Claude Andrew “Hoot” Gibson (born May 26, 1938) was an American former football player and coach. He made his last earthly touchdown early Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, after a brief hospitalization.
A retired NFL defensive back and punt returner, he played college football for the NC State Wolfpack before playing professionally in the AFL for the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders. He attended Lee H. Edwards High School (now Asheville High School), playing football and winning the State Championship in high hurdles in his senior year, gaining the nickname “Crazy Legs.”
He was an instant star on the NC State Wolfpack freshman team. He played his entire senior season with a broken hand and wrist, and played in four post season all-star games. He received a degree in education from NC State in 1961. After college, he signed with the San Diego Chargers, where he got the nickname “Hoot,” which stuck with him all his life. In 1963 he played for the Oakland Raiders, leading the AFL (later merged with the NFL) in punt returns, the only player in modern history to do so. He still owns the third best punt return average of all professional players with 75 or more returns. After his five-year NFL career, he served as a scout and recruiter in the Raiders organization. He was called back to State to coach arguably the greatest season in NC State history, coaching the “white shoes” defensive backs of the 1967 Wolfpack. After the 1967 season, at age 29, he coached for the (then) Boston Patriots, before moving to coach the Buffalo Bills. He then spent three years as head coach for the University of Tulsa. His last head coaching position was his 10 years at Mars Hill University. He was inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of AFL Hall of Fame, the Western NC Sports Hall of Fame, and the Mars Hill University Hall of Fame.
He came from a large family. He was predeceased by his father, Louie Elder Gibson, and his mother, Catherine Smith Gibson; and his brothers, Louie Gibson (Glenna), Ronnie Gibson (Gwynn), and Tommy Gibson; his sisters, Lois Jane Moore (Robert), Juanita Kinsland (Ney), Geneva Hollifield (Marvin), and Georgia Ann “Peaches” Carter (Ed). He was also predeceased by his wife Ethelee, whom he married in 1961; his daughter, Terry-Lynn Gibson Lowe; and grandsons, Brandon Lowe and Drew Gibson.
He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Ann Gibson (Kenneth Roberts), and grandson Colton; his son, Andy Gibson and granddaughter Leah; his son, Joseph Errol Gibson, and many nieces and nephews.
After retiring from football, he established his own golf scorecard printing business, which he still owned at the time of his death. In 1995 he met Nancy Mahnke, whom he married in 2013, and settled in Pinebluff, N.C. In 2019, the couple moved to Taylorsville, N.C., to be closer to Claude and Nancy’s families. He truly “never met a stranger” and would go out of his way to help a friend. He will be missed by all who ever knew him.
A Celebration of Claude’s Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in the Adams Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Scott Henson will officiate. The family will receive friends from 2 until 3 p.m. prior to the service. Condolences may be sent to www.adamsfunerals.com.
Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services are honored to be serving the family of Claude Andrew “Hoot” Gibson.