Football Hall of Famer Hein Dies

Hall of Fame center Mel Hein, an All-Pro eight consecutive seasons with the New York Giants, died of stomach cancer Friday night at his home in San Clemente. He was 82.

Hein, one of 17 men inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame’s charter class in 1963, was considered by some to be the best center of all-time. A 6-2, 225-pounder, he played for the Giants from 1931 to 1945 and never missed a game.

In 1938, Hein was selected as the NFL’s first most valuable player. He played on NFL championship teams in 1934 and 1938.

“Mel was a friend for a long time,” Raider owner Al Davis told the San Clemente Daily Sun-Post.

“He was a living legend. The only player I could compare him to is (former Raider and Hall of Fame center) Jim Otto.”

Davis, as commissioner of the American Football League in 1966, appointed Hein the AFL’s supervisor of officials, and Hein continued to serve in the position with the American Football Conference when the AFL and the NFL merged.

After retiring from the Giants, Hein coached four years at Union College, then returned to the pro ranks as a coach with the Los Angeles Dons. He spent 15 years as a coach at USC.