Former Miami Dolphins running back Sammy Price has died at age 82. Price, who spent three years with the franchise during its formative years, is best known for catching the first touchdown pass of Bob Griese’s professional career.
Price died Aug. 5, 2026, in Waterville, Ohio, a Toledo suburb. Authorities did not release a cause of death.
College Career at Illinois
Before joining the professional ranks, Price earned three letters as a running back at the University of Illinois. He contributed to head coach Pete Elliott’s 1963 Big Ten championship team, which defeated Washington 17-7 in the Rose Bowl. The victory capped a historic season for the program and established Price among the Illini’s elite players of that decade.
During his 1965 campaign, Price was on the field when Illinois upset No. 6-ranked Purdue, a team featuring Bob Griese. The two would reunite as Miami Dolphins teammates shortly thereafter, creating an unusual connection between their college and professional careers.
Former Illinois sports information director Mike Pearson expressed grief over the loss in a social media statement. In his message, Pearson said the school mourned the passing of Sam Price, who earned three varsity letters in the 1960s and played on the squad that won the Big Ten title in 1963 and triumphed in the Rose Bowl the following January under Elliott’s leadership before going on to a professional career in the NFL with Miami.
Professional Career Begins
The University of Illinois product was selected by Miami in the 11th round when the AFL held its 1966 player selection meeting. The New York Giants also drafted him that same year in the NFL draft, presenting him with options between competing leagues. Price chose to sign with Miami, an expansion franchise formed just before the AFL and NFL formally merged.
Price suited up for the Dolphins from 1966 through 1968, accumulating 82 carries for 313 yards and one rushing touchdown across those three campaigns. He also contributed 10 receptions for 70 yards and one receiving touchdown.
The Griese Connection
During his second season in 1967, Price caught a 27-yard touchdown strike from rookie quarterback Bob Griese in a Week 3 matchup against the Denver Broncos. That reception marked the first touchdown pass of Griese’s professional career, forever linking Price to the Hall of Famer’s storied journey. Griese would go on to become one of the franchise’s greatest legends, making that inaugural scoring connection a permanent part of Dolphins franchise lore.
That 1967 season represented the peak of Price’s professional output. He started nine games, rushed for 179 yards, and scored both of his two career touchdowns that year.
Though he never achieved widespread fame, Price remains recognized among those familiar with the Dolphins’ earliest chapters. He belonged to the initial wave of players who laid the groundwork for the organization years before Miami’s championship dynasty of the 1970s emerged.
