It’s a sad day in Niner Land as Fred Dean, Hall of Fame pass rusher for the Chargers, and 49ers, passed away at the age of 68 from complications due to COVID. In a stellar career that coincided with the dynasty that became the 49ers dominance for 20+ years, the 49ers traded for him during the 1981 season. Dean, who was going through a contract dispute with the Chargers brass, said he was making the same amount as his brother in law, a truck driver.
Walsh, always looking to improve the team, offered the Chargers a 2nd round pick early in the season, and seeing that the 49ers were 2-2 and coming off a 6-10 season, it looked like it could be a decent deal for San Diego. As it turned out, it was likely the greatest in-season trade in NFL history. At least for the 49ers.
His first game gave notice to the NFL that Fred was an elite pass rusher as he sacked Danny White of the Cowboys 6 times in our annihilation of them 45-14. Funny thing is, in his nearly 5 year career with the Niners, he had 5 starts. His main task was to pressure the QB, and smoke lung darts on the sidelines. He didn’t get in for very many 1st down plays, but wreaked his havoc on 2nd and long and 3rd down plays.
His next game, against the Rams saw Dean get 5 sacks of Pat Haden in the 49ers 20-17 victory. The Chargers of course became a much weaker defense and were summarily drummed out of the playoffs after winning the epic battle between SD and Miami in the 41-38 overtime game, and then getting stomped by the eventual AFC Champ Bengals. Dean ended up with 12 sacks for the 49ers in his 11 games.
Hard to imagine what would have happened to the course of the two teams had the trade not gone down. Dean was a generational talent who ended up as the UPI Defensive player of the year in 1981, and ended his career with 93 sacks. In his 4+ years with the 49ers, he had 41 sacks, and he was instrumental in the 1984 playoff run with his former SD teammates Gary Big Hands Johnson and Louie Kelcher.
Saw many a game where Fred Dean was a dominant force, and a relentless pass rusher.
Never met the man, but he always seemed to be smiling and happy.
“I WANT TO LIVE WITH MYSELF AND SOUL
I WANT TO BE ABLE FOR MYSELF TO KNOW
I WANT TO STAND AND SEE THE SUN
AND NOT HATE MYSELF FOR THE THINGS I’VE DONE
I WANT TO BE ABLE AS DAYS GO BY
TO ALWAYS LOOK MYSELF STRAIGHT IN THE EYE
AND FEEL THAT I NEVER HAVE TO LIE
TO MYSELF.”
R.I.P. Fred Dean
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Nice post, Chuck. A lot of Niner fans in our age group have nothing but fond memories of the great Fred Dean, as well as those teams in general. It was a fun and exciting time to be a San Francisco 49ers fan. And, yes, it did seem as if he was always smiling. I read once that his weight room workouts consisted of laying on bench smoking his Kools. LOL! One of the most naturally gifted athletes to ever strap on a helmet, a force to be reckoned with.
RIP Fred!
Here, here.
My sentiments exactly Chuck.
As a starved for access East Coast 9er fan in those days, Fred was always a smiling backfield assassin.
Great piece.
R.I.P. Fred
Well, the good news is Moseley and Witherspoon were full participants in practice.
It all depends on Jimmy G and his play Sunday night.
Lean, mean, clean, Fred Dean. RIP.
The whole team better man up or this year is toast. It’s probably toast anyway the way Seattle’s playing. The Rams are gonna look to humiliate us in this one, just like we did them last year.
Thanks, guys.
New thread is up.