Buffalo Bills helmet shown on field.Buffalo Bills helmet (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Some sad news has emerged in the football world: Former Buffalo Bills first-round pick and Notre Dame legend Tony Hunter has passed away.

On their official X/Twitter account, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team announced that Tony Hunter, who spent two years with the Buffalo Bills and later the Los Angeles Rams, passed away on June 11 at the age of 64. No cause of death was immediately given.

Hunter spent four seasons at Notre Dame, tallying 120 receptions for 1,897 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 120 rushing yards and a rushing TD. Hunter previously played WR before switching to tight end late in his NCAA career.

He had his best season in 1982, compiling 42 receptions for 507 yards. Hunter led the Fighting Irish to a Sugar Bowl appearance in the 1980 season, but they lost 17-10 to the Georgia Bulldogs.

 

The Buffalo Bills selected Hunter 12th overall in what turned out to be an all-time legendary draft class. In two seasons with the Bills, Hunter recorded 69 receptions for 733 yards and five touchdowns.

Two spots behind Hunter, the Buffalo Bills would use the No. 14 selection on future Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. The latter was one of three Hall of Fame signal-callers to emerge from the first round of that draft, along with John Elway (Denver Broncos) and Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins).

Tony Hunter’s Career Was Cut Short By Injury

Hunter joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1985, where he had his best pro season. That year, Hunter caught 50 passes for 562 yards and four touchdowns as the Rams advanced to the NFC title game, losing to the Chicago Bears.

Unfortunately, Hunter was limited to seven games in the 1986 campaign. A knee procedure wound up cutting Hunter’s career short, and he ultimately retired after four seasons in the pros.

San Francisco 49ers Superstar George Kittle Reveals Shocking Weight Loss & Struggles During The Offseason: “Wasn’t Able To Lift”

George Kittle of San Francisco 49ers reacting during game.George Kittle (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers superstar tight end George Kittle has dropped plenty of weight over the first half of the offseason.

The 30-year-old George Kittle was last listed at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds. He had one of his best seasons in 2023, hauling in 65 receptions for 1,020 yards (his first 1,000-yard season since 2019) and six touchdowns.

During an appearance on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast, Kittle revealed that he’s already dropped 30 pounds this offseason. That’s because he’s had to spend most of the offseason rehabbing various injuries:

“I couldn’t lift. I couldn’t do any upper body because of my shoulder and my rib, and I couldn’t do lower [body] because of my core surgery…I didn’t lift from the Super Bowl until like almost mid-March. I went a month without doing anything, I wasn’t supposed to do anything…It was tough, but I’m feeling great now, which is fantastic. I’d say I’m almost back to 100 percent.”

But there aren’t any reports or anything to indicate injury-related concerns for Kittle heading into the 2024 regular season. By all accounts, the 49ers fan favorite will be more than ready to go for Week 1, which is still almost three months away.

The 49ers suffered yet another heartbreaking loss in the postseason, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 in overtime of Super Bowl 58. In that game, George Kittle had just two catches for four yards.

Incredibly, the 49ers have played in four of the last five NFC title games and two Super Bowls since 2019, but they have nothing to show for it. The good news is that San Fran is running it back with practically the same core, so they have as much of a shot as anybody as winning the Super Bowl this year.

George Kittle & 49ers Open Season vs. Jets

The 49ers’ quest to redemption will begin against a familiar foe in the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium in Week 1.

San Francisco and Rodgers had an iconic rivalry during the latter’s run with the Green Bay Packers, including four playoff appearances. All of those were won by the 49ers, with two of them coming via blowout fashion.

After hosting the Jets, the 49ers will then travel to Minnesota to take on Justin Jefferson and the Vikings in Week 2.