CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said Friday that without the advice, highly-respected reputation and campaigning by his franchise's first team president, Mike McCormack, 'We would probably not have a team in the Carolinas.''
The team announced that the former Hall of Fame Cleveland Browns offensive tackle who was vital in Richardson's bid to gain league approval for the franchise's 1995 inception, died Friday at 83 at his home in Palm Desert, Calif.
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A former player, coach and general manager, McCormack served as a trusted advisor to Richardson starting in 1989 and, after serving as team president for Carolina's initial two seasons, became the first inductee into the franchise's Hall of Honor.
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'He was universally respected by everyone associated with professional football,' Richardson said in a statement. 'He was a wonderful man and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ann, and the entire McCormack family.''
McCormack was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984 following his career with the Browns, for whom he played from 1951-62, winning NFL championships in 1954 and '55 under quarterback Otto Graham. His legendary coach Paul Brown called McCormack, 'The finest offensive lineman I have ever coached.''
Mike McCormack was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle with the Browns, for whom he played from 1951-62.(Photo: Henry Barr, Collection Diamond Images/Getty Images)
McCormack, who later blocked for Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, was named to USA TODAY's 75th anniversary all-NFL team as one of the three finest tackles in league history.
The Chicago native began his NFL coaching career under Vince Lombardi and George Allen as an assistant with the Washington Redskins in 1965.
He went on to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (1973-75), Baltimore Colts (1980-81) and Seattle Seahawks (1982) before serving as Seahawks general manager until 1988.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera met McCormack briefly but was well aware of his reputation as one of the league's titans.
'Mostly, I know that he had played in the league, was a Hall of Famer and had a tremendous career and coached,'' Rivera said Friday. 'I know he was involved in bringing the Panthers here and being one of Mr. Richardson's right hand men. That much I know. Unfortunately, I never really got a chance to know who he is as a person moreso than just knowing of him.''
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