Former Pitt Star, NFL Hall Of Famer Chris Doleman Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA - Former University of Pittsburgh and NFL star Chris Doleman died Tuesday night, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced. He was 58 and had been battling cancer.

"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Chris Doleman after a prolonged and courageous battle against cancer," David Baker, the Hall of Fame's president
and CEO, said in a statement. "I had the honor of getting to know him not only as a great football player but an outstanding human being... the legacy of Chris Doleman will live forever in Canton, Ohio, for generations to learn from how he lived a life of courage and character."

Doleman was a star linebacker and defensive end at Pitt from 1981 to 1984. He ended his career at Pitt with 25 sacks, the university's third-best total when he departed and currently the sixth-best.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Domean as the fourth player overall in the 1985 NFL Draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers during his career.

According to his Hall of Fame biography, he retired as the fourth-ranked sack leader of all time with 150.t sacks and was tied for third in the NFL record book with eight seasons in which he recorded 10 or more sacks.

During his 15-season, 232-game NFL career, Doleman was named to eight Pro Bowls, six with the Vikings and once each as a member of the Falcons and the 49ers. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1987, 1989, and 1992 and first-team All-NFC four times.

Doleman is a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s.