Elon Legend Rich McGeorge Dies at 77, Legacy Endures

Rich McGeorge, whose standout play at Elon reshaped the small university's national profile in the late 1960s, died on December 20 at age 77. McGeorge's career at Elon and in the NFL made him a figure of local and regional significance, and his passing reverberates through the campus and surrounding communities.

McGeorge played tight end for Elon from 1966 to 1969, setting school records for career receptions (224), receiving yards (3,486) and touchdowns (31). He also starred on the basketball court for the then-Fightin' Christians, scoring 1,044 points in 76 games, and was twice chosen as Elon’s outstanding male athlete. His collegiate achievements were recognized with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Selected 16th overall in the 1970 NFL Draft, McGeorge played nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and later joined coaching staffs with the Miami Dolphins and at several colleges, including Duke, Florida, North Carolina Central and Shaw. That range of professional and collegiate ties traced a career that touched high-profile programs and institutions serving historically underserved communities, extending his influence beyond Alamance County.

A memorial service was held December 23 in Durham. Friends, former teammates and members of the Elon community have marked his death as the loss of a local icon whose success helped put Elon on the national athletics map and inspired generations of student-athletes.

For residents of Alamance County, McGeorge’s life underscores the outsized role college athletics can play in local identity and opportunity. His multi-sport achievements and later coaching work provided a model for young athletes in the area, demonstrating pathways from a small North Carolina campus to professional ranks and coaching careers across the region.

The death of a high-profile former athlete also renews attention to issues affecting retired players and their communities, including access to long-term health care, retirement benefits and community-based supports. While no cause of death has been disclosed, McGeorge’s passing is a moment for local leaders and athletic programs to consider how to honor former players and strengthen resources that help athletes transition out of competitive sports.

As Elon and Alamance County remember McGeorge, his records and the generations he inspired remain part of the community’s shared history. His achievements on the field and his years in coaching left a legacy that will continue to shape local athletics and the lives of student-athletes who follow.