OWOSSO, Mich. — Linebacker Brad Van Pelt, who spent 11 of his 14 NFL seasons with the New York Giants, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 57.

The Giants announced the death Wednesday.

Van Pelt starred as a safety at Michigan State. He was chosen by the Giants in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft and went on to make the Pro Bowl five years in a row from 1976-1980.

When the Giants drafted Lawrence Taylor in 1981, he along with Van Pelt, Harry Carson and Brian Kelley formed one of the league's most feared linebacking units.

After leaving the Giants in 1983, Van Pelt played two seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders and one with the Cleveland Browns.