Longtime Sports Illustrated NFL writer Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman died Thursday at age 86, Peter King of NBC Sports reported.
Zimmerman earned the nickname Dr. Z for the analytical approach he took to breaking down NFL games during his time with Sports Illustrated.
During a career that spanned 55 years, Zimmerman spent nearly 30 of those at Sports Illustrated. He covered NFL greats from Vince Lombardi to Joe Montana until his career came to a halt in 2008.
During Thankskiving weekend of that year, Zimmerman suffered a series of three strokes that left him largely unable to speak and confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.