HAVERHILL, Mass. (May 17, 2006) -- Dan Ross, who set the record for most Super Bowl receptions with the Bengals in 1982, has died. He was 49.
The former tight end collapsed at his home in Atkinson, N.H., shortly after returning from a jog the evening of May 16, Northeastern's sports information department said. He was taken to Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, where he died.
Ross, who starred for the Huskies and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, was drafted 30th overall by Cincinnati in 1979 and spent parts of six seasons with the Bengals. His best season came in 1981, when he set career highs with 71 catches for 910 yards and five touchdowns while helping the Bengals to their first AFC championship.
Ross made a Super Bowl-record 11 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January 1982. Jerry Rice and Deion Branch have since tied the mark.
Ross had a total of 263 receptions for 3,204 yards and 16 TDs with the Bengals. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and finished his career in 1986 with the Green Bay Packers. Ross played in the USFL for the New Orleans/Portland Breakers from 1984-85.
He still holds the Northeastern record for receptions in a season with 68 and is second on the all-time list in career receptions and yards receiving.
"His specialty was attracting crowds and still hanging onto the football," the university said in a statement. "His tremendous power, concentration, hands, blocking ability and open field running added up to one of the most exciting athletes to ever take the gridiron in New England."
Ross is survived by his wife, Joan, and two children -- Dan Jr., 22, and Jillian, 23.
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