Former USC Trojans football star, actor Tim Rossovich dead at 72

Former USC Trojans and NFL defensive linemen Tim Rossovich, who later transitioned to an acting career, reportedly died on Friday.

Rossovich, 72, had been battling a long illness, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman reported. The defensive lineman, once rumored to have eaten glass, became an All-American at USC, where he played from 1965-68. Rossovich was on the 1967 Trojans team that won the national championship. On offense, the 1967 USC team was led by running back O.J. Simpson, who finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

Rossovich was one of five USC Trojans players selected in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft. In addition to Rossovich, offensive tackles Ron Yary and Mike Taylor, running back Mike Hull and wide receiver Earl McCullouch were picked. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Rossovich with the No. 14 overall pick in the first round.

Rossovich lasted four seasons with the Eagles, including a Pro Bowl appearance in 1969. The lineman went on to play two seasons with the San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers), and then Rossovich played just over a season with the Philadelphia Bell in the World Football League, which only lasted from 1974 until its cancelation in the midst of the 1975 campaign. The USC standout then returned to the NFL, where he played the 1976 season with the Houston Oilers.

Rossovich played in 88 games, with 61 starts, during his NFL career, according to Pro Football Reference data. Playing defensive end and linebacker, the Palo Alto, Calif., native came up with 10 fumble recoveries and three interceptions over seven seasons.

During his college years, Rossovich was roommates with actor Tom Selleck, most known for his role of private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series “Magnum, P.I.” Rossovich’s younger brother, Rick Rossovich, is also an actor. That influenced Tim Rossovich to take up a career in film.

Tim Rossovich appeared in various movies and TV series, and he has 50 film and movie credits listed on his IMBD profile. The former first-round pick appeared in his first TV series, Soap, in 1978. Tim Rossovich would later appear alongside Selleck in a role on Magnum, P.I. The most recent role for Rossovich came in 1998, when he played a role in the TV series “Mike Hammer, Private Eye.”