NFL Hall of Famer, 'Iron Man' Forrest Gregg dies at 85

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Forrest Gregg, NFL Hall of Famer, nicknamed "Iron Man" for having started in 188 straight games, passed away in a hospital Colorado Springs at the age of 85.

Forrest died from complications of Parkinson's disease, according to his wife Barbara. The former Green Bay Packers tackle announced in 2011 that he suffered from Parkinson's disease and had been battling it since then.

Vince Lombardi, the Packers head coach between 1959 and 1967, called Forrest "the finest player I ever coached."

"He was a man, and a man to be respected," said Dave Robinson, who played linebacker for the Packers during the Lombardi era.

"You just didn't worry about Forrest. You had total confidence in him. Forrest was tenacious. He never quit on a block. He never quit on a play," said Jerry Kramer, Forrest's teammate who helped him built Lombardi's famous power sweep.

Forrest Gregg of the Green Bay Packers lets out a victory roar from the sidelines while covered in mud during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, December 10, 1960. /VCG Photo

In his 15-year NFL career as a player, Forrest played for two teams, the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected into First-team All-Pro for seven times, played nine Pro-Bowls, won five NFL championships including Super Bowls (I, II and VI).

Having retired in 1972, Forrest started his coaching career with the San Diego Chargers (Los Angeles Chargers), the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1982, he led the Bengals into Super Bowl XVI but lost to the San Francisco 49ers 26-21. In 1983, Forrest took over from former teammate Bart Starr as the new boss of the Packers.

In 1977, Forrest was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame before he was selected into the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. It's safe to say that he is one of the greatest offensive tackles in the league's history.