Former Patriots Great Dies Hours Before Wife

(NewsCore) - The New England Patriots on Tuesday confirmed the death of former defensive tackle Houston Antwine, who died of heart failure just hours before his wife succumbed to lung cancer.

Antwine, a six-time American Football League (AFL) All-Star with the Boston Patriots, died Monday at age 72.

Evelyn Antwine lost her battle with cancer Tuesday morning, according to the team.

"For those of us who grew up watching the Boston Patriots, this is a really sad day," Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a statement on the team's website. "In the 1960s, the defensive tackle tandem of 'Twine' and Jim Lee Hunt were as good as any in the league and helped propel the Patriots to the franchise's first division championship in 1963.

"I am saddened to learn of the deaths of both Houston and Evelyn and want to express my deepest sympathies to the Antwine's daughter, Regina, and all who mourn her losses."

Antwine played 11 seasons in Boston from 1961 to 1971. The Patriots joined the NFL in 1970 and were renamed the New England Patriots in 1971.

The former Southern Illinois University standout played his final year in the league with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972.

The 6-foot, 270-pound defensive tackle recorded 39 sacks for the Patriots, leading the team in that category in three straight seasons from 1967-69. He was named to the Patriots 1960s All-Decade team.