San Francisco 49ers: 10 best defensive linemen in franchise history
No. 4: Fred Dean
49ers Tenure: 1981 -1985
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
Even though the sample size is small, as defensive end Fred Dean only played a four full seasons with the 49ers, it is hard to deny him a spot on the list due to pure ability. Yes, he only started five games for San Francisco, but quantity doesn’t always dictate quality.
San Francisco 49ers
The guy is a Hall of Famer for a reason.
Traded from the San Diego Chargers in the beginning of the 1981 season, Dean was the first notable pass-rusher to feature under Bill Walsh. He was a player who quickly asserted himself with the 49ers, recording 12 sacks in 11 games played that season. That was enough to earn him first-team All-Pro honors and a selection to the Pro Bowl.
In 1983 came his best season as a Niner, when he recorded 17.5 sacks to lead the league and be named to another Pro Bowl. Most notably, he was an enabling factor into the 49ers’ early Super Bowl success (h/t Bryan Knowles, then of Bleacher Report):
"He was the pass-rushing threat for the 49ers in the early Bill Walsh era. As much as anything else, it was Dean who got the 49ers over the top and won them their first Super Bowl. With his quickness and technique, Dean was the first real pass-rush specialist in NFL history."
His stint was short with the 49ers, but it was surely a memorable one.