The Buffalo Bills’ Mark Pike, an NFL player, passed away on Wednesday after a fight with non-Hodgkin’slymphomathat was complicated by pneumonia and COVID-19, the team announced.
The Buffalo Bills’ Mark Pike, a linebacker, defensive end, and special teams player, passed away. He was fifty-seven.
The NFL player was diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia recently, according to the Bills website, which also stated that he passed away on Wednesday following a fight with non-Hodgkin’slymphoma.
In addition to being referred to as one of the “top standouts on the Bills special teams coverage units” of the 1990s, Pike’s 255 career takedowns during his Bills tenure (1986–1998) made him the franchise’s all-time leading special teams tackler.
He played for the Buffalo Bills for 173 games, and in seven of his final eight seasons, he led the team in special teams tackles.
One of Pike’s longest-serving teammates, Steve Tasker, described the late athlete as “a unique specimen” on the Bills website. His versatility allowed him to play special teams and run with unbelievable speed.”
“He was a big man who played special teams, which was a nightmare for our opponents,” Tasker remarked, calling the 6’4″ player “an absolute freight train” and a “bulldozer.”
Marv Levy, who oversaw Pike for eleven years, stated, “It was such a great honor,” as stated in the Bills press release. “Mark had played such a significant role in our teams’ success during our four trips to those Super Bowl games and beyond,” Levy continued.
“Mark was the embodiment of everything I had ever hoped our players would be like,” the coach added. “He was not just a phenomenal defensive lineman, linebacker, and special teams standout.”
Buffalo Bills general manager Bill Polian continued, “Mark embodied the high character that we valued so greatly and was the hallmark of our teams.”
“He put his all into every play, and he did the same off the field in community service and charitable pursuits. Mark was the greatest player and person to ever exemplify these qualities.”
According to the website, Pike was unable to attend the Bills’ Week 4 home game against Houston this autumn due to illness, but he was still recognized as the team’s Crucial Catch honoree as part of the NFL’s initiative to combat cancer by reducing risk and promoting early detection.
Pike is gone from this life; he left behind a wife, Kramer, two sons, Ezekiel and Malachi. Zeke, also known as Ezekiel, was a tight end for the Louisville Cardinals in football.
