Football fans were left in mourning late last week after learning that beloved game icon Golden Richards had died. 

As Fox News reported, Richards' passing came this past Friday at the age of 73 after he suffered a congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah.

Wide receiver caught pass for Super Bowl-winning touchdown in 1978

Richards was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver in 1973 after he played football for Utah's Brigham Young University.

He participated in a dozen games during his initial year in Dallas but was moved up to the starting lineup a year after that.

All told, Richards spent a total of five seasons playing for the Cowboys and went on to gain widespread fame in 1978 when Richards caught a 29-yard pass from Robert Newhouse to score a game-winning touchdown during Super Bowl XII.

Later that year, Richards would be traded to the Chicago Bears and played some 20 games for the team in 1978 and 1979.

Richards suffered from an array of health problems leading up to his death

However, Richards' career was cut short after he signed with the Denver Broncos in 1980 and subsequently sustained a serious injury.

According to Richards' brother, the late player had been struggling with multiple health problems, including a Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 2011 and a broken hip two years ago which necessitated multiple surgeries.

"He has left us and gone to a better place," Doug Richards was quoted by Fox News as saying. "He fought pretty good there to the end, until it was his time."

Lance Richards is Richard's nephew, and Fox News noted that he spoke about his uncle's passing in a Facebook post on Friday.

"I will forever remember going hunting and talking Dallas Cowboy football. He was a kind and sweet soul, and I’m so happy he’s not suffering anymore," Lance Richards wrote.

Broadcaster praises Richards for being an "exciting" player and a "joy to be around"

Other tributes to Richards quickly appeared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. They included a post from Dallas Cowboys broadcaster Brad Sham.

RIP Golden Richards, one of the most exciting @dallascowboys of the ‘70s . Joy to be around. Privileged to been able to help tell his story. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/NUEZMtmPA0

— Brad Sham (@Boys_Vox) February 24, 2024

Sham described Richards as being one of the Cowboys' "most exciting" team members during the 1970s, adding that he was "a joy to be around."