COLUMBUS, Ind. — Blair Kiel, the former Notre Dame quarterback and punter who played for Tampa Bay, Indianapolis and Green Bay in the NFL, died Sunday. He was 50.
Bartholmew County Coroner Allen Smith said Kiel died at Columbus Regional Hospital. Smith said an autopsy has been performed and that he's waiting on toxicology results and tissue samples to determine the cause of death.
After leading Columbus East High School to a state title as a senior in 1979, Kiel played for the Irish from 1980-83, completing 297 of 609 passes for 3,650 yards with 17 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. He set the record for the longest pass in Notre Dame history with a 96-yarder to Joe Howard against Georgia Tech in 1981.
Kiel also averaged 40.67 yards on 260 punts, and had five rushing TDs for Notre Dame.
Drafted by Tampa Bay in the 11th round in 1984, Kiel made three starts and appeared in 25 games in five seasons with the Buccaneers, Colts and Packers from 1984 to 1991. He completed 108 of 193 career passes for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Kiel also averaged 37.1 yards on 17 punts for the Colts.
His nephew, Gunner Kiel, is a freshman quarterback at Notre Dame.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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