Former Detroit Lions coach Rick Forzano died Wednesday at the age of 90, the team announced.
Forzano was the head coach for parts of three seasons for the Lions from 1974-76 and was responsible for giving New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick his second job in the NFL.
Forzano went 15-17 as Lions coach, before he was replaced four games into the 1976 season by Tommy Hudspeth.
"Rick was a wonderful man and we are truly saddened by the news of his passing," Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford said in a statement released by the team.