Former Miami Dolphins running back Sammy Price passed away on August 5, 2026, in Waterville, Ohio. Price, who was 82 at the time of his death, remains known among football historians for catching the first professional touchdown throw by future Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese. No cause of death was disclosed.
Before turning professional, Price made his mark at the University of Illinois, where he contributed to the program’s 1963 Big Ten championship under head coach Pete Elliott. That Illinois team went on to defeat Washington 17-7 in the Rose Bowl, establishing Price as part of one of the Illini’s most successful eras.
College Career and Championship Success
During his time at Illinois, Price earned three varsity letters as a running back. His championship season came in his first year of varsity competition, and he played on the Illini squad through 1965. That final season, Price participated in a memorable upset victory over No. 6 Purdue, a team that featured Griese at quarterback. The two would reunite as teammates in the professional ranks.
Mike Pearson, the former sports information director at Illinois, posted on social media following news of Price’s death. In his statement, Pearson expressed the university’s sadness over losing the 1960s letterwinner Sam Price, who competed under Elliott on Illinois’s Big Ten championship squad in 1963 and the following year’s Rose Bowl victors before joining the Dolphins as a professional played in the NFL athlete.
Professional Career With the Dolphins
Both the New York Giants in the NFL draft and the Miami Dolphins organization selected Price in 1966. He was chosen in the 11th round of the American Football League (AFL) draft following his college career. Price elected to sign with the expansion Dolphins franchise, making his choice just one year before the two leagues formally merged.
Over three seasons from 1966 to 1968, Price compiled 82 carries for 313 yards with one rushing touchdown. He also recorded 10 receptions for 70 yards and one receiving touchdown during his time in Miami.
The Historic Connection to Bob Griese
The defining moment of Price’s professional career occurred during a matchup against the Denver Broncos. In his second year with Miami, Price caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Griese during the 1967 campaign, recording the first scoring throw of what would become a Hall of Fame career. That single play forever tied Price to Dolphins franchise history.
The 1967 season represented Price’s most productive year as a professional. He appeared as a starter in nine games, accumulating 179 rushing yards and both of his career touchdowns that season. His role in the backfield helped Miami establish itself during those formative years, though the team’s championship success would come after his departure.
Though Price never achieved widespread recognition during his playing days, his contribution to the early development of the Dolphins organization remains part of the team’s foundational narrative. He played during the franchise’s infancy, years before Miami’s championship dynasty emerged in the 1970s. His name endures in team records through that connection to Griese’s milestone achievement.
