Ray Guy, widely considered the greatest punter in history, has died at the age of 72. Check out his illness & cause of death in this article.

Ray Guy : illness | What did die of | Cause of death

William Ray Guy was an American professional football player who was a punter for the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).

Ray Guy : illness | What did die of | Cause of death

Personal information
Born: December 22, 1949
Swainsboro, Georgia
Died: November 3, 2022 (aged 72)  
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
         Height:           6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)

Guy was a unanimous All-American selection in 1972 as a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi, and was the first pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, when the Oakland Raiders selected him with the 23rd overall pick in 1973.

Guy was elected to both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. An eight-time NFL All-Pro, Guy is widely considered to be the greatest punter of all time.

Ray Guy illness 

Ray Guy, considered by many to be the greatest punter in NFL history, died Thursday following a lengthy illness.

His alma mater, Southern Mississippi, announced his passing. The university said he was 73, though several other sources list him as 72.

Ray Guy : illness | What did die of | Cause of death

At Southern Miss (1970-72), Guy also played defensive back. He has the longest punting average in the history of the Golden Eagles at 44.7 yards, and he still ranks among a trio of players to hold the school record for interceptions in a season with eight, achieved in 1972. He is second in career interceptions (18) and was named an All-American in his final college season.

“Ray was a warm, humble Southern gentleman who represented the game, the Raiders organization and the Hall of Fame with dignity and class at all times,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement.

“A truly gifted athlete, he could have been a star in Major League Baseball or pro basketball. Fans of the NFL thank Ray for choosing to focus on football.”

“He was one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met,” said Jerry DeFatta, who worked closely with Guy as the executive director of USM’s alumni association. “He was just one of those people who always had the ability to see the best in the situation or give you advice that really made things a little clearer for you.” 

What did die of 

The university, which was also his alma mater, revealed the athlete was suffering from an unnamed ongoing illness and unfortunately died of the disease. He was 72 years old. 

Ray Guy : illness | What did die of | Cause of death

Southern Mississippi, where Guy starred before becoming the first punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft, said he died following a lengthy illness. He had been receiving care in a Hattiesburg-area hospice.

Guy was drafted 23rd overall by Al Davis’ Raiders in 1973 and played his entire 14-year career with the team.

He was a three-time All-Pro selection. In 2014, he became the first player to make be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame exclusively for his punting.

Ray Guy cause of death 

Ray Guy died on November 3, 2022, after battling a lengthy illness. He was 73 years old.

Ray Guy : illness | What did die of | Cause of death

It is not clear the kind of sickness Ray Guy was battling.

By Rishabh

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