Lance Rentzel: key obituary facts
Is Lance Rentzel dead? Yes. Lance Rentzel died on June 7, 2026, at age 82.
Cause of death: Lance Rentzel's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Lance Rentzel known for?
He was an American football player (born 1943).
More about Lance Rentzel
Born: 14 October 1943.
Place of birth: Flushing.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Casady School.
Spouse: Joey Heatherton.
Also known as: Thomas Lance Rentzel.
Lance Rentzel, an American football player who appeared for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, died on June 7, 2026.
He was 82. Born Thomas Lance Rentzel in Flushing, N.Y., on October 14, 1943, he was a flanker in the National Football League and played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.
At Oklahoma City’s Casady School, he stood out as a four-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, baseball and track, and he graduated as valedictorian. Rentzel went on to earn a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where his early college career included a memorable 34-yard touchdown reception against Texas after hitchhiking to the game.