Fred Dean
Hall of Fame defensive end who won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers.
Frederick Rudolph Dean (February 24, 1952 – October 14, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). A two-time first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler, he won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Defensive end
- Born
- 24 February 1952
- Birthplace
- Arcadia, Louisiana, U.S.
- Died
- 14 October 2020
- Place of death
- Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
- High school
- Ruston (Ruston, Louisiana)
- College
- Louisiana Tech (1971–1974)
- Draft year
- 1975
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.
Reader's Guide
Dean was a standout at Louisiana Tech University. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1975 NFL draft. In 1981, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers due to a contract dispute. With the 49ers, he was used as a pass-rush specialist. He won Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XIX with the 49ers. He ended his NFL career with 93 unofficial sacks, according to the Professional Football Researchers Association.
Did You Know?
- He was named the UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1981 with 12 sacks while playing in 11 games for the 49ers.
- Dean died from COVID-19 on October 14, 2020, at age 68.
- He is one of at least 345 NFL players diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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