Fred Dean excelled as an All-Southland Conference linebacker during his collegiate football career at Louisiana Tech. The San Diego Chargers selected him in the second round, 33rd player overall, of the 1975 NFL Draft. Dean was moved immediately to the defensive line where he starred during his entire NFL career, first with the Chargers (1975-1981) and later with the San Francisco 49ers (1981-1985).
Dean’s quickness, speed, and strength made him one of the league’s most feared pass rushers during his 141-game career. Although the sack did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, if numbers tallied by the teams were included with his official sack count, Dean’s career sack total would stand near 100.
His role as an impact player became apparent very early in his career. As a rookie for the Chargers in 1975, Dean recorded seven sacks, 93 tackles (63 solo, 30 assists), and four fumble recoveries. With Dean doing his part on defense and combined with the Chargers’ high-flying offense, the team became a strong playoff contender. In 1978, he recorded 15.5 sacks as the Chargers posted a winning record. He followed that season by adding nine sacks in 1979 and 10.5 in 1980 as San Diego claimed two straight AFC Western Division championships.
Early in the 1981 season, Dean was shipped to the San Francisco 49ers were he continued to demonstrate his extraordinary talent. Dean contributed 12 sacks in 11 games for the 49ers en route to the team’s first Super Bowl victory.
Dean’s finest year came two seasons later when he led the NFC with a career-high 17.5 sacks. Included in that total was a then NFL record six sacks in one game. He set the mark during the 49ers’ 27-0 shutout of the New Orleans Saints on November 13, 1983.
In all, Dean played on five division winners. He played in three NFC championship games and in two of San Francisco’s Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls XVI and XIX). Dean earned all-conference honors four times – twice with the Chargers and twice with the 49ers.
He was also named to four Pro Bowls (1980-1982, 1984) and selected All-Pro twice (1980-1981).
| 1975 |
San Diego |
14
|
| 1976 |
San Diego |
14
|
| 1977 |
San Diego |
11
|
| 1978 |
San Diego |
15
|
| 1979 |
San Diego |
13
|
| 1980 |
San Diego |
14
|
| 1981 |
San Diego/San Francisco |
14
|
| 1982 |
San Francisco |
9
|
| 1983 |
San Francisco |
16
|
| 1984 |
San Francisco |
5
|
| 1985 |
San Francisco |
16
|
| |
|
|
| Additional Career Statistics: Sacks: 28.0 (since 1982); Interceptions: 1-22, 1 TD; Fumble Recovery for TD: 1 |
Championship Games
1980 AFC - Oakland Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 27
Dean started at right defensive end. He recorded nine tackles and 1.5 sacks in the game.
1981 NFC - San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27
Dean played but did not start. He recorded one tackle assist in the game.
1983 NFC - Washington Redskins 24, San Francisco 49ers 21
Dean played but did not start. He recorded two tackles and one sack in the game.
1984 NFC - San Francisco 49ers 23, Chicago Bears 0
Dean played but did not start. He recorded one tackle, two assists and one sack in the game.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XVI - San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21
Dean started at defensive end. He recorded one tackle and one sack in the game.
Super Bowl XIX - San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16
Dean played but did not start. He recorded one tackle and one assist.
All-Pro: 1980 (AP, PW), 1981 (AP, PFWA, SN, PW)
All-Pro Second Team: 1981 (NEA)
All-AFC: 1979 (UPI, SN, PW), 1980 (PW)
All-NFC: 1981 (UPI, PW), 1983 (PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1980 (UPI)
All-NFC Second Team: 1983 (UPI)
(4) - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
At time of his retirement following 1985 season
[1st] Most Sacks, Game - 6 (vs. New Orleans, Nov. 13, 1983)
49ers' records held by Dean
Records through the 1985 season, Dean's final season with San Francisco
[Tied for 1st*] Most Sacks, Game - 6 (vs. New Orleans, Nov. 13, 1983)
*The record this mark is tied for occurred in 1976. Sacks did not become and official stat until 1982.
NFC Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1983 SF
Team Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1981 SF, 1982 SF, 1983 SF
SF - San Francisco 49ers
1981 NFC Defensive Player of the Year (UPI)
| 1975 |
San Diego Chargers |
2
|
12
|
0
|
(4th)
|
| 1976 |
San Diego Chargers |
9
|
8
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1977 |
San Diego Chargers |
7
|
7
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1978 |
San Diego Chargers |
9
|
7
|
0
|
(4th)
|
| 1979 |
San Diego Chargers |
12
|
4
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1980 |
San Diego Chargers |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1981 |
San Francisco 49ers |
13
|
3
|
0
|
(1st#)
|
| 1982 |
San Francisco 49ers |
3
|
6
|
0
|
(11th*)
|
| 1983 |
San Francisco 49ers |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1984 |
San Francisco 49ers |
15
|
1
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1985 |
San Francisco 49ers |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
|
* NFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.
|
| # Also played in three games with Chargers before trade to 49ers. San Diego had a 10-6-0 record and won the division. |
Full Name: Frederick Rudolph Dean
Birthdate: February 24, 1952
Birthplace: Arcadia, Louisiana
High School: Ruston (LA)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 2, 2008
Presenter: Eddie DeBartolo Jr., former San Francisco 49ers owner
Other Members of the Class of 2008: Darrell Green, Art Monk, Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett, Gary Zimmerman
Pro Career: 11 seasons, 141 games
Drafted: 2nd round (33rd player overall) in 1975 by San Diego Chargers