Former North Carolina and NFL defensive tackle Dee Hardison died Saturday at the age of 61.
He had been hospitalized for several weeks, the Associated Press reported.
Hardison was named to the AP’s All-American first team in 1977, when he co-captained the Tar Heels team that won the ACC title and finished 8-3-1 and ranked 17th after a 21-17 loss to Nebraska in the Liberty Bowl, according to the AP.
The Buffalo Bills drafted Hardison in the second round in 1978, beginning his 11-season career in the NFL. He played five seasons with the New York Giants, two with the San Diego Chargers and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.