Sammy Price, a running back the New York Giants selected in the 1966 NFL Draft, has passed away at the age of 82.
Family members, including his niece and son, shared news of his death on Aug. 5 through social media, with confirmation later provided by former University of Illinois sports information director Mike Pearson after tributes appeared on Facebook.
Born October 1, 1943, in Margaret, Alabama, Price later settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he starred at Jesup Wakeman Scott High School before heading to the University of Illinois.
There he became a steady contributor in the backfield from 1962 through 1965. Over his final three seasons he combined for 729 rushing yards, 231 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. In 1963 he helped the Illini claim a Big Ten championship and a victory in the 1964 Rose Bowl under coach Pete Elliott.
That same year the Giants, then competing in the NFL, chose Price in the 16th round with the 240th overall pick. At the same time the expansion Miami Dolphins of the rival American Football League selected him earlier, in the 11th round.
Like many players of that era, Price faced a choice between the established league and the upstart AFL. He ultimately signed with Miami and became part of the Dolphins’ original roster, never appearing in a Giants uniform.
In three seasons with Miami from 1966 to 1968, Price appeared in 36 games and started nine, splitting time between halfback and fullback while wearing number 30. His most productive year came in 1967, when he started every contest he played and ranked among the team leaders in carries under coach George Wilson.
For his AFL career he totaled 313 rushing yards on 82 attempts, averaged 3.8 yards per carry, caught 10 passes for 70 yards and scored two touchdowns. One of those scores carried particular significance: he hauled in the first career touchdown pass thrown by future Hall of Famer Bob Griese in the 1967 season opener against the Denver Broncos.
Though his professional statistics remained modest, Price held a permanent place in Dolphins history as a member of the franchise’s first three teams. Those early squads helped establish the foundation for the success Miami would enjoy in the decade that followed.
After his playing days ended, Price pursued business opportunities that included car sales and restaurant ownership.
From a Giants perspective, Price represents one of the many talented players the organization drafted during the competitive years of the NFL-AFL rivalry who ultimately chose the other league.
The 1966 draft class reflected the era’s challenges, as the Giants worked to secure their selections amid aggressive bidding from AFL clubs. Price’s decision to join Miami was noted at the time as one of the losses the Giants absorbed that year, alongside a few other late-round choices who also signed elsewhere.
He is survived by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. For Giants fans reflecting on the franchise’s long history of drafting college talent, Price’s story remains a reminder of a turbulent period when league competition shaped the careers of many promising backs and the paths they ultimately followed.
