Sam Cunningham, who starred at USC and for the New England Patriots, died on Tuesday in Inglewood, Ca., at the age of 71.
The cause of death is pending.
Cunnigham, nicknamed “Bam,” is also credited with helping integrate college football.
Cunningham and USC went to Birmingham for a game with Alabama in 1970 and his 135-yard, 2-TD debut performance in the Trojans’ 42-21 victory over Alabama in Birmingham provided a catalyst for the integration of college football in the South.
“What they saw was the future,” Cunningham told ESPN in 2016 of the hushed, stunned Legion Field crowd.