Gunnels played for the Eagles for five seasons and was named the team’s Defensive MVP in 1962. He finished his career on the other side of the state, returning to spend two years with the Steelers before retiring due to a knee injury.

“You know what? We just had fun playing football,” Gunnels said. “Back in those days, when you were a Philadelphia Eagle, you never even thought about being traded somewhere else. That was the team you played for and that was your family. I enjoyed every day I played for the Philadelphia fans.”

After retirement, Gunnels made his home in South Jersey. He owned and operated a printing company, Signal Graphics, in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. He regularly attended alumni events and was on hand for the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1960 Championship Team in 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field.

He was immensely proud to see both his beloved Eagles and Georgia Bulldogs win championships in recent years.

“I love my dad. He always set the example. He was able to get to where he was by working hard. He put all of his effort into doing things the right way. He would do whatever it took to get to his goal, but he would go about it the right way and treat everybody right,” said his son, John Riley Gunnels III. “He was literally a larger-than-life guy. He was a loving guy who led by example. He did everything hard, but was kind and gentle to everybody who wanted it and needed it.”

Gunnels is survived by “the love of his life,” Kathryn M. Gunnels (nee McClatchy}, daughter Victoria L. LaCasse (nee Gunnels) and husband Joseph LaCasse, son John Riley Gunnels III and wife Bobbi Ann Gunnels (nee Connell), and son Christopher “Skipper” Scott Gunnels, along with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Service of Memory and Love will be held on Thursday, December 19 at noon at The Godfrey Funeral Home of Palermo, 644 South Shore Road, Palermo, NJ with a visitation from 11 AM until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make donations to the American Diabetes Association or the Special Olympics.