Former NFL coach Lindy Infante died on Tuesday at 75 years old after he succumbed to a "lengthy illness."

According to AJC, Infante's wife, Stephanie, said the former Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts coach suffered from a long-time illness.

In a similar Journal Sentinel report, former Packers cornerback, LeRoy Butler, confirmed that the Infante's cause of death was pneumonia. Butler said Stephanie called him on Thursday to deliver the sad news.

He added that Infante's wife also shared with him that the former coach fell inside their home last week and sustained broken ribs.

When he was admitted at the hospital, Butler said doctors conducted tests on him and discovered that he had serious pneumonia.

"Lindy was an icon in Jacksonville. That's why he moved down to the beaches area. He brought me to Green Bay (second round, 1990). We got to be really tight," Butler told Journal Sentinel.

For his part, Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said the team is saddened with Infante's passing.

"Lindy's 1989 team rekindled the enthusiasm of Packers fans with its exciting victories, and he and his wife, Stephanie, were very active in the community during their time in Green Bay. The organization's sincere condolences go out to the entire Infante family," Murphy said in an ESPN report.

Meanwhile, former Packers president Bob Harlan recalled that having Infante as their coach during those years gave the team hope for their future games.

''For a franchise that had been struggling for so long to find a winning way, the emergence of that team under Lindy as new coach and (Don) Majkowski as its quarterback gave us great promise for the future. It brought back a great deal of excitement in the community we hadn't felt for a long time," he said in a Yahoo Sports report.

According to an Associated Press report published by NFL.com, Infante was with the Packers from 1988 to 1991. This was also the time he was recognised as the Coach of the Year in 1989 for his effort in leading the team to a record of 10-6.

In 1996, his services were tapped by the Indianapolis Colts and he was instrumental for the team's trip to the playoffs during his first season with them.

"He was fired after 1997 when the Colts fell to 3-13. His overall NFL record was 36-60," NFL.com added.

Aside from his NFL coaching stint, Infante also mentored USFL's Jacksonville Bulls for two years from 1984. His great love for the sport might have come from his past experience playing for Florida way back in the 1960s.