The Montana football program is in mourning this week following the passing of one of Steve Okoniewski, one of their all-time great defensive tackles. He was 74 years old.
The Montana Griz Football account on X announced the passing of Okoniewski on Monday. They highlighted his All-American season with them, his NFL Draft selection in 1972, and his later career as both an educator and a champion high school football coach.
“We lost a Montana legend. Steve Okoniewski was a Grizzly All-American and 2nd-round NFL Draft pick in 1972. After a six-year NFL career, he became an educator and a state-champion high school football coach in Montana and Wisconsin. Our hearts are with his family,” the school said in a statement.
Okoniewski was the No. 41 overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft and remains to this date the second-highest draft pick to play for the Grizzlies. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and played six seasons for the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring after 1977 season.
Okoniewski had 4.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries during his six-year career.
The Packers also paid tribute to Okoniewski, highlighting some of the great things that were said about him by former members of the organization during his time with the team.
“He’s not blessed with the most physical talent, but there’s not a harder worker,” Packers legend Bart Starr once said of him. “You’d like to be able to transplant his heart into some other people.”
Our hearts go out to Okoniewski’s family and loved ones.