The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost one of their all-time franchise legends with word that Sidney Thornton, who played running back for the team in the 1970s, has died at the age of 68, according to multiple reports.
Not only was Thornton part of the team for six seasons, which was the entire length of his career, but he was part of back-to-back Super Bowl-winning teams in 1978 and 1979 for the franchise.
Local media in Pittsburgh note that Thornton had 1,512 rushing yards for the Steelers, including 18 rushing touchdowns. He also had 515 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in his career.
He was first drafted by the Steelers in the 1977 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
In a statement this week posted to the Steelers official Twitter, the team posted a graphic of Thornton, and stated "we are saddened by the loss of former Steelers RB Sidney Thornton."
Following his NFL career, Thornton took a year off from football before returning to professional football in the United States Football League, otherwise known as the USFL. He played a single season with the Oklahoma Outlaws of that league, according to Outsider, who also covered the news of his tragic death.
Across his career within the NFL, Thornton primarily was the backup to legendary Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris, who died in December.
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