Dave Wilcox, a Hall of Fame linebacker who made the Pro Bowl seven occasions in his 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, died on Wednesday. He was 80.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, introduced the demise however didn’t say the place he died or cite a trigger, though it stated he had not too long ago undergone coronary heart surgical procedure.
Jim Porter, the president of the Hall of Fame, stated in a press release that Wilcox “transformed the outside linebacker position — one of the many feats that earned him a forever home in Canton.”
Wilcox was drafted in 1964 by each the 49ers of the National Football League and the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He signed with San Francisco and went on to grow to be one of the sport’s greatest and most sturdy linebackers.
He was recognized for his bodily type, which neutralized tight ends at the line of scrimmage. But he was additionally completed in protection, and had 14 profession interceptions. In recognition of his aggressive play, he was extensively referred to as “the Intimidator.”
The longtime San Francisco quarterback John Brodie, who performed with Wilcox for 10 seasons, was quoted by the Hall of Fame as saying that Wilcox was “the best outside linebacker that has ever played the game — by a long way.”
Wilcox, who missed just one sport in his 11-year profession, was a first-team All-Pro choice in 1971 and 1972 and a second-team choice in 1967.
He was a key half of the protection that helped the 49ers attain the National Football Conference title sport in 1970 and 1971. San Francisco misplaced to Dallas each occasions.
David Wilcox was born on Sept. 29, 1942, in Ontario, Ore., and commenced his faculty profession at Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) in Idaho earlier than transferring to the University of Oregon.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
His survivors embrace his spouse, Merle, and his sons, Justin, the head soccer coach at the University of California, Berkeley, and Joshua.
The New York Times contributed reporting.
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