SAN ANTONO – Gabe Rivera, one of college football’s most dominant defensive lineman while at Texas Tech, died Monday.
He was 57.
Rivera had been in critical condition since Friday night.
According to the San Antonio Express News, Rivera starred for San Antonio Jefferson and at Texas Tech before his career was tragically cut short by an automobile accident during his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers that left him a paraplegic.
After graduating from Jefferson in 1979, Rivera earned All-America honors as a senior at Texas Tech in 1982. Nicknamed “Senor Sack” he finished his four-year career with the Red Raiders with 321 tacks, 34 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 11 pass deflections and six fumble recoveries.
In 2012, Rivera was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Texas Tech Sports Hall of Fame and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.
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