Former Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans has passed away at 46. What do we know?
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in mourning this weekend, with the news that one of their former greats has passed away at a relatively young age.
A solid linebacker who made more than one appearance in the Super Bowl, the Steelers star was a credit to the game where ever he went. Indeed, he will be missed by both those who played with him and those who knew him as a person.
Clark Haggans passes away
According to a statement from the Pittsburgh Steelers, former NFL linebacker Clark Haggans has died at the age of 46 years old. There has been no official word on his cause of death. Incidentally, the news was first reported on Tuesday night on a Pittsburgh radio show.
Out of Colorado State, Haggans was of course drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He would go on to spend his first eight seasons in Pittsburgh, winning a Super Bowl during his time with the men in black and gold. Perhaps his biggest career highlight was when he sacked quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks on the opening drive of Super Bowl XL in 2005. The Steelers would go on to win the big game 21-10. In his last four seasons in Pittsburgh, Haggans - a starter - posted 332 tackles, 32.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception.
The later years of Clark Haggans
Following his time in Pittsburgh, he would make a move to the Arizona Cardinals with whom he played from 2008 to 2011, reaching a Super Bowl with them as well during that first season in 2008. Unfortunately, he would not taste victory on that occasion as the Cardinals lost to his former team 27-23.
What followed was a single season in the Bay Area with the San Francisco 49ers. Incidentally, he would get to the Super Bowl once more making it three appearances in all, but the Niners would lose that 2012 contest against the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34-31. Haggans brought the curtain down on his career in 2013 with a total of 520 tackles and 46.5 sacks. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Colorado State - his alma mater - in 2015. To this day, he holds the school record with a total of 33 sacks.