Chuck Heaton wrote that Ford's life was "pretty much down hill" after he retired from professional football. Heaton recalled that, in his later years, Ford seemed in poor physical condition, "only a shadow of the mighty end he once was." Ford still aspired to obtain his law license, but, according to Heaton, "appeared to have lost the drive which made him such a great football player." Don Newcombe, who became good friends with Ford, was more blunt. Interviewed in 1980, Newcombe said that Ford's life was "decimated" because of alcohol. Newcombe added: "He became a wino, stumbling around in alleys. He gave up his life for alcohol." Ford suffered a heart attack in early March 1972 and died the following week at Detroit General Hospital. He was age 46 at the time of his death. He was buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, MD. References Bibliography External links 1926 births 1972 deaths American football defensive ends Cleveland Browns players Dayton Rens players Green Bay Packers players Los Angeles Dons players Michigan Wolverines football players Morgan State Bears football players Morgan State Bears men's basketball players Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees United States Navy personnel of World War II Military personnel from Washington, D.C. Players of American football from Washington, D.C. African-American United States Navy personnel African-American players of American football 20th-century African-American sportspeople African Americans in World War II