In a celebrated collegiate and professional football career, McGeorge was one of the most prominent athletes in Elon history.
Richard “Rich” McGeorge ’72, one of Elon University’s most distinguished athletes and a cherished figure in both collegiate and professional football, died December 20 at the age of 77. He is remembered for a life defined by perseverance, leadership and deep devotion to the people and institutions he loved.
Born in Roanoke, Virginia, McGeorge arrived at Elon College in the late 1960s and quickly became a transformational force on the football field. As a tight end under legendary coach Red Wilson, he rewrote Elon’s receiving records book, ending his career as the school’s career record-holder with 224 receptions for 3,486 yards and 31 touchdowns. The conference MVP also set single-season marks with 65 grabs for 1,081 yards, and single-game records with 15 catches, 285 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In addition to playing football, McGeorge was also a standout member of Elon’s basketball team, scoring 1,044 points in 76 games and being named All-Conference (Carolinas Conference) in 1969. His career field goal percentage of .589 ranks second in Elon men’s basketball history.
McGeorge was named a two-time first-team All-American and an Academic All-American, helping to elevate Elon’s national profile and inspiring generations of athletes who followed him.
His extraordinary collegiate career caught the attention of the NFL. In 1970, the Green Bay Packers selected McGeorge in the first round of the NFL draft. He became a favorite target of quarterback Scott Hunter and a reliable, tough and intelligent presence on the field. He played nine seasons at Green Bay and was the team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1973. As one of the NFL’s most respected tight ends of the era, McGeorge caught 175 passes for 2,370 yards and 13 touchdowns in his pro career.
After retiring as a player, McGeorge found what many who knew him believed to be his true calling: coaching and mentorship. He spent decades coaching in the NFL, USFL, and CFL, including impactful roles with the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, the Memphis Showboats, and the Orlando Thunder, among others. At the collegiate level, McGeorge coached at Duke University, the University of Florida, North Carolina Central University and Shaw University.
McGeorge was inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1980, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2013, Elon celebrated McGeorge’s induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing not only his athletic achievements but also his lasting influence on the state’s sporting legacy.
At Elon, McGeorge has long been remembered as one of the most dominant football players in school history — and as someone who carried the spirit of the university into every chapter of his life. He was the featured speaker at the groundbreaking for Rhodes Stadium in 2000 and he and his wife, Bonnie Moore McGeorge ’70, were elected to the Elon Alumni Board in 2006. A display recognizing his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame is located in the Woods Center at Rhodes Stadium.
Clements Funeral and Cremation Services, 1105 Broad St., Durham, is handling arrangements. A visitation and memorial service are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 23. The visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m., followed immediately by a memorial service from 3-4 p.m.