LOS ANGELES — Ollie Matson, a Hall of Fame running back who was once traded for nine players during his 14-year NFL career and won two medals at the 1952 Olympics, has died. He was 80.
Matson died Saturday of respiratory failure surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, his nephew Art Thompson III told The Associated Press.
Thompson said Matson had been mostly bedridden for several years because of a form of dementia.
He said Matson hadn’t spoken in four years.
As a senior at the University of San Francisco, Matson led the nation in rushing yardage and touchdowns while leading the Dons to an undefeated season. He was the No. 1 pick of the Chicago Cardinals and third overall in the 1952 NFL draft, and went on to share rookie of the year honors with Hugh McElhenny of the 49ers.
Matson played with the Cardinals from 1952-58 before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1957.
He spent 1959-62 with the Rams, then played a single season for the Detroit Lions before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1964-66.
Matson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972, and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, winning MVP of the 1956 game. He also made the all-pro team seven times.
Matson earned a silver medal in the 1,600-meter relay and a bronze in the 400 meters at the 1952 Hel- sinki Olympics.
NFL, union meet again.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, union executive director DeMaurice Smith and members of their negotiating teams participated in a second consecutive six-hour session with a federal mediator, trying to spur progress less than two weeks before the league’s labor deal expires.
They’re finally talking to each other — but they’re not revealing how well it’s going.
“I have nothing to say, obviously,” Jeffrey Kessler, a lawyer for the NFL Players Association, said on his way out of the meeting in Washington.
Duerson death ruled a suicide.
Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Chicago Tribune.
His death has been ruled a suicide, but the Miami-Dade police department has not made the information public yet.
The 50-year-old was found dead late Thursday night in his Miami home.
• Safety Erik Coleman and the Lions have agreed to a contract.
