A wide receiver who won multiple Super Bowls with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders was found dead in an Arizona hotel room.
Cliff Branch was found dead just two days after his birthday on Aug. 3 in Bullhead City, Arizona, at around 3:30 p.m, police said on Facebook.
Officials said his cause of death appeared to be due to natural causes.
He was 71 years old.
Branch was a significant key to the Raiders’ success in the 1970s and early 1980s.
“The initial investigation revealed no suspected foul play and that Mr. Branch died of natural causes. Mr. Branch’s body has been turned over to the Mohave County Medical Examiner. No further information will be released at this time,” Bullhead City police wrote.
It added that Branch was in the city to sign autographs.
“Cliff Branch touched the lives of generations of Raiders fans,” the Raiders wrote in a statement, according to ESPN. “His loss leaves an eternal void for the Raiders Family, but his kindness and loving nature will be fondly remembered forever.”
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Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5