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Pioneering NFL Player Willie Irvin Dies at 96

4/4/2026

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Story summary
  • Willie Irvin, a pioneering edge rusher, died on March 21 at age 96.
  • He was the first Black NFL player from St. Augustine, Florida, joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1953.
  • Irvin starred in college basketball, guiding Florida A&M to a 1952 overtime win over Alabama State.
  • After football, he served in the Korean War and later became an educator in Palm Beach County.