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NFL Hall of Famer, Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung dies

File-This Jan. 25, 2011, file photo shows 1956 Heisman Trophy winner and Louisville native Paul ...
File-This Jan. 25, 2011, file photo shows 1956 Heisman Trophy winner and Louisville native Paul Hornung smiling at comments by former coach Howard Schnellenberger during the Paul Hornung Award ceremony in Louisville, Ky. Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback, and kicker helped turn them into an NFL dynasty, has died, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo/Brian Bohannon)
Paul Hornung, of the Green Bay Packers, in an undated photo. Hornung, the dazzling “Gold ...
Paul Hornung, of the Green Bay Packers, in an undated photo. Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback, and kicker helped turn them into an NFL dynasty, has died, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2011 file photo, former Green Bay Packer Paul Hornung waves to the crowd ...
FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2011 file photo, former Green Bay Packer Paul Hornung waves to the crowd during an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis. Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback, and kicker helped turn them into an NFL dynasty, has died, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 1959 file photo, Paul Hornung (5) of the Green Bay Packers goes through ...
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 1959 file photo, Paul Hornung (5) of the Green Bay Packers goes through the line in an inter-squad game in Green Bay, Wis. Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback, and kicker helped turn them into an NFL dynasty, has died, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. He was 84. (AP Photo, File)
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The Associated Press
November 13, 2020 - 11:09 am
 
Updated November 13, 2020 - 1:31 pm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Paul Hornung, the dazzling “Golden Boy” of the Green Bay Packers whose singular ability to generate points as a runner, receiver, quarterback and kicker helped turn the team into an NFL dynasty, died Friday. He was 84.

Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame. He was the NFL MVP in 1961 and played on four championship teams (1961, ‘62, ‘65 and ‘66).

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

“I met Paul when I was recruited by Notre Dame, and I met Paul after he retired from the Packers,” said longtime Las Vegan George Kunz, who, like Hornung, was an All-American at Notre Dame and played in the NFL’s Pro Bowl. “Just a nice guy and a class guy and a hell of a football player.

“He was a Golden Boy. When Notre Dame was lousy, he was the star who won the Heisman Trophy.”

Hornung and another of the league’s top stars, Detroit’s Alex Karras, were suspended for 1963 by Commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons. They returned to the NFL the next year.

Hornung won the Heisman as a quarterback. But he switched to halfback in the pros and was one of the NFL’s most dynamic players in Green Bay.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports reporter Ron Kantowski contributed to this report.

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