Jets Legend Larry Grantham Passes Away at 78

Jets great Larry Grantham has passed away at 78 years old the team announced.

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."