Pat Sullivan, Auburn University's first Heisman Trophy winner who quarterbacked the Tigers from 1968 to 1971, died Sunday, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. He was 69.
The news was first reported by 247 Sports. A cause of death has not been released.
Sullivan, a native of Birmingham, won college football's top award in 1971 when he passed for 2,262 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for two more scores, leading the Tigers to a 9-2 record.
One of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue.
— Derrick & Marlon for Heisman (@sheabooskyy) December 1, 2019
A true Auburn man through and through.
RIP Pat Sullivan. pic.twitter.com/VFj9INYaBz
Sullivan was a second-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1972 NFL draft. He played four seasons in Atlanta and finished his career with the Washington Redskins before retiring after the 1976 season.
Sullivan's No. 7 at Auburn was retired by the school, and he is one of three players honored with a statue outside Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Advertiser reported. The other statues belong to the football program's other two Heisman winners -- Bo Jackson (1984) and Cam Newton (2010), the newspaper reported.
Sullivan's biggest moment as a player came during the 1970 Iron Bowl, when he rallied the Tigers from a 17-point deficit to give Auburn a 33-28 victory against Alabama at Legion Field, according to Auburnrivals.com.
Pat Sullivan, who won Auburn’s first Heisman Trophy in 1971, has passed away at age 69. He’ll be remembered as a friend to Auburn football and college athletics. @PMARSHONAU with the first report. pic.twitter.com/565kKatnQN
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) December 1, 2019
Sullivan returned to Auburn in 1986 as Pat Dye's quarterbacks coach, according to The Auburn Plainsman. He was the head coach at Texas Christian from 1992 to 1997 and coached at Samford from 2007 to 2014. Sullivan's overall coaching record was 71-85-1.
RIP Pat Sullivan pic.twitter.com/AkmPCZRPle
— AUFAMILY.com (@AUFAMILY) December 1, 2019
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