LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Former West Virginia lineman Jack Linn, who played on the 1988 team that reached the national championship game, was killed Sunday night in a motorcycle crash along with his passenger. Linn was 48.
Linn, a native of Sewickley, Pa., became a ninth-round NFL draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 1990 and also played for the Colts and Bengals during three pro seasons.
Sad day for WVU Family! Former O-Lineman & NFL player Jack Linn passed away Sunday night in a motorcycle accident. Love you Jack !#HailWV
— Wolfman (@Wolfley64) September 9, 2015
Jennifer Chrisman, a 43-year-old nurse from of Estero, Fla., also died in the crash.
Linn lost control of the 2007 Honda motorcycle after running a stop sign, according to highway patrol reports. The bike slid through the intersection ejecting Linn and Chrisman into the path of an approaching vehicle in the opposite lane.
The 6-foot-5 Linn played tackle for productive WVU offenses, blocking for record-setting quarterback Major Harris. Linn was a backup on the senior-laden 1988 offensive line when WVU went undefeated until a Fiesta Bowl loss to Notre Dame in the national championship game. He became a starter the next season as a senior, when WVU finished 8-3-1 and reached the Gator Bowl.
After his playing days, Linn coached the offensive line in the Division II ranks at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.