Fred Dean, fearsome pass rusher of 49ers' dynasty, dies at 68

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. Dean was hospitalized last week with the coronavirus and was on a ventilator and in intensive care, according to former teammate Dwight Hicks.

“The 49ers family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of one of the game's all-time greats, Fred Dean,” the team said in a statement. “Fred not only impacted countless opposing quarterbacks throughout his career, but also the future of the game of football as one of the NFL's first true pass rushing specialists.”

Dean was an undersized pass rusher who began his career as a second-round 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.

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 Dean at his Hall of Fame induction.

Dean's career in San Diego ended in a contract dispute in 1981 and he was traded to San Francisco in October.

He credited the trade for reviving his career.

“I actually stepped on the other side for a minute, breathed in the air, looked at it as a rainbow,” he said before being inducted into the Hall of Fame. “I made it to the other side of the rainbow. For me, that was the pot of gold.”

The Niners were just starting to take off under coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana and Dean was the final piece they needed to become champions. The Niners were 3-2 when Dean arrived with hopes of ending an eight-year playoff drought. They would win two Super Bowls in his five seasons with San Francisco.