The sports world suffered a loss on Saturday when the Eagles announced that former Pro Bowl linebacker Frank LeMaster died Thursday at the age of 71.
LeMaster played all nine NFL seasons on Broad Street and was a pivotal part of Philadelphia’s 1980 NFC Championship squad, which ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed. He then earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection the following season in ’81.
“LeMaster put 110 percent of himself into the Philadelphia Eagles and the Eagles became champions during his illustrious career. He left no doubt that he was a winner, both on the field and off,” the Eagles, via a release.
The team did not provide a cause of death in its announcement of LeMaster’s death.
The Eagles tabbed LeMaster in the fourth round of the 1974 NFL draft, after starring at the University of Kentucky. The rugged linebacker was known as an “Iron-Man”, never missing a single game in his NFL career.
In Eagles history, LeMaster’s 10 total interceptions are seventh-most by a linebacker. He also scored three touchdowns during his nine years in the league, becoming just one of three Philadelphia linebackers to do so.
