SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Brock Purdy #13 after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The 49ers have suffered a great loss as one of their star players perished in a horrific car accident.
FOXBORO, Massachusetts — Russ Francis, a former tight end, “tragically passed away” over the weekend, and the New England Patriots organization is in sorrow, the team stated on Monday.
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise said that on Sunday, a plane crash at Lake Placid Airport in New York claimed the lives of Francis and an aviation specialist. He had just bought the scenic flight company, Lake Placid Airways.
The 70-year-old, who played in 13 NFL seasons, spent two spells (1975–1980 and 1987–1988) with the Patriots. From 1982 to 1987, he was a player with the San Francisco 49ers.
Francis was selected in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Patriots from Oregon.
Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft released a statement saying, “On behalf of the entire New England Patriots organization, we extend our sincere sympathies to the family of Russ Francis, who tragically passed away yesterday.” Throughout his playing career, fans adored Russ. In addition to being a tremendous player on the field, he had a huge personality off it. He pushed the envelope, had no limitations, and fully experienced life. Our sympathies are with Russ’s friends, teammates, family, and the many Patriots supporters who are in mourning over his passing.
A statement regarding Russ Francis’s demise was released by Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft: bit.ly/3PXHmJo
New England Patriots posted this on Monday, October 2, 2023.
According to the Daily Enterprise, Francis always wanted to fly. Those who knew him also recalled how, while he was a 49er, he would fly his jet to football practice.
The son of NFL great Russ Francis passed away in a plane crash on Sunday afternoon, along with a friend, according to a statement written by his mother. Speaking those words to Michael was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.For Russ, taking to the skies was a natural instinct, much like breathing. Bill Walsh used to get pretty upset with him when he would fly his P-51 Mustang for practice and land in the stadium parking lot. Though not today, it will bring some solace in the future to know that he passed away doing what he enjoyed most. Not right now.
In exchange for a draft pick that went toward selecting Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, Francis was dealt by New England to San Francisco in 1982. He played a significant role in the 49ers’ 1984 Super Bowl triumph over Miami.
In 1987, Francis went back to New England, and after the 1988 season, he announced his retirement from the Patriots. At the end of his career, he had 40 touchdowns and 5,262 yards from 393 receptions.
The unexpected and untimely passing of former New England Patriots tight end Russ Francis has left us all very devastated. We send our sympathies to Francis’s friends and family.
New England Patriots posted this on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Richard McSpadden, Senior Vice President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, was named as the other victim of the disaster.
The National Traffic Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the New York State Police are still looking into the disaster.
