Don Hasselbeck, one of the most talented tight ends to ever wear the black and gold, passed away at age 70 after suffering cardiac arrest. A 1970s star at the University of Colorado, Hasselbeck played with a grit and grace that left a mark on CU history—and later on the NFL.
He wasn’t just a CU standout. He was the kind of tight end that played with his soul. Drafted in the second round by the Patriots, he went on to win a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1984 and built a pro career defined by reliability, toughness, and selflessness. But to those who knew him best, football wasn’t even the most impressive thing about Don.
He was a man of faith, married to his wife Betsy for 50 years, and the loving father of Matt and Tim Hasselbeck—both NFL quarterbacks themselves. His legacy lives on in them, and in the prayer journals filled with names and needs he carried throughout his life.
Rest easy, Don. Once a Buff, always a Buff.