Raleigh County native and former National Football League linebacker Lonnie Warwick has passed away at age 82. The Mount Hope High School graduate played in the NFL for a decade with the Minnesota Vikings (eight seasons) and the Atlanta Falcons.
Warwick graduated from Mount Hope H.S. in 1960. He started his college career at Tennessee before transferring to Tennessee Tech. Warwick signed a free agent contract with the Vikings in 1964. In his years with the Vikings, Warwick was an integral member of the famed and feared “Purple People Eaters” defense. Warwick started for Minnesota in their Super Bowl IV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In his ten NFL seasons, Warwick played in 120 games, making 84 starts. He collected 19 turnovers and 8.5 sacks.
When his playing career ended, Warwick became a coach with the Washington Redskins.
R.I.P. LEGEND Lonnie Warwick pic.twitter.com/1i5jnRyAjm
— Owen Schmitt (@OwenSchmitt35) October 29, 2024