Roosevelt Taylor, 82, safety on Bears' 1963 title team, dies

Roosevelt Taylor, a star safety on Chicago Bears' 1963 NFL championship team, has died. He was 82.

team said he died Friday but did t provide details.

An All-Pro in 1963 when Bears won title, Taylor played his first nine NFL seasons with Chicago, 1961-69, appearing in every game. A ballhawk, he led league in interceptions in 1963 with nine, also making Pro Bowl.

Chicago was 11-1-2 in that championship season, winning all eight games in which Taylor me an interception.

He also me Pro Bowl in 1968. next year, he was dealt to San Francisco for guard Howard Mudd and spent 2 1/2 seasons with 49ers, n was Washington's free safety in 1972. Redskins lost to Miami in Super Bowl that season, with Dolphins finishing off ir perfect record.

In all, Taylor h 32 interceptions, 23 with Bears. He ran back three for touchdowns and also scored on a fumble return.

Taylor was undrafted in 1961 out of Grambling University, where he walked onto football team and became a star. Tigers and Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson won school’s first SWAC championship in 1960 with Taylor.

Taylor's son, Brian, was a running back with Bears and Buffalo Bills for a short time.

Im Source: @LovieSmith/Twitter