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East Rutherford, N.J. • Former New York Giants punter and radio analyst Dave Jennings has died. He was 61.
The Giants announced that Jennings died at his home in Upper Saddle River on Wednesday morning after being informed of his death by his sister, Susan Jennings, and several close friends.
The most prolific punter in franchise history, Jennings had battled Parkinson's disease, a chronic degenerative neurological disorder, since 1996.
Jennings played for the Giants from 1974-84. He holds the franchise records for punts (931, or 405 more than second-place Sean Landeta) and yards (38,792). Jennings was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1978, '79, '80 and '82. He punted a career-high 104 times in 1979, which was the Giants record until Brad Maynard had 111 punts in 1997.
Jennings punted for more than 4,000 yards in a season three times (1979-81) and had a career-best 44.8-yard average in 1980
"Dave Jennings was one of the all-time great Giants," John Mara, the Giants president, said. "He was a valued member of the Giants family for more than 30 years as a player and a broadcaster, and we were thrilled to include him in our Ring of Honor. More importantly, he was an outstanding person who battled his illness with rare courage and dignity. We will miss him dearly."