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Ronnie Hillman, an NFL running back with the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, died from cancer on Dec. 21. He was only 31 years old

Clay Cane
January 23, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ronnie Hillman, an NFL running back with the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, died from cancer on Dec. 21. He was only 31 years old.

FILE – Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman speaks to reporters in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, ahead of Super Bowl 50. Hillman, who was part of the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, has died, his family said in a statement. He was 31. Hillman’s family posted on his Instagram account Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, that he was diagnosed in August with a rare form of kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma and was under hospice care. The family wrote hours later that he died surrounded by family and close friends. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman celebrates his 27 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Cal Poly, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in San Diego. San Diego State won 49-21. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

A statement from his family read: “Ronnie quietly and peacefully transitioned today in the company of his family and close friends. We as the family, appreciate the prayers and kind words that have already been expressed. We ask that you would give us time to process our feelings as we prepare to lay our precious RJ to rest.” Hillman was Denver’s leading rusher with 863 yards in the 2015 regular season and helped the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, The Associated Press reports. Hillman was also a standout college running back at San Diego State

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Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane