According to Andrew Powell of dailycaller.com on Wednesday, former National Football League quarterback Frank Ryan of Fort Worth, Texas passed away at the age of 87 on New Year’s Day. The specific cause of death was not released, however Ryan had been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ryan played 13 seasons in the National Football League from 1958 to 1970. He was with the Los Angeles Rams from 1958 to 1961, the Cleveland Browns from 1962 to 1968, and the Washington Redskins from 1969 to 1970.
It is while with the Browns where Ryan had his most notable seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three straight seasons from 1964 to 1966. In 1964, Ryan led the NFL with 25 touchdown passes, and in 1966, led the NFL with 29 touchdown passes.
Also during the 1964 season, the Browns won the National Football League Championship Game. The Browns blanked the Baltimore Colts 27-0. Ryan completed 11 of 18 passes for 206 passing yards and three touchdown passes. All three touchdown passes went to Gary Collins of Williamstown, Pennsylvania.
Ryan completed 1090 passes in 2133 attempts during 126 games. He had 16042 passing yards, 149 passing touchdowns and 111 interceptions. Ryan also had 310 rushes for 1358 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
At the collegiate level, Ryan played for Rice University. He was selected in the fifth round, 55th overall, in the 1958 NFL Draft.
After his playing career, Ryan was the athletic director at Yale University starting in 1977. He was with Yale for a decade, before becoming the vice president for external affairs at Rice University starting in 1990.
Ryan is one of two notable former NFL players to pass away in the last week. The other is former Green Bay Packers center Ken Bowman, who died at age 81 on December 27.
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