Some unhappy Pittsburgh Steelers information to go alongside tonight. Former defensive again Lupe Sanchez, who spent three years with the Steelers within the Nineteen Eighties, has died. He was 64.
The information was first noticed by Steelers’ historian account Metal Metropolis Star, who shared this clip of Sanchez intercepting a go and returning it for a landing in 1986 towards the New York Jets.
Sanchez’s dying was introduced by the Crawdaddys Visalia restaurant in California, a frequent cease of Sanchez’s lately.
“Lupe was extensively admired for his exceptional athletic means, a expertise that carried him to the best ranges of soccer, the place he proudly performed for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” the submit learn partly. “His accomplishments on the sphere have been matched solely by his character off it — a person identified for his generosity, humility, and heat spirit.
Past his athletic achievements, Lupe will likely be remembered for his deep friendships, his welcoming smile, and his lasting influence on everybody who had the privilege to know him. His presence brightened each room he entered, and his legacy of excellence, each as an athlete and as an individual, will proceed to encourage us all.”
Born in 1961, Sanchez was a star highschool working again and performed school at UCLA. Drafted by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the second spherical of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, he by no means performed a daily season recreation for the Chiefs. As an alternative, he hung out within the USFL earlier than catching on with the Steelers and making his NFL debut in 1986.
Showing in 11 video games with 4 begins, his first interception got here in a Week 13 extra time loss to the Chicago Bears, selecting off future Steelers QB Mike Tomczak. Sanchez’s subsequent two interceptions got here towards the Jets, together with the 67-yard pick-shown above. His rating put Pittsburgh forward 38-17 in an eventual 45-24 victory.
Sanchez additionally dealt with kick returns with the group, averaging 23.6-yards in 1986. He his longest return went for 64-yards. He caught on the roster for the subsequent two seasons and began the primary three video games of 1987, a strike-shortened 12 months. In accordance with recreation logs, he stopped dealing with kick returns after Week Two after fumbling towards the Cleveland Browns.
In 1988, he snagged the fourth and ultimate interception of his profession, selecting off Doug Williams in a 30-29 loss to the Washington Redskins.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Steelers, Sanchez was drafted in and performed for the USFL for the 1984 and 1985 seasons. He intercepted three passes, together with two in 1985 with the Orlando Renegades.
Final March, Sanchez held an interview on the Crawdaddys restaurant discussing his life together with his childhood, sharing that his father was born in 1892 and died when Sanchez was an adolescent. There’s additionally this YouTube video compiling highlights all through his skilled soccer profession nicely well worth the watch.
