Dick Hoak Dies at 86, Longtime Steelers Player, Coach Won 5 Super Bowls

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Dick Hoak, who won five Super Bowls during his 35-season tenure as the team's offensive backfield and running backs coach and made the team's Hall of Honor, passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday.

Steelers President Art Rooney II released a statement.

Hoak, a former Penn State star, played for the Steelers from 1961-1970. He amassed 5,417 yards from scrimmage and 33 touchdowns. Hoak made the 1968 Pro Bowl in his best-ever season, which included 1,111 yards from scrimmage (858 rushing yards, 253 receiving yards) and 4.9 yards per carry.

After one season coaching high school football, Hoak joined the Steelers' coaching staff under head coach Chuck Noll in 1972. He held the offensive backfield coach's position until 1991, when Noll retired.

Hoak was the only coach retained when Bill Cowher took over in 1992, and he assumed a new title, running backs coach. Hoak remained with the Steelers through Cowher's 15 seasons as the Steelers' head coach before they both retired after the 2006 campaign.

Hoak ended up being part of the Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV and XL-winning teams. He coached a host of NFL and Steelers legends, including four in the team's Hall of Honor: Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Rocky Bleier and Willie Parker. The Harris-Bleier backfield, of course, was a big reason why the Steelers' dynasty emerged in the 1970s.

The Steelers' backfield enjoyed great success at times even after the 1970s and especially behind Bettis in the 1990s and 2000s.

"As a coach, he's a running back's dream," Bettis said in 2004, per Bob Labriola of Steelers.com. "He gives you the freedom of running to where you feel, but he also gives you an understanding of the play and the philosophy."

Other running backs under Hoak's watch gained 1,000 or more yards from scrimmage in a single season, including Barry Foster (2,034 yards from scrimmage in 1992), Merril Hoge (two 1,000-yard seasons) and Frank Pollard (back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 1984 and 1985).

Numerous people expressed their condolences and fond remembrances, including Hoge and ex-Steeler defensive back (and Hall of Fame head coach) Tony Dungy.

Hoak was married 54 years to his wife, Lynn, who passed away in 2019. They are survived by three children and seven grandchildren.