RIP Fred Dean

Tyler had two 1,000 yard seasons with the Rams, including in their Super Bowl year. He was a damn good player.

As for Dean and the Niners, those 80s teams were amazing, and it took amazing teams like the Bears, Giants and Redskins to beat them. That NFC was something else back then.

RIP.

 

Dwight Hicks and the Hot Licks

Ronnie Lott
Eric Wright
Carlton Williamson

That's from memory.

And, Montana threw zero INTs in four SB.

 

Damn, way too young. Getting a stud like Dean seemed to legitimize the Niners in 1981 (this was after the Plunkett/OJ dark ages). Heard his first game for Niners was against the Cowboys and he had 2-3 sacks and other tackles for a loss. I recall his arrival and that game as a signal that Niners were for real. That 1981 secondary was special with Lott/Wright, two rookie CBs, Carlton Williamson, hard hitter, (maybe a rookie too) and the vet Dwight Hicks. The easy memory is about offense, Walsh/Montana/Clark, but it was really the D that made it a dominant team. The 3-4 with Dean rushing the edge, and that secondary. Great memories.

 

The Giants-Niners games were tussles.

 

Games of attrition.

 

Dammit, if Jim Burt doesn't get Craig to fumble (not a big hit even), then the 1990 Niners are only 3-peat champions!! Instead 5 FGs wins and Giants beat Bills.