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Jets great Larry Grantham has passed away at 78 years old the team announced.
Larry Grantham, long-time Jets OLB, Super Bowl III champ & Ring of Honor member, has passed away at age 78.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 19, 2017
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Grantham played linebacker for the Jets for thirteen years. He was a five-time AFL All-Star and a five-time All AFL player. He also was a member of the AFL’s All-Time Second Team.
He was a starter on the Jets’ Super Bowl III team that upset the Baltimore Colts.
In 2011, Grantham was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor.
A few reflections from the team’s official website:
"Walt would say Larry was one of the smartest players he ever coached," said Frank Ramos, the Jets' longtime public relations director. "And Weeb always thought he'd make a great coach because he was a coach on the field. Larry was so dedicated, he was an outstanding tackler, and he had a great, long career."
"I always saw Larry as the captain and the leader," said Gerry Philbin, the Jets' left end on many of Grantham's defenses and a fellow member of the Ring's Class of '11. "His football knowledge, the way he skirted around blockers and made tackles, he just surprised a lot of people. Pound for pound, he was the best player on the Jets."