Alex Smith, Corey Dillon headline Seattle’s top 5 NFL stars

4. Russ Francis, TE, 1975-88

Francis was born in Seattle before attending high school in Hawaii and then Oregon where he also went to college in Eugene. The No. 16 overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, Francis was drafted by the New England Patriots and immediately named to the 1975 PFWA All-Rookie Team. He was a Pro Bowl selection in back-to-back-to-back seasons from 1977-99 but after the 1980 season, he retired due to issues with the franchise that drafted him. The Patriots refused to pay him his promised bonus money for making the 1979 Pro Bowl (because his injury from a motorcycle accident prevented him from playing in the game) and the franchise tried to cancel the medical insurance of Darryl Stingley, Francis’ roommate, after he was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit in 1978. Francis worked for ABC Sports but came out of retirement soon after sitting out the 1981 season. He joined the 49ers and eventually helped the franchise win Super Bowl XIX in 1984. Francis played six seasons in San Francisco before returning to New England for the final three years of his career. The Super Bowl champion was twice named a second-team All-Pro (1976, 1978) and is a member of the New England Patriots All-1970s team and the Patriots 35th Anniversary Team. 

The 1978 New England #Patriots

The NFL's top-ranked team in total offense — Russ Francis, Stanley Morgan, Steve Grogan, Sam "Bam" Cunningham pic.twitter.com/XuwdGGHa1y

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 28, 2022