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'{{Short description|American football player (1953–2023)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Russ Francis | image = <!-- Only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people -- see [[WP:NONFREE]]. --> | image_size = | alt = | caption = | position = [[Tight end]] | number = 81 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|04|03|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|10|01|1953|04|03}} | death_place = [[Lake Placid, New York]], U.S. | high_school = [[Pleasant Hill High School (Oregon)|Pleasant Hill]] {{nowrap|([[Pleasant Hill, Oregon]])}} | college = [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]] | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lbs = 242 | draftyear = 1975 | draftround = [[1975 NFL Draft#Round one|1]] | draftpick = 16 | teams = * [[New England Patriots]] ({{NFL Year|1975|1980}}) * [[San Francisco 49ers]]{{spaces|3}}({{NFL Year|1982|1987}}) * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1987|1989}}) | highlights = * [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XIX|XIX]]) * 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1976 All-Pro Team|1976]], [[1978 All-Pro Team|1978]]) * 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1978 Pro Bowl|1977]]–[[1980 Pro Bowl|1979]]) * [[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team|PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team#1975|1975]]) * [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots All-1970s Team]] * [[New England Patriots|New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team]] | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 167 | statlabel2 = [[Reception (American football)|Reception]]s | statvalue2 = 393 | statlabel3 = Receiving yards | statvalue3 = 5,262 | statlabel4 = [[Touchdowns]] | statvalue4 = 40 | nfl = 2514335 | pfr = FranRu00 | HOF = }} '''Russell Ross Francis''' (April 3, 1953 – October 1, 2023) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] for 13 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played for the [[New England Patriots]] and [[San Francisco 49ers]]. <!-- Selected in the first round (16th pick) of the [[1975 NFL Draft]]. He grew up in Hawaii. A {{height|ft=6|in=6}}, {{convert|242|lb|abbr=on}} tight end from the [[Oregon Ducks football|University of Oregon]], Francis played in 13 [[NFL]] seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then played for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] from [[1982 San Francisco 49ers season|1982]] to [[1986 San Francisco 49ers season|1986]] --> Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 [[touchdowns]]. He was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1993. In 2021, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Francis to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.football-learning-academy.com/pages/blog?p=pfras-hall-of-very-good-class-of-2021&fbclid=IwAR13MohRgCFNeiEZEefXV5gktK68rgKAADNdXH9-vaOh_hqVjhnv-dNp2zU |title= PFRA's Hall of Very Good Class of 2021 |author=Ken lol Crippen|access-date=November 21, 2021}}</ref> ==Early life== Francis began high school at [[Kailua High School]] on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]], and finished at [[Pleasant Hill High School (Oregon)|Pleasant Hill High School]] in Oregon, southeast of [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |title=Russ Francis – Football |publisher=[[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301212526/http://oregonsportshall.org/russ_francis.html |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He set the national high school record for the [[javelin throw|javelin]] as a senior in 1971 at {{height|ft=259|in=9}}; the record stood until 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |title=Lists: High School: All-Time: Men |publisher=Track and Field News |date=November 15, 2005 |access-date=February 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104849/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html |archive-date=February 17, 2013 }}</ref> Francis was also a [[decathlete]] for Pleasant Hill. At the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], {{height|ft=6|in=6}} Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the [[Oregon Ducks football|Ducks]]. Injured after three games as a sophomore in [[1972 Oregon Webfoots football team|1972]], he played <!--as a junior-->in [[1973 Oregon Webfoots football team|1973]],<ref name=rhach>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C5544845 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Newnham |first=Blaine |title=Russ has a choice |date=January 25, 1974 |page=1D }}</ref> but sat out his senior season in [[1974 Oregon Webfoots football team|1974]].<ref name=fcfc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KEhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717%2C3799630 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|last=Conrad |first=John |title=Francis comes full circle in return to Eugene |date=October 16, 1993 |page=4D }}</ref> He enrolled at rival [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] in order to expire his collegiate eligibility and be eligible for the [[1975 NFL Draft]].<ref name=snrfs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U0cgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E50EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7183%2C4347392 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |title=Sneaky Russ Francis has chance to play in pros |agency=Associated Press |date=January 26, 1975 |page=12B }}</ref> Briefly a [[Professional wrestling|pro wrestler]],<ref name=d74rres>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xcdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6497%2C913394 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Cawood|first=Neil |title=Russ resurfaces |date=December 4, 1974 |page=1B}}</ref> he trained for the ''[[Superstars (US Version)|Superstars]]'' competition and was selected in the first round by the [[1975 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], the 16th overall pick and signed in May.<ref name=frtwr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9_RGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147%2C2359828 |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal |location=(Maine) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis the wrestler signs with Patriots |date=May 16, 1975 |page=22 }}</ref> ==NFL career== ===New England Patriots (1975–1980)=== During the Patriots 30–27 win in [[1976 New England Patriots season|1976]] over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion [[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] on September 26, Francis caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from [[Steve Grogan]] on fourth and one. In that same game, Francis had a career-best 139 yards receiving.<ref name=hex76st>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iWdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=COgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6622%2C6802953 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Francis hexes Steelers |date=September 27, 1976 |page=2C}}</ref> As a result, [[Howard Cosell]] proclaimed him as the "All-World Tight End." In [[1980 New England Patriots season|1980]], Francis caught a 23-yard pass from [[Harold Jackson (American football)|Harold Jackson]], on a [[wide receiver]] reverse option play, in the Patriots {{nowrap|34–21}} win over the [[1980 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] on November 2. He caught a 12-yard pass from WR Harold Jackson, on the same wide receiver reverse option play, in the Pats' {{nowrap|16–13}} overtime loss to the [[1980 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] on [[Monday Night Football]] on December 8. In [[1978 New England Patriots season|1978]], Francis had a career-longest 53-yard reception and 126 yards receiving in the Patriots {{nowrap|21–14}} win over the [[1978 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] at the [[Oakland Coliseum]] on September 24. That season, he led the Patriots in receptions with 39 catches for 543 yards. Francis was a [[Pro Bowl]] selection for three consecutive seasons ([[1978 Pro Bowl|1977]]–[[1980 Pro Bowl|1979]]). Following the 1980 season, Francis retired from professional football.<ref name=noregr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U5BTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476%2C3514756 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |last=Tosches |first=Rick |title=Russ Francis: no regrets about early retirement |date=January 18, 1982 |page=D1 }}</ref> Two things that Francis said contributed greatly to this decision were, one, when the Patriots refused to give him his promised bonus for making the Pro Bowl (because his injury from a motorcycle accident kept him out of the game); and, secondly, when his roommate, [[Darryl Stingley]], was paralyzed by a [[Jack Tatum]] hit in August 1978,<ref name=shsflg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9wZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6uEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706%2C3934170 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Stingley has some feeling after surgery |date=August 14, 1978 |page=4C}}</ref> the Patriots tried to cancel Stingley's [[medical insurance]]. Francis was the first teammate at Stingley's side immediately after the hit, and he said that it was tough to play after that.<ref name="starbulletin.com">[http://starbulletin.com/2006/08/08/sports/simpson.html starbulletin.com]</ref> Francis was traded to the [[Super Bowl XVI|defending Super Bowl champion]] [[1982 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] for a draft pick that the Patriots used to select future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] linebacker [[Andre Tippett]]. ===San Francisco 49ers (1982–1987)=== After leaving the Patriots, Francis got a job with [[ABC Sports]]. While in [[Hawaii]] for the [[1982 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]], Francis interviewed [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], the 49ers head coach. Walsh told him this was the only time in his life he would be able to play football, and that he would never get these years back and should not turn his back on this chance. Francis came out of retirement, after sitting out the {{nfly|1981}} season, joined the 49ers and eventually won a [[Super Bowl XIX|Super Bowl]] ring as a member of the [[1984 San Francisco 49ers season|1984]] 49ers.<ref name="starbulletin.com"/> Francis played a key role in San Francisco's win over the [[1984 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] in [[Super Bowl XIX]] (5 catches for 60 yards). In [[1985 San Francisco 49ers season|1985]], Francis had a career-high 44 receptions. ===New England Patriots (1987–1988)=== After being waived by the 49ers during the [[1987 San Francisco 49ers season|1987]] season, Francis signed with his old team, the [[1987 New England Patriots season|Patriots]], before the season's final game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/24/sports/sports-people-francis-rejoins-patriots.html |title= Sports People; Francis Rejoins Patriots |work= The New York Times |access-date= December 6, 2010|date=December 24, 1987}}</ref> His second tenure in New England was less successful than his first, however, and he played just [[1988 New England Patriots season|one more season]]. Francis spent [[1989 New England Patriots season|1989]] injured before being waived<ref>{{cite web |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3D6123FF934A25752C1A96F948260 |title= SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO FOOTBALL; Morgan Out for Season |work= The New York Times |access-date= December 6, 2010|date=November 17, 1989}}</ref> and then retired from playing professional football for good. ==Superstars, Professional wrestling career; Retirement== Francis qualified for The [[Superstars (US Version)|Superstars]] final and the World Superstars in 1980 and 1981, finishing second in the 1980 final and fourth in 1981. He won the football preliminary in 1981 and set a record of 23.91 seconds in the {{convert|50|yd|0|adj=on}} swimming event. That record stood until 1986, when it was broken by [[Greg Louganis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesuperstars.org |title=The Superstars |publisher=The Superstars |access-date=February 8, 2013}}</ref> Francis appeared in a 20-man [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] at [[WrestleMania 2]] along with other NFL stars. He was the son of wrestling promoter [[Ed Francis]] and he briefly competed full-time in the [[American Wrestling Association]] after retiring from football. He also competed in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]'s NWA Hawaii where at one time he held the [[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]] with his older brother, [[Billy Roy Francis (wrestler)|Billy Roy Francis]].<ref name=hit/> After retiring, he hosted ''The Russ Francis Show'' from 8 am to noon on [[WTPL|107.7 WTPL ''"The Pulse"'']], out of [[Concord, New Hampshire]], and later he hosted ''Forever West Outdoors'' from 4 to 6 pm on 1400 AM [[KODI]], out of [[Cody, Wyoming]]. In 2015, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. ===Championships and accomplishments=== *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Hawaii]]''' :*[[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with Bill Francis<ref name=hit>{{cite web|title=NWA Hawaiian Tag Team Title History|work=Solie's Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/hawttnwa.html|access-date=April 25, 2009}}</ref> ==Politics== In [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2000|2000]] Francis challenged long-time [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent, [[Patsy Mink]] for [[Hawaii's 2nd congressional district]]. Running as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], Francis was defeated, winning 35.97% of the vote to Mink's 61.59%. Mink later died shortly before her term was completed but was re-elected posthumously in 2002, having died one week after she had won the 2002 primary election, too late for her name to be removed from the general election ballot. Her vacant seat was filled by [[Ed Case]] after a special election on January 4, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-02|title=CNN.com - Case elected to Congress from Hawaii - Jan. 6, 2003|website=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/05/hawaii.politics/|access-date=2021-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002175646/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/05/hawaii.politics/|archive-date=October 2, 2018}}</ref> == Death == On October 1, 2023, Francis and [[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association|AOPA]] Air Safety Institute vice president [[Richard McSpadden]] were killed in a plane crash in [[Lake Placid, New York]], when the [[Cessna 177 Cardinal|Cessna 177]] flown by Francis out of [[Lake Placid Airport]] experienced an emergency and crashed into a [[ravine]] while attempting to return to the airport. Russ Francis was 70 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2023 |title=AOPA mourns death of Richard McSpadden |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/october/01/aopa-mourns-death-of-richard-mcspadden |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=www.aopa.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two killed in Lake Placid airplane crash identified|url=https://www.lakeplacidnews.com/news/local-news/2023/10/01/two-killed-in-lake-placid-airplane-crash-identified/|first=Aaron|last=Marbone|work=[[Lake Placid News]]|date=October 2, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/10/01/sports/sports-breaking/russ-francis-dies-in-plane-crash/ |title=Russ Francis, former NFL great from Hawaii, dies in plane crash |work=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]] |date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Footballstats |nfl=|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=FranRu00 |dbf=FRANCRUS01 |rotoworld=}} {{1975 NFL Draft}} {{Patriots1975DraftPicks}} {{PatriotsFirstPick}} {{Patriots1970s}} {{Patriots35th}} {{Super Bowl XIX}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Russ}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]] [[Category:American football tight ends]] [[Category:College football announcers]] [[Category:New England Patriots players]] [[Category:Oregon Ducks football players]] [[Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes]] [[Category:People from Pleasant Hill, Oregon]] [[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Hawaii]] [[Category:Players of American football from Hawaii]] [[Category:Players of American football from Oregon]] [[Category:National Football League replacement players]] [[Category:Oregon State University alumni]] [[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2023]] [[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]] [[Category:Accidental deaths in New York (state)]]'