Two days after suffering a stroke, Lee Roy Selmon has sadly passed away. The former Buccaneer great was 56 years old.
Selmon was arguably the greatest Buccaneer to ever play the game. The defensive lineman was the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer in team history, having been selected with the first overall pick of the 1976 draft. He had had a stellar career at Oklahoma, and continued that career into the NFL. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six time, was named a first-team All-Pro three times and a second-team All-Pro two times.
In 1979, Lee Roy Selmon led the best defense in football to an NFC Championship. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts during that season. In 1995 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
Selmon was not only a great player, but also a great person. He has been very active in the Tampa Bay Area, being involved in numerous charities. He also started a successful restaurant chain, known as Lee Roy Selmon's, and helped the University of South Florida start up its football program.
The Glazers issued a statement on his passing:
"Tampa Bay has lost another giant. This is an incredibly somber day for Buccaneer fans, Sooner fans, and all football fans. Lee Roy's standing as the first Buc in the Hall of Fame surely distinguished him, but his stature off the field as the consummate gentleman put him in another stratosphere. Put simply, he was first class. He was the real deal. We are so blessed to have known this fine man and to have called him one of our own, yet so sad to have lost him so soon. Our hearts go out to the Selmon family at this time of their loss."
Rest in peace, Lee Roy Selmon.