​Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick and NFL running back Greg Hawthorne has died at age 69. The news was shared by Hawthorne’s family in a post on Facebook, which read: “On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night. Please keep his mother and his children, his brother and sisters as well as the whole family in your prayers.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Hawthorne was selected by the Steelers with the 28th overall pick in the 1979 NFL draft, a surprise to many given that he appeared in only three games during his senior year at Baylor. He spent five seasons with Pittsburgh, appearing in 59 games and starting 11. His Steelers career included 136 rushing attempts for 522 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 55 receptions for 710 yards and three more scores. His best year came in 1980, when he contributed 226 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.
After his time with Pittsburgh, Hawthorne played for the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1986, and then for the Indianapolis Colts in 1987. During his stint with the Patriots, he played in multiple positions—running back, wide receiver, and tight end. In New England, he had one rushing attempt for five yards and 34 receptions for 361 yards with one touchdown. He was part of the Patriots squad that reached Super Bowl XX but fell to the Chicago Bears.
Hawthorne’s NFL career concluded with three games for the Colts in 1987, during which he made three receptions for 41 yards. He retired after that season. A Texas native from Fort Worth, Hawthorne played college football at Baylor before entering the pros, where he left a lasting mark as a versatile back who contributed both on the ground and in the air across multiple teams.