Dave Wilcox facts for kids
Wilcox playing for the 49ers
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| No. 64 | |||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | September 29, 1942 Ontario, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 19, 2023 (aged 80) | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 241 lb (109 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Vale (Vale, Oregon) | ||||
| College: | Oregon | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 3 / Pick: 29 | ||||
| AFL draft: | 1964 / Round: 6 / Pick: 46 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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David Wilcox (born September 29, 1942 – died April 19, 2023) was an American professional football player. He was a talented linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the 49ers from 1964 to 1974. During his career, he was chosen for seven Pro Bowl games. He was also named All-NFL five times. In 2000, he was honored by being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
College Career
Playing in College
After finishing Vale High School in Oregon in 1960, Dave Wilcox started his college football journey. He first played at Boise Junior College (now Boise State University). There, he earned special "All-America" honors, meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in junior college football.
After two years in Boise, he moved to the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1962. He played his last two college seasons there. His older brother, John Wilcox, also played for the Oregon Ducks.
College Positions and Draft
At Oregon, Wilcox played as a guard on offense and an end on defense. Some of his teammates included future NFL stars like Mel Renfro. After his final season in 1963, Wilcox played in several important college all-star games. These included the Hula Bowl and the College All-Star Game. He was the first defensive lineman in Hula Bowl history to be named the outstanding lineman.
After college, two professional football leagues wanted to sign him. The American Football League's (AFL) Houston Oilers picked him in their draft. The National Football League's (NFL) San Francisco 49ers also picked him in their draft, which happened two days later.
Professional Career
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
Dave Wilcox chose to sign with the more established San Francisco 49ers. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 241 pounds. The 49ers changed his position to outside linebacker. He quickly became known as one of the best players in the league at that spot.
He earned the nickname "the Intimidator" because of his strong and aggressive playing style. He was very good at stopping opposing players. He made it hard for them to block him or run their pass routes. Wilcox was always well-prepared and studied the game carefully.
Team Success and Playoff Runs
During Wilcox's time, the 49ers had several successful seasons. They made the playoffs for three years in a row from 1970 to 1972. In 1970, San Francisco won their division, the NFC West. They beat the Minnesota Vikings in a playoff game. However, they lost the championship game to the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1971, the 49ers' defense was very strong. They allowed very few points to their opponents. They won the NFC West again and beat the Washington Redskins in the playoffs. But once more, they lost the championship game to the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1972, the 49ers won the NFC West for the third straight year. However, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs again. For three years in a row, the Cowboys ended the 49ers' season. During these years, Wilcox, along with middle linebacker Frank Nunley and right linebacker Skip Vanderbundt, formed a very strong group of linebackers.
Wilcox's Playing Style
Wilcox loved being in the middle of the action. He once said, "What I do best is not let people block me. I just hate to be blocked." Even famous linebacker Joe Schmidt was impressed by Wilcox's strength. Schmidt said that it was very hard to block Wilcox because he was so strong.
Wilcox was also fast and had a long reach. This made him good at defending against passes. He intercepted 14 passes during his career. After each season, the 49ers would rate their players. In 1973, Wilcox's performance score was incredibly high. That season, he made 104 solo tackles. He also forced four fumbles and tackled opposing players behind the line of scrimmage 13 times.
Wilcox was a very tough player and rarely missed games. He only missed one game in his entire career due to an injury. He was named All-NFL four times and All-NFC twice. He was also chosen to play in seven Pro Bowls, which are games featuring the best players from each conference.
Personal Life and Death
Dave Wilcox was born in Ontario, Oregon, a city in eastern Oregon. He had six sisters and a brother named John. Dave played high school football at Vale Union High School.
Later in life, he lived in Junction City, Oregon, near Eugene. His sons, Justin and Josh, also played football for the Oregon Ducks. Justin Wilcox is now a football coach for the California Golden Bears.
Dave Wilcox passed away on April 19, 2023, at the age of 80.
See also
In Spanish: Dave Wilcox para niños
