Hall of Fame back, Las Vegas resident Floyd Little dies

Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little, who lived in Las Vegas, died Friday from a rare form of cell cancer.

Little, 78, was a three-time All-American at Syracuse and made five Pro Bowls during a nine-year career with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos host the Raiders on Sunday.

“The entire Raiders Family is saddened to learn of the passing of Floyd Little,” the Raiders posted on Twitter. “Little was a great competitor in every sense …”

“Floyd Little was not only a Hall of Fame running back, he was a Hall of Fame person,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Faith, family and football were the pillars of his life.”

Little rushed for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns with the Broncos. His rushing total ranked seventh in NFL history when he retired in 1975. He also caught 215 passes for 2,418 yards and nine TDs.

“Lost another great man today,” Terrell Davis, a Hall of Fame back who also played for the Broncos, posted on Twitter. “Thank you for inspiring me. I will keep looking up to you.”

Little was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Floyd Little was a true hero of the game,” said David Baker, president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “He was a man of great integrity, passion and courage. His contributions off the field were even greater than his amazing accomplishments he did on it. Floyd’s smile, heart and character epitomized what it meant to have a Hall of Fame life.”

At Syracuse, Little was part of a legendary group of running backs who all wore No. 44, following Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. In three years, Little rushed for 2,704 yards and 35 touchdowns.

A former teammate of Little’s at Syracuse, Pat Killorin, made Little’s cancer diagnosis public in May when he created a GoFundMe page to help the family with treatment costs. Little began undergoing chemotherapy treatments in Las Vegas in June and entered hospice care in November.

“Floyd had a smile on his face, and he loved the game of football,” said former All-Pro George Kunz, who lives in Las Vegas. “He was very good at it, and he enjoyed every minute of it. In my mind, this is my vision of him. He was just a great player.

“He and Tom Jackson were captains of the Denver Broncos. My first year with the (Baltimore) Colts, I was captain, and I went out there for the coin toss before the game and had a chance to meet Floyd and Jackson. Just great people and a credit to the game of football.”

Little is survived by his wife, DeBorah, and children Marc Little, Kyra Little DaCosta and Christy Little Jones.

“I will miss him more than I can fathom,” Marc Little wrote on Twitter. “I was blessed to have Floyd Little as my father. I am the luckiest son in the world.”

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.