NFL legend Rockne Freitas has passed away at the age of 76.

The former Steelers, Lions and Buccaneers star was the first native Hawaiian to become an NFL All-Pro.

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Freitas – known affectionately as Rocky – was born in September 1945 in Kailua, Hawaii.

Standing a strapping 6ft6 and tipping the scales at 122kg, the imposing offensive tackle starred for Oregon State University.

He was drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1967 NFL Draft, before switching back to Oregon and the Detroit Lions a year later.

Freitas would spend nearly a decade with the Lions, breaking barriers on the field after reaching the All-Pro list in 1972.

Known for his tough tackling and sportsmanship on the field, Rocky turned his hand to education after hanging up his pads in 1978.

He took on high-level leadership roles in his native Hawaii, which would lead him into a 23-year educational career.

Rocky acted as chancellor of Hawaii Community College for six years before retiring in 2015 after a switch to West Oahu.

Upon retiring, he told UOH News: “I am the happiest man in the world to have served the University of Hawaii.

“But I am retiring to begin a new journey, spend time with people that I love, go fishing and work out.”

Freitas’ son Makoa was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft by Indianapolis Colts and has since gone into coaching.

Rocky’s cause of death has not yet been determined.