Ex-49ers tight end Francis killed in N.Y. plane crash
Russ Francis, a popular, free-spirited tight end who won a Super Bowl as a member of the 49ers in 1984, was killed along with another aviation enthusiast when the single-engine plane the two men were in crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in upstate New York.
Francis, 70, and Richard McSpadden, 63, had taken off from the Lake Placid Airport shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in a Cessna 177 plane when the plane had some kind of problem. The New York State Police said it crashed into an embankment at the corner of the airport.
A longtime flying enthusiast dating back to before his days in the NFL, Francis was the president of Lake Placid Airways, which runs charter and scenic flights. The airline's website said Francis had been a pilot for almost 50 years and had run a charter service in Hawaii.
Francis played six seasons for New England, made three Pro Bowls and was dubbed “All-World” by ABC announcer Howard Cosell following a big performance on Monday night. He abruptly retired, but was talked into returning to football by 49ers coach Bill Walsh after the club acquired his rights and the No. 29 overall pick in exchange for the 49ers' first four draft picks in the 1982 draft.
From 1982 through 1987, Francis caught 186 passes for 2,105 yards and 12 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers, catching 23 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games with two starts. Francis caught five passes for 60 yards in a 38-16 win over the Miami Dolphins at Stanford. The following season, Francis caught a career high 44 passes for the 49ers.
In all, Francis caught 393 passes for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Patriots and 49ers.
The 49ers issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) and through email offering condolences.
The following 49ers took to X to offer give their thoughts:
49ers CEO Jed York: “My deepest condolences to the Francis family. Russ Francis was truly one of a kind. He will be missed. Awful to hear about his loss.”
Safety Ronnie Lott: “He was a warrior with a kind heart. He was the best at his position. I continue to be inspired by how he lived his life. Sending love to his family.”
Center Jesse Sapolu: “Saddened by the news of the passing of former (49er), (Patriots) and (Polynesian Football Hall of Famer) Russ Francis. RIP big bro.”
The crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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