Former Raiders WR Cliff Branch. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL Draft after playing college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. Another great player that wont be able to see himself inducted, Woodson tweeted. Legal Statement. Cliff grew up, got famous, left football, settled in California, and was 71 when he died, three years before he could be in Canton as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's . [3], The incident affected Tatum personally and for several years, according to close friend John Hicks, made him "somewhat of a recluse". at . A sprinter at Colorado in addition to playing football, Branch struck fear into opposing defenses with his ability to get deep. He always had nothing but a smile on his face every time I saw and always said I reminded him of himself. The Bullhead City (Arizona) Police Department . His body was found in a hotel room in Bullhead City, Arizona at about 3:40 p.m. 45 all-time. One of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday night. Branch, who led the Raiders to three Super Bowl titles, died Saturday afternoon. Branch spent each of his 14 NFL seasons with the Raiders and it resulted in an impressive statistical career. In 2011, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Branch to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2011.[21]. The underlying cause of death is the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly or indirectly to death or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury. If you want to play football for a living, you're going to get injured."[2][6]. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Tatum was born in Cherryville, North Carolina, and grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, where he had little interest in playing sports in his early years. . "His loss leaves an eternal void for the Raiders Family, but his kindness and loving nature will be fondly remembered forever. He has died at the age of 71. Davis has kept many players close and alumni like Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes were attendants at training camp recently. He was popularly known as "the Assassin" because of his playing style.Tatum was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls (1973-1975) and was a member of one Super Bowl-winning team . Tatum was a first-team All-Big Ten in 1968, 1969 and 1970. Her Chicago-based label, International Anthem, shared the devastating news on Twitter on Tuesday, August 23. "It was a test of my faith, the entire story. Branch died in 2019. -MD-. Cliff was my best friend. In my heart and mind, I forgave Jack Tatum a long time ago. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Some think hes the biggest Hall of Fame snub of all time. "Cliff Was My Best Friend.. Subscribe to NFL Films: goo.gl/XJTggL Start your free trial of NFL Game Pass: nfl.com/gamepass?campaign=sp-nf-gd-ot-yt-3000342 Check out our other channels: NFL Network youtube.com/nflnetwork NFL youtube.com/nfl Watch NFL Now: nfl.com/now Listen to NFL podcasts: nfl.com/podcasts Watch the NFL network: nflnonline.nfl.com/ Download the NFL, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Lester Hayes Among 3 Forgotten Raiders Who Should Be in the Hall of Fame. That was of course Cliff Branch, who played two years at Colorado as a receiver from 1970-71. His death was due to natural causes. The difference between being a sprinter and a wide receiver is learning to control your speed when you have to make a cut in running a pattern.. Branch was considered one of the greatest deep threats in NFL history and was a big part of all three of the teams Super Bowl runs. Her family, friends and community are heartbroken." On occasion, jaimie used her music to promote leftist values, releasing music videos like "prayer for amerikkka pt. [4] A few weeks later, Tatum signed a three-year, six-figure contract with a $50,000 signing bonus. Police in Bullhead City, Ariz., say Branch was found dead in a hotel room Saturday. Drafted by the Raiders out of Colorado in 1972, Branch caught 501 passes for 8,685 yards and scored 67 touchdowns, averaging 17.3 yards per reception. In a time of celebration for fellow players being inducted into the pro football HOF Im saddened to hear about the passing of cliff branch. section: | slug: raiders-legend-cliff-branch-dies-at-age-71-on-field-work-well-documented-and-undeniably-hall-of-fame-worthy | sport: football | route: article_single.us | August 24, 2022. 1&2." In their own words: 'each death is attributed to a single underlying cause the cause that initiated the series of . With him its not running, its flying, the Raiders owner Al Davis told the columnist Dave Anderson of The New York Times in 1974. Performance & security by Cloudflare. READ NEXT: Lester Hayes Among 3 Forgotten Raiders Who Should Be in the Hall of Fame, Cliff Branch Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. This is my last track meet, since I expect to sign a pro contract with the Oakland Raiders within the next two weeks. Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Death Cause, Ney WorthContinue, Your email address will not be published. Especially in 1976 when he put up 1,111 receiving yards and caught 12 touchdowns in the regular season. Cliff won three NFL championships with the Raiders in Super Bowl XI, XV, and XVII. He had turned 71 just two days earlier. Cliff and fellow receiver Fred Biletnikoff were dependable targets for quarterback Ken Stabler as the Raiders dominated the AFC West for the first five seasons of Branchs career. DOUBLE AMPUTEE, 14, THROWS TOUCHDOWN AT DETROIT LIONS PRACTICE, Branch played on all three Raiders teams that won the Super Bowl, following the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons. Cliff Branch waited a long time to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Follow the Heavy Oakland Raiders page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content! The cause of . After struggling for his first two seasons to consistently catch the ball, Branch had a breakout year in 1974, catching 60 passes for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns. Tatum worked on increasing awareness of diabetes. Branchs cause of death has yet to be revealed, but any information will be updated here. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our, Cliff Branch: Cause of death, wife Barbara, children Brent, Anthony and Melanie, sisters Elaine and Cheryl, Where to buy Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson's Christmas cleats. Tatum was nicknamed "The Assassin," a name he embraced and relished. No cause of death has been released . Only five other players in the franchises history were part of all three teams. During his time with the Raiders, Branch became close with team owner Mark Davis -- before Davis actually owned the team. By. Cliff Branch was a big part of all three Raiders Super Bowl wins. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Keep up-to-date on all things Raiders: Subscribe: rdrs.co/youtube Follow: Twitter.com/Raiders Like: Facebook.com/Raiders Shop at Raider Image: rdrs.co/shop Start, #7 Cliff Branch | Top 10: Fastest Players | NFL Films, Cliff Branch was one of the fastest players to ever set foot on an NFL field. Former Raiders WR great Cliff Branch has passed away. On February 10, 2022, he was selected for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He had a league-high 1,092 yards receiving in 1974. There are a number of older Raiders that havent gotten the call yet such as Plunkett and Tom Flores. After leaving the NFL, Branch briefly played Arena Football for the Los Angeles Cobras. Cliff Branch died on 3 August 2019, two days after his 71st birthday. He married and had three children, and wrote three best-selling books: They Call Me Assassin (1980); They Still Call Me Assassin (1989); and Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum (1996). It can be present for years before the death. Stabler was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, months after his death. [13] The record was tied 28 years later by Aeneas Williams. Raiders give Derek Carr his freedom and a head start over other QBs in free agency His loss leaves an eternal . Branch turned 71 years old on Thursday. [3] His kidneys started to fail in his final years, and he was awaiting a kidney transplant at the time of his death. Branchs sister, Elaine, was at the event to collect the honour. Accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 25-44, followed by suicide and cancer. NFL Hall Of Fame Cliff Branch was married to his wife Barbara Branch, and they were long together till his demise in 2019. It was his only catch in the 3735 loss, but he remains the only Raider to catch a 99-yard pass. He was a grandparent toBrentney and Courtni. The label said in a statement: "Jaimie was a . Quincy Williams or JuJu Smith-Schuster: Who is the better grinch. Clifford Branch Jr. (August 1, 1948 August 3, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders during his entire 14-year National Football League (NFL) career. (The N.F.L. Its not hard to feel Davis pain in that statement. Tatum was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1981 and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He played two seasons at Colorado catching 36 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns for a run-oriented offense. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1972. She has been on PGA Tour ranks with his boyfriend. Click to reveal (Inductees are chosen by a committee made up largely of news media representatives. Hire a professional web designer for these 5 benefits. When Branch died unexpectedly of natural causes in August of 2019 at age 71, many Raiders, including quarterback Derek Carr, . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. . . Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints weather report: What is the temperature at FirstEnergy stadium? The Raiders won Super Bowls after the 1976, 1980 and 1983 seasons the last one in Los Angeles, where the franchise had moved from Oakland in 1982 after lengthy court fights. Social media risk-taking culture varies by nation . Its a superb mark when considering the NFL hadnt yet changed the rules that limited contact to pass-catchers. The honor for Branch comes just over three years after he died at age 71 of natural causes, marking the second time in recent years that a Raiders great got . Zalatoris is dating Caitlyn Sellers, but the couple has tried to maintain a low profile as his golf career has taken off. Former wide receiver Cliff Branch, who spent 14 seasons with the team, passed away on Saturday at the age of 71. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Tatum visited a number of universities before starting his collegiate career with The Ohio State University Buckeyes. Related Articles Raiders | In who, and how much, do you believe, Darryl? Jenna West. Cause of death. He has died at the age of 72. Former Raiders Charles Woodson also mentioned the Hall of Fame snub. [2][4] Tatum became part owner of a restaurant in Pittsburg, California. He placed 5th in the final with 10.1, and he said My goal has always been to win the NCAA 100 meter championship. said Branch had died of natural causes. [5] However, according to his former head coach John Madden, Tatum was never called by that nickname during his playing career. (Getty Images), Cliff Branch touched the lives of generations of Raiders fans, the team wrote in a statement, according to ESPN. Cliff was born on 1st August 1948 and died on 3rd august 2019 at the age of 71. RIP CLIFF BRANCH 21, Jacoby Ford (@JacobyFord12) August 4, 2019. In 1983, at age 35, Branch tied the N.F.L. She is best-known to have signed for International Anthem on which she released two solo albums. "I am going into my 25th year of being a television meteorologist," he wrote. According to police, his death was due to natural causes, based on an initial investigative report. Getty If the death is certified on a paper HP4720 form then write 'Assisted Dying' in Part 1 (a) of the certificate. / by Peter Socotch. Police in Bullhead City, Arizona, say Branch was found dead in a hotel room Saturday Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. He first became known to college football observers as a sophomore when he helped limit All-American Leroy Keyes during a 130 upset against the Purdue Boilermakers during the early part of the 1968 season.[3]. During the 1983 season which saw the Raiders win their third Super Bowl, Branch set a record that can never be broken when he caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett. Its made even sadder by the fact that the same thing happened to his former teammate Ken Stabler, who was later inducted posthumously. Cliff Branch mysteriously and suddenly dies at the age of 71 in Arizona. I will miss him dearly," Davis said. Cliff and fellow receiver Fred Biletnikoff were dependable targets for quarterback Ken Stabler as the Raiders dominated the AFC West for the first five seasons of Branch's career. , , , Tunisha Sharma , . The course of Boone's career took him from Kansas to Tennessee, Arkansas, and finally Oklahoma where he worked from 2014 until his death. The actor Cliff Simon's cause of death is announced as a Kiteboarding accident. Cliff Branch is being enshrined Saturday, but that's not enough for Raiders owner Mark Davis. He became eligible in 1991. A native of Houston, Branch caught 501 passes for more than 8,600 yards and 67 touchdowns. But everyone will die. Cliff was a native of Houston, he caught 501 passes for more than 8,600 yards and 67 touchdowns. Just have to give my condolences to the family. [2], In track, Branch set an NCAA championship meet record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.0 seconds at the 1972 NCAA championships semifinal in Eugene, Oregon. He was a second-round pick (36th overall) by the Trail . [14] He held the NFL career playoff records for receptions and receiving yards,[15] which stood until they were broken by Jerry Rice in 1993 and 1994, respectively, while with the San Francisco 49ers. Branch's sister, Elaine Anderson, selected Davis to present her brother, who will enter the Hall of Fame in Canton this Summer. He was 71. Raiders | Branchs death comes on the day a new class is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There was an awkward collision as Stingley lowered his helmet to protect himself and hit Tatum's shoulder pad. After leaving the NFL, Branch briefly played Arena Football for the Los Angeles Cobras. Three years later, he got his . David Montgomery Biography David Montgomery was born on 26 June 1946 and died on 8 May 2019. Select the 'Assisted Dying' checkbox, if completing the form online in Death Documents. Davis was kicked out of the house because of the ordeal and didnt speak to his dad for a period. He played his entire 14-season career with the Raiders. Because of his fun-loving and jovial nature, Branch was one of the most popular Raiders among former players. Obituaries. Few teams revere their alumni the way the Raiders do, so this is absolutely heartbreaking news for the Silver and Black. Branch died of natural causes. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Rest In Peace, Buddy. #CliffBranch @Raiders pic.twitter.com/AGtcoVDu6b, VILLAPIANO (@VillapianOk) August 4, 2019, Former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison tweeted Whenever you saw me you would always tell me how much you loved the way you played the game. Jerry McDonald is a Bay Area News Group sports general assignment writer and columnist for The Mercury News and East Bay Times with more than 40 years of experience. As a kid, He, Read More David Montgomery Bio, Wiki, Age, Death, Profile, Wife, Net WorthContinue, Caitlyn Sellers Wiki Caitlyn Sellers Bio According toCaitlyn Sellers Bio, Wiki, and Biography,She is the girlfriend of American golfer Will Zalatoris. And it's been 2.5 years since his unexpected passing at the age of 71. He was 71. BREAKING NEWS: Jaimie Branch Dead 39, Cause Of Death Revealed, composer and jazz trumpeter, On Monday, August 22, composer and trumpeter Jaimie branch passed. An initial investigation showed the death to be natural causes, the report . [5] He graduated from Colorado in 1972.[1]. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Branch finished his career with 1,289 receiving yards in the playoffs, which ranks fourth all-time. (The last title came while the team was located in Los Angeles. The Raiders have had some legendary wide receivers over the years. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28a9b75f05f170 [12] Branch finished his NFL career with 501 receptions for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns. Branch attended college at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was a sprinter on the track team and a receiver on the football team. Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the only causes of death in the top 10 for which the total numbers have gone down between 2000 and 2019, by 16% (or 327 000 deaths) and by 21% (or 205 000 deaths) respectively. Owner Al Davis' campaign for Branch to make the Hall of Fame preceded his death in 2011. Cliff Branch's Career Stats: 8,685 receiving yards, 67 receiving . The only player that can say that is Cliff Branch. Two years later, she cried tears of joy as her brother, former Raiders receiver Cliff Branch, was named as a member of the 2022 induction class. His duties include a concentration on the NFL and Major League Baseball. The only two players hes behind in yards, touchdowns and receptions are Hall-of-Famers Tim Brown and Fred Biletnikoff. Branchs passing was recognized by the team on the Raiders web site: Cliff Branch touched the lives of generations of Raiders fans. He was 71. He turned 71 on Thursday. Hes a Hall of Famer, he said of Branch. Going to miss those interactions with you., Rest In Peace to a true @Raiders Legend Cliff Branch. He led the league in receiving yards in 1974 and in receiving touchdowns in 1974 and 1976. According to the Bullhead City, Arizona, police department, Branch was found dead at 3:40 p.m. in a . Aug 29, 2020. Branch was a force in the postseason as well, with 1,289 yards receiving. 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes footballconsensus national champions, 1970 Ohio State Buckeyes footballNFF co-national champions, Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft picks, "Jack Tatum, Whose Tackle Paralyzed Player, Dies at 61", "Jack Tatum dies; Oakland Raiders 'Assassin' was 61", "Jack Tatum dies at 61; Oakland Raider safety whose hit left Darryl Stingley paralyzed", "The Assassin and The Reverend: Remembering the late Jack Tatum", "The wounds never healed for Jack Tatum or Darryl Stingley", "No sting of bitterness: 25 years later, Stingley is still forgiving of Tatum", "Lambeau's Lowlights: There were plenty of not-so-fond moments, too", "NFL Records: Individual Records: Fumbles", "Former NJ Football Star Jack Tatum Dies - You Don't Know Jersey - From High Point to Cape May", FWAA 19691994 Quarter-century All-America Team, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Tatum&oldid=1142697216, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, African-American players of American football, Short description is different from Wikidata, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:11. A US Coast Guard official told Insider that while they cannot confirm his cause of death at this time, a witness at the scene . [4] He was ranked as the sixth hardest hitter in NFL history by NFL Films and was elected to three Pro Bowls. All rights reserved. Branch, who spent his entire career with the Raiders, ended up retiring following the 1985 season. [4], Tatum died in Oakland on July 27, 2010, after a heart attack. Quick Biography Birth Date 8 March 1939 Birth Place Newark, New Jersey, United States Death Date 10 July 2019, Read More Jim Bouton Bio, Wiki, Age, Spouse, Death, Net WorthContinue, Ricardo Ciciliano Biography, Wiki Ricardo Ciciliano, also known as Ricardo Manuel Ciciliano Bustillo was a retired Colombian football midfielder, has died. [13][22] His body was found in a hotel room in Bullhead City, Arizona. The professional actor and athlete, Cliff Simon unfortunately died after a critical Kiteboarding accident at the age of 59. Birthday: August 1, 1948. record for career receiving average is held by Homer Jones of the Giants and the Cleveland Browns, with 22.26.). [1] Tatum was used by the Buckeyes to cover the opposing team's best wide receiver, but he also was used occasionally as a linebacker due to the nature of his hits and his innate ability to bring down even the biggest fullback or tight end. Cliff Branch during a game in 1976. [6] His third season proved his moment. Branch lived in the Bay Area and did charity work for the Raiders organization in later years. [19] In addition, he led the NFL in receiving yards once (1974) and receiving touchdowns twice (1974, 1976). Wiki, Bio, Age, Boyfriend (Will Zalatoris)Continue, Anastasia Pagonis Wiki Anastasia Pagonis Biogrpahy Anastasia Pagonis is a blind athlete swimmer of Team USA. Metallica 's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett have recalled the tour bus crash that killed bassist Cliff Burton 30 years ago this month - and how their first reaction to the tragedy was anger. The Air Force veteran and International athlete Cliff Simon suddenly died at 59 on Thursday, March 9. Davis had to cancel a trip to Las Vegas so that he can mourn properly, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed. In 1974, Tatum had six interceptions and in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977, Tatum knocked the helmet off Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sammy White. During Al Davis' reign as Raiders owner, Mark Davis actually served as Branch's agent at one point. Branch was an integral part of three championship teams. F. The 6-foot-10 big man played at UConn from 1985-89, where he helped the Huskies win the 1988 NIT. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Powered by. ), All my peers that I played against and that are in the Hall of Fame, they tell me that I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, he told the Raiders website in a recent interview. The three-time Super Bowl champion was 71 at the time of his death. The honor for Branch comes just over three years after he died at age 71 of natural causes, marking the second time in recent years that a Raiders great got inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously. Her parents helped her get therapeutic treatment for depression following her lost eyesight in 2018. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkOD4jhmHm/ Age, Read More Who is Anastasia Pagonis? 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He set the University of Colorado at Boulder and NCAA Championship record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.0 seconds at the 1972 NCAA championships semifinal in Eugene, Oregon.