Jim Gibbons, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end who scored one of the most dramatic touchdowns in Detroit Lions history, died Saturday at the age of 79 from double pneumonia.
Gibbons starred for the Lions in 1958-68 and finished his career with 287 catches for 3,561 yards.
His most memorable play came in a 1960 game against the Baltimore Colts, when he scored a 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown as time expired to lead the Lions to an improbable comeback.
The Colts had scored the go-ahead touchdown seconds earlier on a Johnny Unitas pass to Lenny Moore. The Lions returned the kickoff to the 35-yard line and, with 10 seconds left and Baltimore in a prevent-type defense, Gibbons caught a pass across the middle from Earl Morrall and raced down the sideline for the game-winning score.