TAMPA, Fla. — Lee Roy Selmon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Hall of Fame defensive end who teamed with his brothers to create a dominant defensive front and helped lead Oklahoma to consecutive national championships, died Sunday — two days after being hospitalized for a stroke. He was 56.
A statement released on behalf of his wife, Claybra Selmon, said he died at a Tampa hospital surrounded by family members.
“For all his accomplishments on and off the field, to us Lee Roy was the rock of our family. This has been a sudden and shocking event and we are devastated by this unexpected loss,” the statement said.
Selmon and his brother Dewey were All-Americans in 1975 when the Sooners won their second consecutive championship under coach Barry Switzer. They followed older brother Lucious to Oklahoma, and the three played together during the 1973 season.
News of Lee Roy Selmon’s stroke had already spurred tributes to him on Saturday, when members of the University of South Florida’s football team wore his number on their helmet. Selmon had served as the school’s athletic director from 2001-04.
The Associated Press
