South Carolina football legend and former New York Jets running back Kevin Long has passed away at age 69, the school announced on Wednesday with no reason for his death given.
Long was a Clinton, South Carolina native and played for his home-state university in the mid-1970s, becoming of the best Gamecock running backs of all-time.
Long is No 10 on South Carolina’s list of rushing leaders with 2,372 career yards.
He was also the first player for the school to have a 1,000-yard rushing season, doing so in 1975.
Long is viewed as a gridiron pioneer for the school, racking up yards before the Gamecocks joined the prestigious Southeastern Conference in 1990.
Former New York Jet and South Carolina football legend Kevin Long passed away at age 69
Long opening doors for the Gamecocks was recognized by being inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and the State of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame a year later.
The New York Jets drafted Long in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in 1977, playing for the team until 1981.
Long also played for three franchises in the former version of the United States Football League.
The the only NFL postseason game of Long’s career, he scored a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. However, the Jets lost the 1981 Wildcard game.
His best season with the Jets came in 1978, where he rushed for 954 yards and had 10 touchdowns.
Long has two daughters that became Division-I athletes, one at Georgia and another at the College of Charleston.
