did professionally after his NFL career ended in 1968.
- The source does not name the outlet or platform where Price's online obituary was published.
Read the original at New York Post