Rams Legend LeRoy Irvin Dies at Age 68

Los Angeles Rams legend LeRoy Irvin died at the age of 68, the team announced Thursday.

Irvin operated as a defensive back and return specialist across his 11 seasons in the NFL from 1980 through 1990, with 10 occurring as a member of the Rams.

Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, who played with Irvin in Los Angeles from 1983-87, honored his former teammate in an Instagram post.

"Devastated to hear about the passing of my brother, teammate, and Rams legend Leroy Irvin," Dickerson wrote in the caption. "Leroy wasn't just a lockdown corner and a fierce competitor on the field; he was a true friend and a great man who always brought incredible energy. Rest in peace, my brother. Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Irvin family and all of Rams Nation."

Following a standout college career at Kansas, Irvin was selected by the Rams with the No. 70 pick in 1980.

He was primarily used on special teams to open his tenure in Los Angeles, blossoming into one of the league's top punt returners.

Irvin earned First Team All-Pro honors for his 1981 season, as he led the league with 615 yards and three touchdowns on punt returns while averaging 13.4 yards per return.

He eventually became a full-time starter on the Rams defense during his fourth season with the team in 1983 and thrived.

From 1983-86, Irvin amassed 21 interceptions and five forced fumbles in 63 total games. He earned two Pro Bowl nods over that span.

Irvin remained with the Rams until the end of the 1989 season, signing with the Lions for his 1990 campaign before his playing career came to an end.

He sits at No. 2 on Los Angeles' all-time leaderboard with 1,457 punt return yards, while his 34 interceptions as a member of the Rams are the third-most in franchise history.

After Irvin retired from the NFL, he briefly served as an assistant coach at California State University, Northridge before starting a company called Original Mini's Inc with Dickerson and other former teammates.