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NFL rocked by legend's tragic death during fishing competition

Pete Lammons, pictured here in action for the New York Jets.
Pete Lammons won the Super Bowl with the New York Jets in 1969. Images: Twitter

The NFL world is mourning the tragic death of Pete Lammons, who won the Super Bowl with the New York Jets in 1969.

Lammons died after he fell from a boat during a fishing competition on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas.

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He was 77.

Major League Fishing announced in a statement that Lammons was participating in an event when he slipped from his boat and fell into the water.

The site where Pete Lammons died during a fishing competition.
Pete Lammons died after falling from a boat during a fishing competition. Image: KETK NBC

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed Lammons’ identity and an autopsy was ordered.

In its statement, MLF said San Augustine County Game Warden Travis Fountain responded to a call about an angler who had fallen overboard.

Rescue attempts were unsuccessful and Lammons' body was later recovered using sonar.

Lammons was competing in his 57th career tournament in the MLF Toyota Series.

"Pete was a proven champion," former Texas Longhorns teammate Ted Koy.

"But off the field, he was a humble person and very likeable."

NFL world mourns death of Pete Lammons

Lammons, a native of Jacksonville, Texas, who was living in Houston, was drafted by the Jets in the eighth round of the 1966 AFL draft out of Texas β€” after helping lead the Longhorns to the national championship in 1963.

He was also drafted by the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1966, but opted to play for the Jets.

Lammons played six seasons in New York and helped deliver the franchise its first and still only Super Bowl title.

Pete Lammons, pictured here fending off Oakland Raiders' linebacker Gus Otto.
Pete Lammons fends off Oakland Raiders' linebacker Gus Otto. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File) (AP)

He famously caught two passes from Joe Namath for 13 yards in the upset win over the Baltimore Colts in 1969.

His best personal season came in 1967, when he had a career-best 45 catches and was selected to the AFL All-Star team.

Lammons played his final NFL season in 1972 with Green Bay.

He finished with 185 career receptions for 2364 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven seasons.

Lammons' death sparked an outpouring of shock and sadness on social media.

with Associated Press

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