Former NFL receiver Orlando McDaniel dies of coronavirus at the age of 59

Ex-wide receiver had fallen ill after returning home to Dallas from Washington

JUL 23 1983, JUL 24 1983 McDaniel, Orlando - Ind. Football Louisiana St. Bronco ***** Credit: The Denver Post (Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Former NFL wide receiver Orlando McDaniel has died from the coronavirus at age 59, Louisiana State University announced.

McDaniel, a star hurdler during his college days at LSU, died on Friday after becoming ill when he returned home to Dallas from Washington DC, his LSU athletics coach, Dennis Shaver, told the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper.

McDaniel was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 50th pick in the 1982 NFL Draft.

He played three games for Denver that season but failed to make a catch in his lone NFL campaign.

In 1980, McDaniel was the US college national runner-up in the 110m hurdles but never had a chance at the Olympics that year because of the American boycott of the Moscow Games.