Dick Hoak, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and longtime assistant coach who spent 45 years with the franchise and helped win five Super Bowls, died on November 11, 2026. He was 86.

The team announced his passing, with no cause of death disclosed.

A native of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, Hoak starred at Jeannette High School before playing quarterback, running back, and safety at Penn State.

The Steelers selected him in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft. He played all 10 of his seasons in Pittsburgh from 1961 to 1970, amassing 3,965 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns while catching 146 passes for 1,452 yards and eight scores.

He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1968 after rushing for a career-high 858 yards on a 4.9-yard average and led the team in rushing three times.

When he retired, he ranked second on the franchise’s all-time rushing list; he now stands eighth.

After a brief hiatus, Hoak returned in 1972 as running backs coach under Chuck Noll.

He held the role for 35 years, remaining the only Noll assistant retained by Bill Cowher in 1992, and served until retiring in early 2007.

During that span, he coached Hall of Famers Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, along with Rocky Bleier and others, as the Steelers captured Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV, and XL.

His tenure made him the longest-serving non-owner in team history and a bridge across generations of championship football.

Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement, “Dick represented everything the Steelers stand for with his toughness, loyalty, dedication and an unwavering commitment to the team. First as a player, then as a coach, Dick’s contributions to this organization spanned generations.”

Cowher recalled leaning on Hoak’s wisdom and described him as an integral part of five Super Bowl teams and a special man who impacted everyone who knew him.

Hoak was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in its inaugural 2017 class and received the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence in 2025.

He is survived by three children and seven grandchildren; his wife, Lynn, died in 2019. His loyalty to Pittsburgh and the Rooney family defined a career spent almost entirely in black and gold.

Hoak’s steady presence helped transform the Steelers from perennial also-rans into one of the NFL’s most successful franchises.