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 used to be 80.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, introduced the dying however didn’t say the place he died or cite a reason, even supposing it mentioned he had not too long ago gone through center surgical procedure.
Jim Porter, the president of the Hall of Fame, mentioned in a observation that Wilcox “transformed the outside linebacker position — one of the many feats that earned him a forever home in Canton.”
Wilcox used to be drafted in 1964 by way of each the 49ers of the National Football League and the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He signed with San Francisco and went directly to transform some of the recreation’s very best and maximum sturdy linebackers.
He used to be recognized for his bodily taste, which neutralized tight ends on the line of scrimmage. But he used to be additionally achieved in protection, and had 14 occupation interceptions. In reputation of his competitive play, he used to be broadly referred to as “the Intimidator.”
The longtime San Francisco quarterback John Brodie, who performed with Wilcox for 10 seasons, used to be quoted by way of the Hall of Fame as pronouncing that Wilcox used to be “the best outside linebacker that has ever played the game — by a long way.”
Wilcox, who ignored just one recreation in his 11-year occupation, used to be a first-team All-Pro variety in 1971 and 1972 and a second-team variety in 1967.
He used to be a key a part of the protection that helped the 49ers succeed in the National Football Conference identify recreation in 1970 and 1971. San Francisco misplaced to Dallas each occasions.
David Wilcox used to be born on Sept. 29, 1942, in Ontario, Ore., and started his school occupation at Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) in Idaho earlier than moving to the University of Oregon.
He used to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
His survivors come with his spouse, Merle, and his sons, Justin, the pinnacle soccer trainer on the University of California, Berkeley, and Joshua.
The New York Times contributed reporting.