The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost one of the most enduring figures in their history.
The team announced the passing of former running back and assistant coach Dick Hoak on Wednesday, Nov. 11. He was 86.
We mourn the loss of former Steelers player and coach, Dick Hoak. pic.twitter.com/GLsQxl0EE3
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 11, 2026
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Hoak, a legendary member of the Pittsburgh Steelers family," owner Art Rooney II said in a statement. "Dick was part of the foundation of this organization and played an instrumental role in shaping the Steelers as both a player and a coach during his 45 years with the team.
"Dick represented everything the Steelers stand for with his toughness, loyalty, dedication and unwavering commitment to the team."
Steelers
President Art Rooney II on the passing of Dick Hoak: pic.twitter.com/sPXZk1vtoB
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 11, 2026
Hoak rushed for 3,965 yards for the team as a player between 1961 and 1970. He took over as running backs coach under Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Noll in 1972, and held that position until Bill Cowher's departure at the end of the 2006 season.
Along the way, he was a part of winning five of the franchise's six Super Bowl championships and coached future Hall of Famers Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis.
Hoak was a native of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, a town about 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh. He attended Penn State for college before becoming a seventh-round NFL draft pick for the Steelers in 1961.
He was inducted as part of the inaugural class of the team's hall of honor in 2017 alongside franchise legends and Hall of Famers including Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert and Mike Webster.
His inclusion was a reflection of a unique place in team history that spanned decades few others have invested into it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five-time Steelers Super Bowl champion Dick Hoak dies at 86
