DETROIT — Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders epitomized Detroit’s blue-collar roots.

Fans adored his gritty work ethic. Teammates embraced his leadership. Coaches found him to be a prized pupil and a talented teacher. And when Detroit’s booming economy became the American standard, Sanders was rewriting football history with a trend-setting career.

On Thursday, the man who spent 43 years in the Lions’ organization as a player, broadcaster and scout died in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak after battling cancer. He was 68.

“Today we lost one of the greatest Detroit Lions of all time,” team president Tom Lewand said in a statement.

“He was a perfect ambassador for our organization and, more important, was a true friend, colleague and mentor to so many of us.”