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Former Tennessee player and coach Johnny Majors passes away at 85

Sad news — Johnny Majors has passed away at the age of 85. He died early on Wednesday morning, according to his wife.

“It’s with a sad heart that we make this announcement,” said Mary Lynn Majors to WNML. “John passed away this morning. He spent his last hours doing something he dearly loved: looking out over his cherished Tennessee River.”

The Tennessee legend was both a player and a coach in Knoxville, starting his time with the Volunteers way back in 1954. He played through 1956, where he was named an All-American and finished second in the Heisman race.