Hall of Fame defensive end Claude Humphrey dies at 77

According to Jacob Lev of CNN, Pro Football Hall of Famer defensive end Claude Humphrey of Memphis, Tennessee passed away at the age of 77. Humphrey played 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 1968 to 1978, and then three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981. A knee injury forced Humphrey to miss the entire 1975 season.

Humphrey played in 171 National Football League games, and played in an era before the statistical category of tackles were officially kept tracked of. Humphrey had 11 fumble recoveries for 68 yards and one fumble recovery touchdown. He also had two interceptions for 11 yards, 130 sacks, and two safeties. Humphrey is 24th on the all-time sack leaderboard. Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills is first all-time with 200 sacks.

Humphrey’s lone touchdown came on a 24-yard fumble recovery in a 10-3 Falcons win over the Minnesota Vikings on December 21, 1969. Humphrey’s interceptions came in a 27-16 Falcons win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 13, 1970, and in a 17-6 Falcons loss to the Buffalo Bills on December 2, 1973. Humphrey’s safeties came in a 23-20 Falcons win over the Denver Broncos on November 26, 1972, and in a 23-20 Falcons win over the New Orleans Saints on October 31, 1976.

Six times Humphrey was selected to the Pro Bowl. He was honoured for five straight years from 1970 to 1974 and again in 1977. Humphrey was initially selected in the first round, third overall, by the Falcons in the 1968 NFL Draft out of Tennessee State. He was taken after the Minnesota Vikings drafted Hall of Fame tackle Ron Yary first overall and the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Bob Johnson second overall.

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Humphrey did not play a postseason game with the Falcons, but did play six playoff games with the Eagles. He reached the Super Bowl with Philadelphia in 1981, but lost 27-10 to the Oakland Raiders. In Super Bowl XV, Humphrey is best remembered for throwing the penalty flag at referee Ben Dreith after receiving a roughing the passer penalty.

Humphrey is the second Hall of Fame defensive end to pass away in the last year. On December 21, 2020, Kevin Greene died at the age of 58. Greene is third all-time in NFL sacks with 160.

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