Former Eagles punter Max Runager dies at age 61

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ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Max Runager, the former NFL punter who helped the San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl following the 1984 season, has died. He was 61.

The 49ers announced Runager's death Sunday, and The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reported he was found dead Friday in his car in a parking lot in South Carolina. No foul play is suspected.

Runager played 11 seasons in the NFL after being drafted out of South Carolina by the Eagles in the eighth round in 1979. He spent his first five years with the Eagles, losing the Super Bowl following the 1980 season before joining San Francisco in 1984.

Runager punted 332 times in an Eagles uniform, fifth-most in franchise history, behind Adrian Burk (393), Sean Landeta (376), Tommy Hutton (349) and John Teltschik (345).

After spending the 1979 through 1983 seasons with the Eagles, he spent 1984 through 1987 and part of 1988 with the 49ers and finished 1988 with the Browns. But he returned to Philly in 1989 and finished his career with the Eagles, playing four more games late in the season after Teltschik went on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The Niners went 15-1 Runager's first season and beat Miami for the Super Bowl. Runager played four seasons for San Francisco and came back for one game in 1988.

Runager finished his career with 661 career punts and a 40.2 yards-per-punt average.

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