Former Raiders fullback Steve Smith, 57, dies of Lou Gehrig's Disease 20 years ...

Former Raiders fullback Steve Smith, 57, dies of Lou Gehrig's Disease after being diagnosed 20 years ago Former Raiders fullback Steve Smith, 57, died today 20 years after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease Smith was drafted by the Raiders in 1987 after starring in college at Penn State, where he helped the Nittany Lions win their last national championship He ran 1,528 yards, made seven touchdowns and served as the lead blocker for players Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen during his NFL career He played his two final seasons in the league with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring after the 1995 season 'It brought tears to my eyes to see this guy who I knew was such a huge guy and to see him in the position that he was in,' said former teammate Willie Gault 'He's the toughest fullback I've ever seen,' said former Raiders running back Marcus Allen

By Christina Coulter For Dailymail.Com

Published: 07:11 GMT, 21 November 2021 | Updated: 07:11 GMT, 21 November 2021

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The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Saturday that former fullback Steve Smith (pictured in `1991) passed away at 57, two decades after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Saturday that former fullback Steve Smith passed away at 57, two decades after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

His former teammates called him the 'toughest fullback [they had] even seen.'

'Never have I seen a fullback as tough as Steve Smith,' said former teammate and running back Napoleon McCallum, who Smith helped as a lead blocker.

'Just go all out trying to knock somebody down, just went in there with reckless abandon for his body and gave his all for the team.'

Smith was drafted in the third round by the Raiders in 1987 after he helped his college team, the Penn State Nittany Lions, win their last national championship in 1986.

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Former Raiders full back Steve Smith is pictured here with his wife Chie (right), his daughter Jazmin (center) and his son Dante (left)

Smith's