Gail Cogdill, a Detroit Lion who retired as the team’s all-time leading receiver, has died at the age of 79.
As the Lions’ sixth-round draft pick out of Washington State in 1960, Cogdill made an instant impact, being chosen to the Pro Bowl and winning the Rookie of the Year award. That was the first of three Pro Bowl seasons for Cogdill.
“Gail was simply a great football player, an outstanding receiver and teammate,” Hall of Fame teammate and coach Joe Schmidt told the Detroit Free Press. “Frankly, we didn’t take advantage of his ability.”
Cogdill, who also played briefly for the Colts and Falcons, finished his career with 356 catches for 5,696 yards and 34 touchdowns.