A Pittsburgh Icon Passes Away
The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced the death of Dick Hoak at the age of 86. The franchise confirmed the news on Wednesday, though no cause of death was stated.
Hoak dedicated more than 45 years of his life to the Steelers, first as a player and later as an assistant coach. Along the way, he helped the team secure five Super Bowl titles.
Team president Art Rooney II paid tribute to him following the announcement. Rooney said that Hoak represented everything the Steelers stand for with his toughness, loyalty, dedication and unwavering commitment to the team.
From the Backfield to the Sideline
Born on December 8, 1939, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, Hoak played college football at Penn State before entering the NFL. The Steelers selected him in the seventh round of the 1961 draft.
During ten seasons as a player in Pittsburgh, Hoak ran for 3,965 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He led the team in rushing three times and made the Pro Bowl in 1968 after running for 858 yards. He remains eighth on the franchise list for all-time rushing yards.
Hoak retired from playing after the 1970 season. In 1972, head coach Chuck Noll added him to the coaching staff to guide the running backs.
Shaping Champions and Mentoring Greats
That appointment began a coaching run that lasted more than three decades. Hoak worked with Hall of Fame runners like Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, helping build the powerful ground attack that Pittsburgh became famous for.
With Hoak directing the rushers, Pittsburgh lifted Super Bowl trophies after the 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979 and 2005 seasons. When Bill Cowher replaced Noll in 1992, Cowher kept Hoak on his staff and later praised him for his guidance during his 15 years as head coach.
Hoak retired in early 2007 when Cowher stepped down. The team placed him in its Hall of Honor in 2017, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized his long career with its Award of Excellence in 2025.
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