Surrounded by his family in Lake Tahoe, CA when he died; the cancer was shock to everyone since he was just diagnosed this past Sunday when he became ill and his wife took him to the hospital.

The New York Times reported that his illness was a well kept secret in football circles and that his death leaves a void in the union at a very difficult time. Jeffery Kessler, the unions outside counsel, told The New York Times, “that the union would likely appoint an acting executive director pretty quickly.”

Born and Raised in Texas

Born August 15, 1945 in Robstown, Texas; he father Eugene Sr. worked at a local oil company and his mother, Cora, was a domestic laborer. His parents encouraged him and his brothers to play baseball growing up which helped to make him a star on the Robstown High School baseball team. With not much interest in football, he only played one year of varsity football in high school.

After high school he decided to try out for the Texas A&I football team in hopes of it getting him a scholarship. Upshaw did get his scholarship as well as have a great college football career where he played various offensive line positions. Upshaw graduated from what was than Texas A&I University in 1968.

His Time with the Oakland Raiders

Upshaw played offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders for 15 years from 1967 to 1981. As the Raiders first-round choice in the first AFL-NFL draft at that time he was considered one of the top linemen available. Playing in three Super Bowls; 1967, 1976 and 1980 seasons, he helped Oakland win two out of those three. Upshaw has been the only football player in history to ever go to three Super Bowls all in different decades while still playing for the same team. The executive director of the N.F.L. Players Association for 25 years; he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

A very Successful Career

He also studied at California State University in 1969 and Golden Gate University Law School in 1982. Other honors include the American Football Conference Lineman of the Year in 1973, 1974 and 1977. National Football League Lineman of the Year in 1977, named to NFL Pro Bowl six times, Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award in 1980, and elected to All-Time NFL team in 1994.

Upshaw is survived by his wife Terri and three sons Eugene III, Justin and Daniel.