Former Detroit Lions RB Mel Farr dies at age 70

Mel-Farr;-Detroit-Lions;-NFL

Mel Farr ran for 717 yards in 1970, helping the Lions go 10-4 in the regular season. They reached the playoffs that season for the first time since 1957. (AP Photo/RAS)

DETROIT — Mel Farr, the Detroit Lions’ running back who rushed for over 3,000 yards in seven NFL seasons, has died. He was 70.

A Lions spokesman says Farr’s son confirmed his father died on Monday.

Farr spent his entire NFL career with Detroit, from 1967-73. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1967, when he ran for 860 yards in 13 games.

He ran for 717 yards in 1970, helping the Lions go 10-4 in the regular season and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1957.

Farr finished his pro career with 3,072 yards on 739 carries. He went on to build an auto dealership business, appearing in TV commercials as the caped Mel Farr Superstar.

Farr played college football at UCLA, and he finished seventh in the voting for the 1966 Heisman Trophy.

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