Bill Fralic, Former Pitt And NFL Star, Dies At 56

PITTSBURGH, PA - Former University of Pittsburgh and NFL star Bill Fralic has died at the age of 56. Fralic had been battling cancer, according to the university.

A Penn Hills native, Fralic was an offensive lineman for the University of Pittsburgh from the 1981 through 1984 seasons. Fralic was a three-time All-American for the Panthers and was the only underclassman to be among the four finalists for the Lombardi Award as a junior in 1983.

Fralic’s number was retired in 1984 at halftime of his final home game and in 1998, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Fralic was the second player taken overall in the 1985 draft and had a nine-year career with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-tie All-Pro and was named to the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team.

"Bill is truly one of the iconic figures in the history of Pitt athletics," Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement. "He set a tremendous standard for our current generation of student-athletes, not only as an athlete but also for what he went on to accomplish once his playing days concluded. Bill's reputation for giving back might even transcend his Hall of Fame football career. He was a passionate supporter of Pitt and Penn Hills. Our deepest sympathies to his wife, Susan, and his many loved ones and friends."

Fralic was the first sophomore to letter in football at Penn Hills High School. He also became a WPIAL heavyweight wrestling champion for the Indians, compiling a 98-7 record, according to Pitt.

Fralic was a member of the inaugural class of the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also a member of the inaugural Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class that was enshrined this past September.

Fralic made headlines last week, when he paid for the Penn Hills football team's hotel rooms for its state championship game in Hershey. Penn Hills defeated Manheim Central36-31 to win the PIAA Class 5A championship.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

Photo: Getty Images.

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