Shelby Jordan, who with Hall of Famer John Hannah and stalwart Leon Gray formed one of the New England Patriots’ most dominating offensive lines in the 1970s, died Sept. 9. He was 70.
News of his death was released Friday by the Patriots, which did not provide a cause.
Originally a linebacker from the emphatically classes-first, sports-last college of Washington University in St. Louis, Mr. Jordan had a circuitous route to gridiron glory. A seventh-round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in the 1973 NFL draft, he was cut after training camp. He signed with New England as a free agent in 1974 and promptly got hurt in training camp.