Russ Francis

Russ Francis
No. 81, 49
PositionTight end
Personal information
Born(1953-04-03)April 3, 1953
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DiedOctober 1, 2023(2023-10-01) (aged 70)
Lake Placid, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High schoolKailua (HI)
Pleasant Hill (OR)
CollegeOregon
NFL draft1975: 1st round, 16th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Receptions393
Receiving yards5,262
Receiving TDs40
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Russell Ross Francis (April 3, 1953 – October 1, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a tight end for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. He was also a professional wrestler. Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

In 2021, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Francis to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.