Paul Hornung, the “Golden Boy” who starred for Notre Dame in the 1950s and the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s, has died at age 84 in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, after a long battle with dementia, the Louisville Sports Commission said in a statement.
Paul Vernon Hornung, was born Dec. 23, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Louisville November 13, 2020. He was one of only seven players to win the Heisman Trophy and be named NFL MVP by The Associated Press. The others were Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, Earl Campbell and O.J. Simpson.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Paul Hornung,” said David Baker, the president and CEO of the Hall in Canton, Ohio. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Paul’s memory.” He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Vince Lombardi once described Hornung as “the most versatile man ever to play the game. In the middle of the field, he may be only slightly better than an average ballplayer, but inside the 20-yard line he is one of the greatest I have ever seen. He smells that goal line.”
Hornung played Quarterback at Notre Dame and was a running back with the Packers. He also kicked field goals and punted. He finished his NFL career with 50 rushing touchdowns and 3,711 rushing yards. He won the MVP award in 1961 and was a two-time All-Pro selection.
His peak years of effectiveness were from 1959-1961, a stretch in which he led the NFL in scoring three times, went to two Pro Bowls and won an NFL MVP. He played with the Packer from 1957 through 1966. His 176 points in 1960 broke an NFL record, a mark that stood for 46 years until LaDainian Tomlinson scored 186 for the San Diego Chargers in 2006. The NFL season was 12 games in Hornung’s day while Tomlinson played in the 16-game era season and broke the mark in San Diego’s 14th game.
Paul Hornung is survived by Angelas Hornung, his wife of 41 years. RIP
