Former USC, NFL star Marlin McKeever dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Marlin McKeever, a two-time All-American at Southern California who played 13 years in the NFL, died Friday of head injuries from a fall at his home earlier this week. He was 66. Kathleen O’Guin, director of public relations and marketing at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, said McKeever died at the hospital with his family at his bedside.
The family issued a statement through the hospital announcing McKeever’s death and saying it had been “overwhelmed by the love, support and prayers received in the last few days.”
After hearing about the accident at midday Thursday, USC coach Pete Carroll dropped what he was doing and drove to the hospital, where he spent time at McKeever’s bedside.
“We’ll sorely miss him,” Carroll said after practice Thursday, realizing McKeever couldn’t be saved. “It’s just a tragedy. He was fit and working out a day ago.”
McKeever headed the Trojan Football Alumni Club. McKeever and the late Marv Goux, a former coach and player at USC, became close friends with Carroll shortly after USC hired him in 2001.
“He and Marv were the connection to the past,” Carroll said.
“They were the guys that taught me the history of the program. (McKeever) was so well known and loved and an awesome supporter of the program.”
McKeever fell at his home late Tuesday, and was hospitalized Wednesday with a blood clot on his brain. He was in a coma when Carroll visited the hospital.
McKeever was a fullback-defensive end and punter at USC from 1958-60, and was the Trojans’ leading receiver in his junior and senior years. But he was mainly known for his work at linebacker, and that’s where he played in the NFL.
A first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams, McKeever played from 1961-66 and 1971-72 with the Rams, in 1967 with the Minnesota Vikings, from 1968-70 with the Washington Redskins, and in 1973 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was later a stock broker and insurance executive.
McKeever’s twin brother, Mike, also was a star at USC, playing left guard. Mike McKeever died in 1967 of head injuries from an automobile accident after spending 22 months in a coma. He also had a blood clot on his brain.