Fred Dean facts for kids

Frederick Rudolph Dean (born February 24, 1952 – died October 14, 2020) was an American professional football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL).

Fred Dean was one of the best defensive players of his time. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times. He was also named a first-team All-Pro twice, meaning he was one of the very best players in the league at his position. He won two Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2008, he was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dean played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He was picked by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft. Later, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He is a member of the Hall of Fame for both the Chargers and the 49ers.

Early Life and School

Fred Dean was born in Arcadia, Louisiana. He grew up in a town called Ruston, Louisiana. When he was young, schools were separated by race. He went to Lincoln High School, which was an all-Black school.

Later, when schools became integrated, he moved to Ruston High School for his junior and senior years. He graduated from Ruston High.

College Football Career

Fred Dean was a fantastic player at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. He chose Louisiana Tech even though he had a chance to play for famous coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University. Grambling was known for sending many African American players to the NFL.

Playing mostly as a defensive end, Dean was a star defensive lineman for the Bulldogs. He was chosen for the all-conference team four times. He was also named the best defensive player in the Southland Conference twice. In 1974, during his senior year, he was named an All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the entire country.

NFL Career Highlights

Playing for the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers picked Fred Dean in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He was the 33rd player chosen overall. The Chargers' coach at first thought Dean would play as a linebacker. But Dean wanted to stay a lineman, and the coach agreed.

In his first year, Dean had seven sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also made 93 tackles, which was his highest number in one season. In 1978, he had 15.5 sacks.

In 1979, the Chargers won their division, the AFC West. Their defense was one of the best in the league. Dean had nine sacks that year and was named to the All-AFC team. The Chargers won their division again in 1980. Dean, along with other great players like Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and Louie Kelcher, helped the Chargers lead the NFL in sacks. Dean had 10.5 sacks that season. He and Johnson were named first-team All-Pro. These three players, along with Leroy Jones, were known as the "Bruise Brothers" because of how tough they were on defense.

Joining the San Francisco 49ers

In 1981, Fred Dean was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. This happened because he had a disagreement with the Chargers about his pay. He felt he was not being paid fairly compared to other players. The 49ers then offered him a better contract.

After Dean left, the Chargers' defense was not as strong. Many people believe that trading Dean was one of the biggest mistakes in the Chargers' history. Even without Dean, the Chargers still made it to the AFC championship game. But some players felt that with Dean's help, they might have reached the Super Bowl.

With the 49ers, Dean was used as a special player who rushed the passer. He would play when the team used certain defensive strategies. He joined the team in the middle of the season. In his first game with the 49ers, he had two sacks and put a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback. The 49ers won that game 45–14.

Two weeks later, the 49ers played the Los Angeles Rams. Dean had 4.5 sacks in that game, and the 49ers won 20–17. This was their first win against the Rams at home in Candlestick Park. Dean was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1981. He had 12 sacks even though he only played in 11 games for the 49ers that season.

The 49ers went on to win Super Bowl XVI that year. Many people believe that getting Fred Dean was a key reason the 49ers won the Super Bowl. Before Dean joined, the 49ers had won 3 games and lost 2. After he arrived, they won 13 of their next 14 games, including the playoffs!

In 1983, Dean had his best season for sacks with 17.5. He led the NFC in sacks that year. He also set an NFL record by getting six sacks in one game against the New Orleans Saints on November 13, 1983.

Dean was also a very important player on the 1984 team that won Super Bowl XIX. He was reunited with some of his former Chargers teammates, Johnson, Kelcher, and Billy Shields, who also joined the 49ers.

Legacy and Honors

Dean's uniform with the San Francisco 49ers at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Fred Dean finished his NFL career with 93 unofficial sacks. In 2008, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for football players. His statue, called a bust, was put on display there.

He was also named to the Chargers' 40th and 50th anniversary teams. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame as well.

Dean was also honored by his college. He was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1995, he joined the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Later Years and Passing

After his amazing football career, Fred Dean became a minister in his hometown of Ruston.

Fred Dean passed away on October 14, 2020, at the age of 68. He died from COVID-19.