Pass rusher helped put 49ers on top
SAN FRANCISCO — Fred Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty, has died. He was 68.
His death on Wednesday night was confirmed Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Mr. Dean was hospitalized last week with the coronavirus and was on a ventilator and in intensive care, according to former teammate Dwight Hicks.
Mr. Dean was an undersized pass rusher who began his career as a secondround pick with the San Diego Chargers in 1975 and ended it in the Hall of Fame after being named an AllPro twice and making four Pro Bowls. Mr. Dean was an All- Pro for the Chargers in 1980 but had his biggest impact after being traded to San Francisco during the 1981 season.
“While it cannot be said that Fred Dean’s greatness as an NFL player began when he came to the 49ers in 1981, I can say as the owner of the team that the greatness of the 49ers began with Fred Dean’s arrival in San Francisco,” former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo said when he introduced Mr. Dean at his Hall of Fame induction.
The Niners were just starting to take off under coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana, and Mr. Dean was the final piece to become champions.
The Niners were 3- 2 when Mr. Dean arrived. After only a couple of practices, he played against Dallas.
“Bill Walsh told me they hadn’t beat ’ em in a while,” Mr. Dean recalled. “For me, it was a platform for me to prove a point, that I still had it and could do it.”
He did just that, dominating Dallas’ offensive line in a 45- 14 win.
San Francisco then won the rematch with the Cowboys three months later in the NFC title game 28- 27 thanks to “The Catch” by Dwight Clark on a pass from Montana. The Niners won their first Super Bowl two weeks later against Cincinnati.