He was diagnosed with cancer in November
Former Gopher star tight end Charlie Sanders has died at the age of 68. Sanders was drafted in the third round by the Detroit Lions in the 1968 NFL Draft and would go on to be elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2007.
Sanders was a star tight end for the Gophers in 1966 and 1967. He earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1967 helping to lead the Gophers to an 8-2 record and a share of the Big Ten title. He caught 21 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns his senior season.