Dick Hoak, a longtime Pittsburgh Steelers running back and assistant coach who spent more than 45 years with the organization, died on Nov. 12, 2026, the team announced. He was 86.
Dick Hoak dies after a 45-plus year Steelers career
Hoak joined the Steelers as a player after starring at Penn State and being selected in the seventh round of the 1961 draft. He played 10 seasons as a running back, finishing his playing career with 3,965 rushing yards, 1,452 receiving yards and 33 total touchdowns, ProFootballTalk reported.
Following his playing days, Hoak moved into coaching with the Steelers. He joined Chuck Noll’s staff in 1972 as an offensive backfield coach, was moved to running backs coach in 1991 and remained the only one of Noll’s assistants retained by Bill Cowher, ProFootballTalk said. Hoak retired from coaching in 2006 after helping develop players including future Hall of Famers Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis.
ESPN reported Hoak won five Super Bowl rings during his decades with the franchise. The Steelers announced he had been a member of the organization for more than 45 years.
Team honors and legacy
Hoak is a member of the Steelers’ Hall of Honor and received the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence in 2025, ProFootballTalk noted. Steelers owner Art Rooney II issued a statement on Hoak’s passing, saying, “Dick represented everything the Steelers stand for with his toughness, loyalty, dedication and an unwavering commitment to the team.”
The team announced Hoak’s death on Nov. 12, 2026; the Steelers did not provide additional details in the statements reported by ESPN and ProFootballTalk.
Sources: ESPN, ProFootballTalk