Pete Lammons, a pivotal figure in the Jets’ Super Bowl III victory, died Thursday in a boating accident in his native Texas. He was 77 years old.
According to a press release from Major League Fishing, the former tight end, who was also a member of the 1963 University of Texas championship team, fell overboard at the dock and drowned while practicing for a fishing tournament in Brookeland, Texas.
Lammons, an avid fisherman, was about to play in his 57th MLF tournament. His body was rescued using sonar by boats, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Lance Lammons, his nephew, told Jacksonvilleprogress.com that Lammons was exhausted after two stent surgeries in recent weeks.
Lammons, who spent six seasons with the Jets, caught a touchdown pass in the team’s AFL Championship victory over the Raiders. He also caught two passes from Jets legend Joe Namath in the team’s 16-7 Super Bowl III victory over the Colts.
Lammons attended the Jets’ only Super Bowl team’s 50th anniversary reunion in 2018. He finished his NFL career with 185 receptions, 2,364 yards, and 14 touchdowns in one season with the Packers.
