Former NFL tight end Russ Francis
dies in plane crash
Former Patriots and 49ers tight end Russ Francis was killed in a plane crash on Sunday.
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports that Francis, who was the president of Lake Placid Airways, and another man died in a crash at Lake Placid Airport on Sunday afternoon. The other man was Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association senior vice president Richard McSpadden and a statement from the organization said the plane was attempting to return to the airport due to an emerge
Francis was a Patriots first-round pick in 1975 after playing at Oregon. He made three Pro Bowls and earned two second-team All-Pro selections with New England before retiring after the 1980 season. He returned to play in 1982 and was traded to San Francisco, where he spent six seasons and won a Super Bowl. Francis wound up his career by returning to New England after being waived in 1987 and he played his final 12 games for the Pats in 1988.
