A photograph capturing the late Terry Beasley, a renowned Auburn wide receiver and inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 73 in what appears to be a case of suicide, as reported by the police. (Photograph credit: Albert Cesare/Opelika-Auburn News via AP)
Terry Beasley, a former Auburn wide receiver and esteemed member of the College Football Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 73 in an apparent suicide, as confirmed by the police.
St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell reported Beasley’s passing around 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
Moody Police Chief Reece Smith conveyed that the authorities are currently treating the case as a potential suicide.
“We got a call at 5:20 (Wednesday) afternoon and officers found Mr.. Beasley with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Smith said Thursday.
Legacy on the Football Field
Beasley, whose playing career left him grappling with the long-term effects of numerous concussions, notably joined forces with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Pat Sullivan, and earned All-America honors in 1970 and 1971. His legacy endures as he still holds Auburn’s receiving records, with 2,507 yards and 29 touchdowns over a three-year career.
Beasley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. His jersey, bearing No. 88, is among the distinguished few retired by Auburn, alongside Sullivan’s No.. 7 and Bo Jackson’s No. 34.
“Pat Sullivan was the leader, the quarterback, the Heisman Trophy winner, but the guy who made that whole passing game go was Beasley.” Former Auburn athletic director and sports information director David Housel said. “He is an Auburn legend. He is the standard by which all other Auburn receivers will be measured.”
Beasley also holds Auburn’s records for consecutive games with a touchdown catch (8), 100-yard receiving games in a season (6), and over his career (12).
Challenges, Injuries and Legal Battle Against NFL
Beasley was a first-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1972. He played three seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1975 due to injuries. Later on, he became a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the NFL concerning the effects of brain injuries, with a resolution reached in 2016. In the lawsuit, Beasley said he had suffered memory loss, headaches, anxiety and sleeplessness as a result of football-related injuries.
This report used information from ESPN.
