Don Hasselbeck, patriarch of noted NFL family, dies at 70

Field Level Media|published: Mon 14th April, 23:51 2025

NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of Las Vegas Raiders helmets against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Don Hasselbeck, a former NFL tight end and the father of two former NFL quarterbacks, died Monday at age 70 after a cardiac arrest.

Matt Hasselbeck, one of Don's sons, announced the news on social media.

"He was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, player, coworker, artist, mentor, and storyteller," Matt Hasselbeck tweeted. "Despite being an All-American at Colorado and a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, what we are most proud of is the leader he was for our family. ...

"There is a 6' 7" hole in our hearts. He will be so missed by so many. We are beyond grateful that he was our dad and look forward to Heaven and being all together again."

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of our father, Don Hasselbeck, who suffered cardiac arrest and passed away today. We want to thank our parents' neighbors and all the medical professionals who came to his aid.

He was a great husband, father, grandfather, ... pic.twitter.com/16WKtXHZYj
— Matt Hasselbeck (@Hasselbeck) April 15, 2025

The Patriots chose Don Hasselbeck in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft, and he played in New England through 1983. His best season was 1981, when he made 46 receptions for 808 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs.

After playing one game for the Patriots in 1983, he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders, who went on to win the Super Bowl that season. Both of Hasselbeck's catches for the Raiders in that regular season went for touchdowns, and he appeared in all three of the club's postseason games, making one start, without recording a catch.

Hasselbeck subsequently played for the Minnesota Vikings in 1984 and the New York Giants in 1985. In 123 career NFL games (30 starts), he compiled 107 catches for 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Matt Hasselbeck, 49, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection in a 17-year NFL career. He played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2001-10, logging a 69-62-0 record as a starter. Overall, for four teams, he went 85-75-0 as a starter.

Don's son and Matt's brother Tim Hasselbeck, 47, was largely a reserve in parts of four seasons with four teams from 2002-07.

--Field Level Media

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