Muhammad Ali, considered one of greatest boxers of all-time and a sporting icon, died on Friday, his representative Bob Gunnell announced. He was 74.
A three-time world heavyweight champion, Ali died after being admitted to a Phoenix hospital Thursday for a respiratory issue, Gunnell said. Ali's funeral will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, according to Gunnell. "The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support and asks for privacy at this time," Gunnell wrote in a statement.
Born Cassius Clay in Louisville on January 17, 1942, he rose to notoriety after winning a gold medal as a light-heavyweight at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. Shortly after defeating Sonny Liston for his first heavyweight title at 22, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali following his conversion to Islam. He went on to recaputure the world heavweight title in 1974 and '78 before retiring with a 56-5 record with 37 career knockouts.
In 1984, Ali announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but the disease didn't prevent him from continuing to be a motivating figure among athletes and the general public. His torch run at 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games opening ceremony remains one of the most memorable moments in sports history.
Upon hearing of Ali's passing, the NFL community reacted on Twitter:
Flashback to Muhammad Ali's visit to Ravens practice at the start of our Super Bowl season: https://t.co/b6xrc3zcvx pic.twitter.com/d5YHmGT4ap
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 4, 2016
This is what greatness looks like. RIP #MuhammadAli. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2gIekxIPq4
— Walter Payton (@walterpayton) June 4, 2016
"You’re not conceited, you’re convinced."@MuhammadAli. @RealJoeNamath. 1969. #RIPMuhammadAlihttps://t.co/CAIlQCNR3X
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 4, 2016
"The world has lost a great Champion. Muhammad Ali, lover of human beings, a warrior for the fight against discrimination...a great friend."
— Jim Brown (@JimBrownNFL32) June 4, 2016
When I was born in 1965 he was the Heavyweight Champ of the World and today you still maintain the title #GOAT #RIPMuhammadAli 🙏🏾
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) June 4, 2016
The Greatest inspired us all to believe in ourselves and to take risks. Let's make him proud. #RIP #Ali pic.twitter.com/txwkETRqpH
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 4, 2016
RIP to the greatest who revolutionized sports and stood for what he believed in #RIPMuhammadAli
— Sharrif Floyd (@sharriffloyd) June 4, 2016
Ali was more than boxing and came to be a figure that quarreled through issues on human rights and social justice. #RIPMuhammadAli
— Russell Okung (@RussellOkung) June 4, 2016
Thoughts and prayers to the #legend @MuhammadAli #StayStrongChamp pic.twitter.com/cYGsvyTIdb
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) June 4, 2016
RIP @MuhammadAli THE GREATEST
— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) June 4, 2016
#MuhammadAli RIP to the best!
— Kelvin Benjamin (@kelvinbenjamin) June 4, 2016
RIP the greatest of all time ALI.A role model to everyone in the world.He taught us to take whats in your heart and let it flow without fear
— Tony Gonzalez (@TonyGonzalez88) June 4, 2016
My son EJ wakes up every morning to this image! pic.twitter.com/KOo5BvrngO
— Emmitt Smith (@EmmittSmith22) June 4, 2016
My thoughts on the passing of the greatest. #RIPMuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/hmmBMG4HvM
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time!
— Breshad Perriman (@B_Perriman11) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/Fc13CUs36P
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) June 4, 2016
They gotta show all Ali Clips rest of the weekend
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) June 4, 2016
The World Lost an incredible man today...#RIP
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) June 4, 2016
RIP Ali
— Jeremy Maclin (@jmac___19) June 4, 2016
The legend, the champ, the greatest fighter ever!!!! Muhammad Ali R.I.P. Rest up champ! #MuhammedAli #RIp 🙏🏿🙌🏾😥 pic.twitter.com/XqXqanfsZe
— Mark Ingram II (@markingram21) June 4, 2016
R.I.P. To the Greatest Black Hero any kid could have known. Your legacy will forever ring from every mountain top. #FloatLikeAButterfly #Ali
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) June 4, 2016
#RIP #GreatestOfAllTime pic.twitter.com/0oH8zMVYgS
— JAHRI EVANS (@J_7TRE_E) June 4, 2016
muhammad ali 😢
— feeno (@ArianFoster) June 4, 2016
#ripali #champ pic.twitter.com/RaElEiG6G2
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) June 4, 2016
The show will go on ... but it won't be the same.#AliVsAlzado pic.twitter.com/L41V3wUdRy
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 4, 2016
Float like a butterfly. Rest in paradise. https://t.co/z74NcFjUMr
— Victor Cruz (@TeamVic) June 4, 2016
G.O.A.T
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) June 4, 2016
You will be missed but never forgotten. #MuhammadAli https://t.co/EEboMM7fn0
RIP to the greatest @MuhammadAli #legendary
— Whitney Mercilus (@Merci380) June 4, 2016
Sad day! We loss one of the greatest competitors to walk this earth. Left us with memories that'll last forever! RIP Muhammad Ali! #TheGOAT
— Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) June 4, 2016
Rest in paradise King Ali
— ♛Chandler Jones (@chanjones55) June 4, 2016
Larger Than Life! RIP pic.twitter.com/yKi2KmwH5n
— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) June 4, 2016
Greatest of All Time.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 4, 2016
Inspiration.
Legend.
Rest in Peace Champ.#Ali
RIP to the greatest Muhammad ALI. Society as we know it would not have been the same without you
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali was an inspiration to all athletes and competitors. Truly one of the greatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/Wiq4sVvLCi
— Brandon McManus (@thekidmcmanus) June 4, 2016
#MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/EUI9hxwgay
— Stephone Anthony (@stephoneanthony) June 4, 2016
Ali will truly be missed by all...... pic.twitter.com/5kGccwka9j
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) June 4, 2016
Rest in peace to the greatest Ali.
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) June 4, 2016
You left a "real" Legacy!! Forever The Greatest!! #Ali
— Telvin Smith (@TelvinSmith_22) June 4, 2016
Float like a butterfly sting like a bee nobody in the world is greater than Mohammed Ali. Much ❤️ Rip Goat
— Emmitt Smith (@EmmittSmith22) June 4, 2016
"I am the greatest. I said that before I even knew I was." #Ali #Unshakable #Confidence
— Peak Work Archie (@JoshHarris25) June 4, 2016
Rest In Peace #MuhammadAli #Greatness
— Willie Snead IV (@Willie_Snead4G) June 4, 2016
RIP TO THE #GOAT #MUHAMMADALI https://t.co/UpnfxSpxwk
— Chris Baker (@cbakerswaggy) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali a true icon
— Martin Ifedi (@MIfedi) June 4, 2016
The #King & his #Prince
— Dre Kirkpatrick (@DreKirkSWAG) June 4, 2016
Silence.............#RIP pic.twitter.com/0FTErDaH4F
ALI BOOMBIYAY 🙏🏾😞 Rest in nothing less than paradise..
— Tay (@GloverWright) June 4, 2016
An inspiration to so many. RIP to The Greatest pic.twitter.com/9fJnNnEJEd
— Jared Goff (@JaredGoff16) June 4, 2016
I met #Ali once. He was a great role model and a great man. Sending my thoughts and prayers to his family tonight.
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) June 4, 2016
"Inside a ring or out, there's nothing wrong with getting knocked down. Standing down now that's wrong." #TheGreatest #MuhammedAli #Icon
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) June 4, 2016
RIP Champ! @MuhammadAli #FloatLikeAButterflyStingLikeABee https://t.co/0xO4PIulMZ
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) June 4, 2016
RIP to the champ! Stood for something inside the ring and outside of it! Truly the GREATEST! (J-Mac)
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) June 4, 2016
RIP #MuhammedAli .... That man was a true inspiration to me and many others!!! #RipMuhammadAli
— Charles Johnson (@MrInkredibleXII) June 4, 2016
Simply the most inspirational person to ever walk this earth! #TheGOAT #Legend #RIP https://t.co/2S19qPPpMX pic.twitter.com/rYe5zF00jx
— Calais Campbell (@CalaisCampbell) June 4, 2016
John 14:1-2 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God..In my Father’s house are many rooms." #RIPChamp pic.twitter.com/XJ2ynC0Bpf
— Michael Vick (@MichaelVick) June 4, 2016
RIP KING. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/stOlBrAnVM
— Marcedes Lewis (@MarcedesLewis89) June 4, 2016
Rest in Peace to the Greatest 🙏🏾. | Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/Ifn47j2fp6
— Bishop Sankey (@BishopSankey) June 4, 2016
Sleep in peace Champ.#RIPAli #TheGreatest #RumbleYoungManRumble
— David Nelson (@DavidNelson86) June 4, 2016
RIP to the greatest ever. #legend #MuhammedAli pic.twitter.com/nHSLZjETm0
— Glenn Dorsey (@GlennDorsey72) June 4, 2016
👼🏽 RIP #GOAT #TheGreatestOfAllTime
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) June 4, 2016
"I'll show you how great I am"- Muhammad Ali
— Khalil Mack (@FiftyDeuce) June 4, 2016
Rest in Paradise Legend
Saddened to hear the passing of #MuhammadAli. Rest easy, Champ.
— Bruce Arians (@BruceArians) June 4, 2016
RIP #Legend https://t.co/l4625xow3O
— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) June 4, 2016
There will never be another: https://t.co/Ar3657ckU0
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) June 4, 2016
Rest in peace, Muhammad Ali. pic.twitter.com/bdC3QaKo42
— NFL (@NFL) June 4, 2016
RIP to the Champ @MuhammadAli #Legend
— Jason Verrett (@Jfeeva_2) June 4, 2016
Rip Champ!
— Travis Benjamin (@TravisBenjamin3) June 4, 2016
RIP CHAMP!!! The greatest of all time by far.. It's time to be back with your best friend Howard Cosell. #ALI #GOAT #Besttoeverdoit
— AJ McCarron (@10AJMcCarron) June 4, 2016
Ali dead this is sad
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali was a true inspiration for me in my career. His strength in what he believed in fueled me in my resolve. #RIPChamp
— Warren Moon (@WMoon1) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali #GreatestOfAllTime
— Marcus Easley (@MarcusEasley) June 4, 2016
R.I.P to the greatest #MuhammedAli
— Clats12 (@CodyLatimer14) June 4, 2016
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" RIP Champ! You inspired me to be better than great!… https://t.co/6H4KX6vTMk
— Von Miller (@VonMiller) June 4, 2016
Long live Ali!
— J'Marcus Webb (@jmarcuswebb) June 4, 2016
Hate to hear the news of the passing of @MuhammadAli. The Greatest of All-Time.#FloatLikeAButterflyStingLikeABee
— Cj Spiller (@CJSPILLER) June 4, 2016
RIP to the CHAMP!! #MuhammadAli
— Michael Floyd (@MichaelMFloyd) June 4, 2016
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) June 4, 2016
RIP Ali #Legend
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) June 4, 2016
Rip Ali #Legend
— Everson Griffen (@EversonGriffen) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali #GOAT #handsdown https://t.co/QOqXFvccmJ
— Drew Stanton (@drewstanton) June 4, 2016
I am so so sad to hear that @MuhammadAli has passed but so grateful that my Dad is greeting him. #RIPALI the great! pic.twitter.com/Xpas4WiNSh
— Kendra Stabler (@StablerKendra) June 4, 2016
Crazy how @MuhammadAli is really gone like they say in the Sandlot heroes get remembered but legends never die! Goodbye to the #Legend
— Rodger Saffold (@Rodger_Saffold) June 4, 2016
R.I.P 2 my idol THE great Cassius Clay aka Muhammed Ali. Greatest athlete of all time. His spirit will live on through great athletes 4ever
— Cassius Marsh (@KingCash_7191) June 4, 2016
RIP to the greatest #MuhammadAli
— Eric Weems Sr. (@ericweems) June 4, 2016
We lost prince and Muhammad Ali so sad!#LegendsRIP
— Jerry Rice (@JerryRice) June 4, 2016
RIP ALI!!!!
— leroy butler (@leap36) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali. #TheChamp
— Kelvin Beachum (@KelvinBeachumJr) June 4, 2016
RIP the 🐐 #TheGreatest pic.twitter.com/0SZRxu9tNj
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) June 4, 2016
Rest in peace champ #Ali pic.twitter.com/saTsXFAAD8
— Chris Hogan (@ChrisHogan_15) June 4, 2016
RIP to the champ #GOAT https://t.co/16mgq8Z4O0
— Matt Ryan (@M_Ryan02) June 4, 2016
