Sports Figures Who Passed Away in 2024
As the calendar switches over from 2024 to 2025, it's a good time to reflect on those we've lost in the previous year. The sports world lost some titans in 2024, from broadcasting legends to hall of famers to young stars who were taken too soon.
Let's look back at some of the more notable figures from the sports world who passed away in 2024.
Greg Gumbel
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel was a familiar face to sports fans for decades, as the veteran anchor called play-by-play for major events including the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.
Gumbel, a New Orleans native who grew up in Chicago, was the older brother of fellow broadcaster Bryant Gumbel. Greg Gumbel eventually stepped away from his broadcasting duties in 2023 due to health issues, and passed away at home on December 27, 2024.
Rickey Henderson
Known as the best base stealer of all time, Rickey Henderson played for an incredible 25 years during his long MLB career. He's the all-time leader in stolen bases, runs, unintentional walks, and leadoff home runs, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Henderson grew up in Oakland and played some of his most memorable games for the Oakland Athletics, with whom he had four separate stints. He passed away in Oakland from pneumonia at the age of 65.
Lou Carnesecca
Lou Carnesecca is best remembered as the colorful and animated coach of the St. John's collegiate basketball program. He started at St. John's as an assistant in 1958, and retired following the 1992 season. During this time he also spent three years coaching the ABA's New York Nets.
Following Carnesecca's 1992 retirement, he kept a relatively low profile. He lived to a good age, passing away on November 30th at the age of 99.
Béla Károlyi
Romanian-born Béla Károlyi started out as an elite gymnastics trainer for various Romanian Olympic gymnasts, but frequent clashes with Romania's dictatorial government led him to defect to the United States in 1981.
Once stateside, Károlyi and his wife Márta became the architects of the U.S. gymnastics program, helping American gymnasts compete with the dominant Europeans of their day. The Károlyis were frequently criticized for their efforts, which were called abusive by their detractors. Károlyi died in november at the age of 82.
Gerry Faust
Football coach Gerry Faust achieved an improbable feat in 1981. After coaching solely at the high school level since the early 1960s, he made the leap to the collegiate ranks to coach for the legendary Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Faust's high school record of 178-23-2 was incredible, but he didn't do as well at the collegiate level. After five years in South Bend coaching the Irish, he spent nine seasons as the head coach of the University of Akron. Between these two stops, he had a record of 73-79-2. He passed away on November 11th at the age of 89.
Fernando Valenzuela
The fireballing Mexican pitcher Fernando "El Toro" Valenzuela became a national celebrity during his early years, with fans flocking to Dodger Stadium in what became known as "Fernandomania."
Valenzuela was a juggernaut in the 1980s, winning the Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, and a World Series championship all in the 1981 season alone. He went on to be a six-time all-star and played for more than fifteen seasons. He passed away in Los Angeles on October 22nd at the age of 63.
Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant was a fan favorite with the Boston Red Sox, with whom the Cuban pitcher spent eight seasons in the 1970s. He was a three-time all-star and was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Following his playing career, he coached at various levels in both the amateur and professional ranks. On October 8th, the 83-year-old Tiant died at his home in Wells, Maine.
Pete Rose
Pete Rose will likely go down as the best baseball player never to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Known as "Charlie Hustle," his on-field feats can't be understated: He's still the all-time MLB hits leader, and his 17 all-star appearances are among the most of all-time.
Unfortunately, Rose received an outright ban from baseball for placing wagers and became somewhat of a black sheep. He stayed in the public eye for the rest of his life, making frequent appearances at autograph shows. He passed away in Las Vegas on September 30th at the age of 83.
Dikembe Mutombo
Congolese basketball superstar Dikembe Mutombo was known as "Mount Mutombo" for his intimidating defense, characterized by a finger-wag that he'd direct at opponents whose shot he'd just blocked.
Beginning with his college career at Georgetown and continuing through his NBA stops in Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, and Houston, the seven-footer was a mainstay in the paint for close to two decades. He passed away in September at the age of 58.
Eugene "Mercury" Morris
Mercury Morris was a sensation upon his arrival in pro football in 1969, making an immediate impact as a running back and return man for the ascendant Miami Dolphins.
A three-time Pro Bowl honoree, Morris was also a part of Miami's back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the 1970s — including one that completed the Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season, a feat that's never been replicated. He retired following the 1976 season. Morris passed away on September 21st at the age of 77.
Johnny Gaudreau
Hockey star Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey" was tragically killed in August when a suspected drunk driver hit both Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while they were on a bike ride.
Gaudreau was well respected during his 11-year career, and he was named the recipient of the 2017 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league's most gentlemanly player. Gaudreau was 31 when he passed, and his brother Matthew was 29.
Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez
Flamboyant golfer Chi-Chi Rodriguez racked up 37 professional wins on the PGA Tour, and was a mainstay on the links for decades. He's the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Rodriguez participated in an honorary role in the 2012 Puerto Rican Open at the age of 76, marking his final official round as a pro golfer. He passed away at the age of 88 in August.
Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas was one of the NFL's more underrated running backs in the 1970s, spending two stints with the Dallas Cowboys along with other pro stops in San Diego, Washington, Hawaii, and Canada.
His peak came early on, as he helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl VI over the Miami Dolphins, and also led the league in rushing touchdowns in 1971. He died of a pulmonary embolism in August at the age of 77.
Joe "Jellybean" Bryant
Joe Bryant had a globetrotting career, playing in the NBA and ABA before taking his talents to Europe, where he spent nearly a decade. While his accomplishments are numerous, he may be best remembered as the father of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
Joe Bryant was also a decorated coach, coaching at virtually every level between 1992 and 2015 in an odyssey that took him around the globe. He died aged 69 in July.
Jacoby Jones
Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a productive NFL career, winning Super Bowl SLVII with the Baltimore Ravens. He had a career year in 2012, when he was named a First-team All-Pro and earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod.
Following his NFL career, he went on to coach at the high school and college levels. He passed away at his New Orleans home at the age of 40, with a coroner's report stating that he died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease from long-term high blood pressure.
Monte Kiffin
One of the best defensive coordinators the football world has seen, football coach Monte Kiffin is best known for creating the Tampa 2 defense, a defensive scheme that's still widely used in football.
His coaching career spanned more than half a century, most of it spent as a defensive coordinator or linebacker coach. NFL fans will remember him for his 13 years as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He passed away at the age of 84 in July.
Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Cepeda was one of the first Puerto Ricans to star in Major League Baseball, making his debut in 1958 for the San Francisco Giants. During his career, he was one of the better power hitters in baseball, and earned a Hall of Fame induction in 1999.
Cepeda's number 30 was retired by the Giants in 1999 and he was a frequent presence around the team in his later years. He died at the age of 86 on June 28th.
Willie Mays
The "Say Hey" Kid was another Giants legend, starting out in the segregated Negro Leagues before making his MLB debut with the New York Giants in 1951. He moved with the Giants to San Francisco and played his final game for the team in 1972.
Mays was named to an incredible 24 all-star teams and also had two National League MVP awards to his name. He lived to the age of 93, passing away in June in Palo Alto, California.
Jerry West
Jerry West may be the most iconic player in NBA history for the sole fact that his graceful silhouette is the basis of the league's iconic logo. West was more than just a logo, though, and he's still regarded as perhaps the most clutch basketball player of all time.
The point guard spent his entire playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, along with decades more as a coach and executive. He won one championship as a player, and eight as an exec. West died in June at the age of 86.
Larry Allen
Larry Allen, a longtime NFL guard, was known for explosive speed and athleticism relative to his 325-pound frame. An 11-time Pro Bowl honoree, he was also named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for both the 1990s and 2000s.
Allen played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won one Super Bowl. While on vacation with his family in Mexico in June, Allen passed away at the age of 52. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Bill Walton
Bill Walton became known to millions as an affable color commentator for college and NBA broadcasts, but before this, he was a dominant center.
Walton was a member of John Wooden's legendary UCLA Bruins teams of the early 1970s, then became an NBA mainstay with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics. Walton died following a bout of colorectal cancer at his San Diego home at the age of 71.
Jim Otto
It's tough to find a tougher football player than Jim Otto, as the longtime Oakland Raiders center had over 70 football-related surgeries in his life, including a leg amputation.
On the field, Otto was a nine-time AFL All-Star, three-time Pro Bowl honoree, and was named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Otto lived to the age of 86, and died on May 19th, 2024.
Roman Gabriel
Quarterback Roman Gabriel started his pro career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1962, steadily becoming one of the better players in the league. He was named the 1969 NFL Most Valuable Player and also racked up four Pro Bowl nods.
He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and then coached at the collegiate and minor pro levels before turning his attention to acting and broadcasting. Gabriel passed away in April at the age of 83.
O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson became one of the most recognized, and most controversial, figures of the late 20th century due to his high-profile 1994 murder trial. Before this, however, he was a generally beloved figure.
Simpson starred in college for the USC Trojans as a running back, then had a Hall of Fame career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Following his career, he became an actor and a broadcaster. Simpson died in Las Vegas at the age of 76.
Jerry Grote
Workmanlike catcher Jerry Grote was never a star, but he did play in Major League Baseball for nearly 20 years. He's best remembered for his time in New York, where he played for the "Miracle Mets" of 1969.
Grote earned two All-Star nods during his career, in 1968 and 1974, and was named to the New York Mets Hall of Fame. He died of respiratory failure in April, aged 81.
Chris Mortensen
Chris Mortensen is remembered as a dogged reporter, staying on the NFL beat year-round as a journalist and broadcaster. He was a big part of ESPN's NFL broadcasts and broke the news of the New England Patriots' "Deflategate" controversy in 2015.
In 2016, Mortensen announced that he'd be taking a leave of absence following a throat cancer diagnosis. He spent his final years with his family before succumbing to the disease in March at the age of 72.
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers is best remembered for his roles in various action films (along with a comedic turn in Arrested Development), but he initially made his name as a pro football linebacker.
Weathers played two mostly uneventful years for the Oakland Raiders in 1970 and 1971 before playing three mostly uneventful seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Following his playing career, he became an actor. He died in February at the age of 76.
Bud Harrelson
He was born Derrel McKinley Harrelson, but virtually everyone knew his as "Bud." Harrelson was a scrappy infielder for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers during a 16-season MLB career.
Harrelson was a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, and is probably best known for his heroics in the 1969 World Series, in which he helped the "Miracle Mets" win their first title over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.
Franz Beckenbauer
German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer will go down in history as one of the best players of all time. During his career, he won not just the FIFA World Cup, but also the European Champions Cup and the Ballon d'Or.
Following his decorated international and club career, he became a noted manager for West Germany, Marseille, and Bayern Munich. He died in Salzburg, Austria at the age of 78.
Frank Ryan
Quarterback Frank Ryan was an NFL mainstay in the 1960s, taking snaps for the Rams, Browns, and Washington between 1958 and 1970. Along the way, he won the 1964 NFL Championship with the Browns and was named to three Pro Bowl teams.
Following his career, Ryan took on a second career as a mathematician, where he was a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University. Ryan passed away, aged 87, on January 1st, 2024.