Texas Longhorns legendary running back Chris Gilbert has died, the university announced. He was 79.
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Gilbert died Monday in Houston.
“We lost a great Longhorn with the passing of NFF College Football Hall of Fame member Chris Gilbert,” Texas football posted on X. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates.”
Gilbert played for Texas from 1966 to 1968, reaching the 1,000-yard mark all three seasons. He became the first college football running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark three straight years and earned All-Southwest Conference honors three times.
Gilbert was a consensus All-American in 1968 and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting that year.
For his college career, Chris Gilbert rushed for 3,231 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ranks sixth in Longhorns history in rushing yards.
Following his college football career, Gilbert was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. However, he never appeared in an NFL game.
After his football career, Gilbert went on to be an investor and business executive in Houston.
In addition to the College Football Hall of Fame, Gilbert is also a member of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.