Former NFL tight end Don Hasselbeck, who won a Super Bowl in his nine-year career and was the father of two quarterbacks, has passed away at age 70.
Hasselbeck’s son, Matt, said his father died after going into cardiac arrest at his home.
‘He was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, player, coworker, artist, mentor, and storyteller,’ Matt Hasselbeck wrote on social media.
‘Despite being an All-American at Colorado and a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, what we are most proud of is the leader he was for our family.’
Standing 6-foot-7, the elder Hasselbeck was drafted in the second round by New England in 1977 after a standout collegiate career at Colorado.
‘There is a 6′ 7′ hole in our hearts,’ Matt wrote on social media. ‘He will be so missed by so many. We are beyond grateful that he was our dad and look forward to Heaven and being all together again.’
(From left to right) Matt Hasselbeck, Tim Hasselbeck, a guest, and Don Hasselbeck in 2012
Don Hasselbeck with the Los Angeles Raiders against Miami Dolphins, August 19, 1984
Don Hasselbeck #85 of the New York Giants celebrates against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wildcard Game on December 29, 1985 in East Rutherford
Hasselbeck spent six full seasons with the Patriots and led the team in catches in 1981 with 46, to go along with 808 yards receiving and six TDs.
In fact, another former Patriots tight end reacted to the news with his memories of Hasselbeck.
‘I first met Don while playing with the Patriots,’ Ben Watson wrote on X. ‘He and his wife Betsy lived in the area and continued to pour into young men and women like myself and my wife, who were beginning our NFL journey.
‘Don’s godly legacy is evident in the children who call him dad,’ Watson continued. ‘I have been blessed to know him and to witness how the world has been impacted for Christ through them. Please lift up the Hasslebeck family during this time as we mourn with them. Well done good and faithful servant.’
Hasselbeck was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders early in the 1983 season and helped the team win the Super Bowl. He had two TD catches in the regular season for the Raiders and the gritty tight end blocked an extra point in a 38-9 win in the Super Bowl against Washington.
He then spent the following season with the New York Giants and had a TD catch in a playoff win over San Francisco and finished his career with Minnesota in 1985.
Hasselbeck had 107 catches for 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns in 123 career regular season games.
Two of Hasselbeck’s sons went on to play quarterback in the NFL, with Matt making three Pro Bowls and starting in a Super Bowl for Seattle following the 2005 season and Tim playing mostly as a backup.
Tim is also known as the husband to television personality, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, whom he met while attending Boston College.
