Former Vikings star Joe Senser died at the age of 69, the team announced Thursday.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The tight end starred for the Vikings from 1980-84 before a knee injury cut his career short, leading a tumultuous post-NFL life that saw his wife jailed over a fatal hit-and-run and him having to have to re-learn to walk and talk after suffering a stroke.
“The Vikings family is saddened by the loss of Joe Senser,” Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said in a statement. “Joe was a Pro Bowler on the field, but his impact on the organization and in the community was felt long after his playing days.
“Joe was a generous soul with countless charitable endeavors. He brought his positive personality to every interaction he had, whether it be with former teammates, Vikings staff or our family when we became stewards of this franchise. Joe’s warmth and welcoming spirit will last in the memories of those who knew him.”
Senser was selected by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL Draft out of West Chester and had a team-leading seven touchdowns on 42 receptions for 447 yards as a rookie in 1980.
However, it was nothing compared to his second season when he caught 79 passes for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns. It earned him his first and only Pro Bowl nod, and made him the only tight end in Vikings’ history with more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Late in that defining season, Senser suffered a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.
He took a low hit after making a catch on a crossing route during a Week 13 game against the Packers and managed to finish the season, but underwent offseason surgeries followed to fully repair the knee.
Following his retirement in 1984, Senser joined the Vikings’ radio broadcast team, serving as the color commentator for the both the 1993 and 1994 seasons and came back for more from 2001-06.
He was also the owner and operator of Senser’s Bar & Grill, which had several locations in Minnesota. They all closed after 30 years.
In 2012, his wife, Amy was convicted on two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Minneapolis that saw Anousone Phanthavong, a 38-year-old chef, struck and thrown 50 feet while putting gas in his car after work at 11 p.m. He landed on a ramp along with pieces of Senser’s SUV.
There were no witnesses.
She claimed she left the scene with the belief she hit a construction cone or barrel.
Amy was forgiven by the Phanthavon family, which played a role in changing her as she cared for Joe following his 2016 stroke.
“We never know how strong we are until we’ve gone through something. And then it comes to the other side, and know that you’ve done the best you can and given and shared and helped the best you can, then you think OK,” Amy told WCCO. “I can fight another day.”