Giants Legend Brad Van Pelt Found Dead In Home

Former Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt has died of an apparent heart attack. Van Pelt’s fiance found him slumped over in a chair at their Michigan home Tuesday, local media reports indicate. Van Pelt was 57 years old.

Brad Van Pelt: 1951 – 2009

Van Pelt had been named the New York Giants’ “greatest player” of the 70s after making the Pro Bowl for five consecutive years starting in 1976. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, 11 of which were with the Giants. He left the team in 1983 and went on to play two seasons with the L.A. Raiders and one with the Cleveland Browns.

Prior to his NFL career, Brad Van Pelt grabbed attention as a safety with Michigan State. It was during the 1973 NFL draft that Van Pelt was picked by the Giants.

Van Pelt and his fiance had reportedly been together for 15 years. While Van Pelt wasn’t known to have had previous heart problems, Michigan media outlets say his father did die from heart-related issues.

Funeral arrangements for Brad Van Pelt are now pending.