Fred Dean

Lore & Background

Dean played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He was selected in the second round of the 1975 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He was traded to San Francisco in 1981 due to a contract dispute. He is a member of both the Chargers Hall of Fame and 49ers Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The roar of the crowd at San Diego Stadium faded into background noise for Fred Dean. Under the Friday night lights, he lined up on the edge, eyes locked on the quarterback's pocket. The snap came, and with a burst that defied his age, he surged past the tackle, forcing the ball carrier to scramble. For one season, the Bolts had a legend standing guard.

Reader's Guide

Dean was a standout at Louisiana Tech University, having spurned an opportunity to play for Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University and LSU. He was a four-time all-conference selection and two-time conference defensive player of the year in the Southland Conference, and an All-American as a senior in 1974. With the Chargers, he recorded 7 sacks as a rookie and 9 sacks in 1979, earning All-AFC honors. In 1980, he and Gary Johnson were named first-team All-Pro. After being traded to the 49ers in 1981, he was used as a pass-rush specialist, was named UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year with 12 sacks in 11 games, and helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI. In 1983, he recorded a career-high in sacks to lead the NFC and set a then-NFL record of six sacks in one game. He also played on the 1984 squad that won Super Bowl XIX. He ended his NFL career with 93 unofficial sacks, according to the Professional Football Researchers Association.

Did You Know?

• Dean was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
• He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1975 NFL draft.
• Dean played for the Chargers from 1975 to 1980 before being traded to the 49ers in 1981.
• He died from COVID-19 on October 14, 2020, at age 68.