Former Giants punter, broadcaster Dave Jennings dead at 61 after long battle with Parkinson's

Dave Jennings, the all-pro punter and longtime broadcaster for the New York Giants and New York Jets, died Wednesday morning at age of 61.

Jennings suffered from Parkinson’s disease for nearly 20 years.  He first revealed the neurological disorder publicly in 2005.

The four-time Pro Bowler, played for the Giants from 1974-84 after graduating from St. Lawrence University. He finished his career in 1987, after three years with the Jets. Oddly, he didn’t play college or high school football.

Jennings was as popular with Giants fans as he was with his teammates even as he suffered through some lean times in the Meadowlands. To say Jennings played on some of the worst teams in Giants history would be a gross understatement. The Giants won only 31 games during his first seven seasons. Long-time fans might remember the mustachioed punter as sometimes being the best player on the whole Giants team.

Jennings worked as a radio color commentator first for Jets games from 1988 to 2001 before doing the same for the Giants from 2002 until 2007.  He left broadcasting in 2008 due to his struggles with Parkinson’s.

Jennings was inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor in 2011.