PIONEER – PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
Russ Francis
Russ Francis spent 14 years as a professional football player. During that time he played 167 games for the the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers, caught 393 passes for 5,262 yards and scored 40 touchdowns.
He also played in three Pro Bowls and and was selected to the All-NFL team in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980.
In the 1985 Super Bowl Championship Game Francis caught five passes for sixty yards as a tight end to help San Francisco win Super Bowl XIX.
In high school Francis was not only a standout football player, but also excelled as an all-around athlete. In 1971 he set the national high school javelin throwing record which stood for 17 years.
He attended The University of Oregon and was drafted in two separate sports: baseball (by the Kansas City Royals) and football. In the NFL draft he was selected in the first round by New England.
After retiring from professional football Francis performed as a sports broadcaster for ABC, CBS and ESPN covering a wide variety a competitive events including surfing and sky diving.
Francis is currently on the Board of Directors of the Aloha United Way. He was selected by CNN Sports Illustrated as one of the 50 greatest sports figures in Hawai’i history.
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