Pete Duranko dies of ALS

Published Jul. 10, 2011 7:26 p.m. ET

foxsports

Pete Duranko, a star defensive lineman on Notre Dame's 1966 national championship team who went on to play eight years for the Denver Broncos, has died of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 67.

Notre Dame announced Sunday that Duranko died at a hospice in Windber, Pa., on Friday. He had battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for a decade.

Originally from Johnston, Pa., Duranko started at defensive tackle for the Fighting Irish in 1965 and '66. He had 73 tackles for the '66 team, which allowed only 3.8 points per game and had six shutouts in 10 games.

The next year he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns of the NFL in the fourth round and the Broncos of the AFL in the second round. He went on to play defensive end and linebacker for the Broncos from 1967-74.