Bob Heinz: key obituary facts
Is Bob Heinz dead? Yes. Bob Heinz died on October 31, 2026, at age 79.
Cause of death: Bob Heinz's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bob Heinz known for?
He was an American football player.
More about Bob Heinz
Born: 25 July 1947.
Place of birth: Milwaukee.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Lincoln High School, Messmer High School, San Joaquin Delta College.
Bob Heinz, an American football player who played defensive tackle, died October 31, 2026, aged 79.
Born Robert Kenneth Heinz in Milwaukee on July 25, 1947, he attended Messmer High School in Milwaukee and Lincoln High School in Stockton, California. His college football career took him first to San Joaquin Delta College and then to the University of the Pacific.
In the 1969 NFL/AFL draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Heinz in the second round, 37th overall. He played for Miami from 1969 through 1977, then joined the Washington Redskins for the 1978 season. His years with the Dolphins included the team’s undefeated 1972 campaign, when Miami finished 17–0. Heinz’s professional career thus included nine seasons with Miami and a final season in Washington. At the college level, his path through two programs culminated at the University of the Pacific, which later recognized him as a Hall of Fame inductee for 1987–1988. His playing record connected college football in California with professional teams in Miami and Washington, and his place on the 1972 Dolphins tied him to one of the defining seasons in the franchise’s history.