Sad. Very Sad. Freddie Solomon passed away at 59. He was battling liver cancer for the last nine months of his life. An outstanding quarterback out of the University of Tampa, he wasn’t highly recruited, but was a Mike Vick type way before the puppy killer showed up. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Dolphins in 1975 and put up decent numbers around his various injuries eary on. He came to the Niners in 1978 amid a team in a shambles. By the end of the 1978 season, he was forced into duty as the emergency QB as Steve DeBerg, Scott Bull and Bruce Threadgill were all injured by the end of the year.
1981 was his best year as a 49er with 59 catches for 969 yards. He was instrumental on The Drive, running for 13 yards on a reverse, and catching a 12 yard pass. The Catch was designed to go to Freddie, but he was triple-covered, and the play went to, well you know. He also won a ring after the 1984 season, winning a ring against his former team, the Phins.
Solomon ended up with 5846 yards receiving and 53 TDs over an 11 year career. He was the solid vet presence there to help along guys like Dwight Clark and a young Jerry Rice. Truly a great Forty Niner. One who won’t get elected to the Hall of Fame, but a true pro who was a selfless player and genuine humanitarian.
Eddie DeBartolo had this to say about Freddie:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Freddie Solomon today. My heart goes out to Dee, his family, the 49ers football family, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office and football fans everywhere. Freddie and I have been friends for 35 years, and he was one of the most gentle and best men I have ever met in my life. Scores of generations will remember Freddie through their children and the youth he’s helped over all these decades. I have never met a man who cared so much about the human race, and there will never be another Freddie.”
My condolences to his family.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
I was at the Black Angus in Foster City when Fred Dean, Bill Ring, Jerry Rice and Freddie Solomon came in about 11o’clock on a Sunday night. They had just got back from playing New Orleans and Rice had shown his leaping ability to avoid the ferocious hitting Saints while catching the ball at the same time. It was Rice’s rookie year. I recognized Rice and offered to buy him a drink…Freddie Solomon was there before I finished my offer…he said “No” “He’ll have a virgin Strawberry Margarita”…….That was that….Solomon shepherded those young players even then. I have to think the 49ers and a lot of the 49er Greats that came out of that time owe him a lot of credit, for showing them how to act in public…..and probably how to act on the field.
Solomon even back then was sponsoring, with some other players, an organization called “Pro’s for Kids”…..He was a good guy. He had some Don Shula stories too. About how tough Shula was. Good guy, with a good sense of humor. Sorry to hear of his passing.
Yeah, when the Niners got him in 1978 I remember thinking great, but what a waste of a great WR. He wallowed throught the McCulley/O’Donnell 2-14 season, but flourished once Bill Walsh get here.
A true pro who will be missed.
I wish Crabby had at least an ounce of Freddie’s professionalism and drive. He’d be the better for it……
Amazing we went as far as we did with our passing game. That’s a tribute to the D, STs, Vernon and Alex. Yes and the coaching.
Sad news indeed. It’s another piece of the old ’81 gang going down. Eddie, Freddie, Bill W, Freddie was always clutch, he made the catches, held onto the ball, had some scoot in his boots. Man could get open! He was the first WR I really appreciated apart from the mind blowing Catch of Montana/Clark. Even before that I really noticed Freddie.
Rest well Mr Solomon
Always liked Freddie Solomon…Joe knew he could always make a clutch catch or a nice gainer on a reverse.
RIP ….Freddie a true pro, who will be missed..
Yes Sad to hear about Freddie. IMO with out Freddie Solomon and later John Taylor the Ninere would not have won their SB. Those to were the working class WR of the Niners. Just went out and did their jobs. A couple of very low key guys, compared to the prima donnas the NFL has today.
I remember seeing Freddie up in Rocklin the summer after they won SB XVI. My Mom and I went up one weekend to watch practice. They weren’t joking. It really was 105 — in the shade. The players were walking out to practice carrying their pads and Freddie stopped some rookie, some guy I didn’t even recognize and showed him how to properly carry his gear. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but he was trying to teach him how to be and act like a professional on every level. All the way down to carrying shoulder pads. He’ll be missed.
Terrific Freddie Solomon story written by a former 49er ball boy at Rocklin. Very touching.
http://tinyurl.com/7hd5hcl
Great story about Freddie…
Yeah, I remember the coach. It was Fred Von Appen. ST coach?
Yeah that’s right Chuck.I was at the bar in the “Vans”in Belmont back in 87 and in walks some Niner asstiant coaches.Didn’t know who Vonappen was, but i knew right away who OL coach Bobb McKitreck was.Had the chrome bald head and a niner T shirt on.He was one tough SOB..never wore long sleeves or jacket even if the Niners were playing in minus 10 degrees GreenBay.
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Thank you Denny for giving us this first person account of our man Freddie Solomon. I just liked the guy, I never knew why. Now I have a glimpse