Rick Kane

Richard James Kane (November 12, 1954 – December 25, 2009) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1977 to 1983 and 1985 to 1986.^[1][2][3] Kane rushed for 1,486 yards during his NFL career.^[2]

Kane was born on November 12, 1954, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Gerald James Kane and Orletha Ann (Fiala) Kane.^[1][2][4] He had one sister, Diane.^[4] The family moved to Pleasanton, California when Kane was 12, and he played football at and graduated from Amador Valley High School.^[2][1] He attended University of Oregon for two years and was awarded the Len Casanova Award for Rookie of the year in 1973.^[1][2] He transferred to San Jose State University where he became the first player in school history to rush 1,000 yards.^[5][2][1]

Kane was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round (69th overall) of the 1977 NFL draft, where he remained for the majority of his career.^[2][1][5] He played 12 games with the Washington Redskins during the 1984 season after being placed on waivers by the Lions.^[3][6][7][8] The following May, he was again placed on waivers but re-signed with the Lions on a one-year contract.^[3][9] He was released in February 1986.^[10]

After retiring from football, Kane worked as a car salesman in Reno, Nevada.^[1] In 2005, a teenage girl using her cell phone crashed into his motorcycle, resulting in the loss of his leg.^[1][5] He and his wife Dianne had three sons and one daughter.^[1] He died December 25, 2009, in Reno, Nevada due to complications from pneumonia.^[2][1] His funeral was held at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Reno.^[1]