Dave Wilcox, a Corridor of Fame linebacker who made the Professional Bowl seven instances in his 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, died on Wednesday. He was 80.
The Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in Canton, Ohio, introduced the loss of life however didn’t say the place he died or cite a trigger, though it mentioned he had lately undergone coronary heart surgical procedure.
Jim Porter, the president of the Corridor of Fame, mentioned in a press release that Wilcox “reworked the skin linebacker place — one of many many feats that earned him a ceaselessly dwelling in Canton.”
Wilcox was drafted in 1964 by each the 49ers of the Nationwide Soccer League and the Houston Oilers of the American Soccer League. He signed with San Francisco and went on to change into one of many recreation’s finest and most sturdy linebackers.
He was identified for his bodily model, which neutralized tight ends on the line of scrimmage. However he was additionally achieved in protection, and had 14 profession interceptions. In recognition of his aggressive play, he was broadly referred to as “the Intimidator.”
The longtime San Francisco quarterback John Brodie, who performed with Wilcox for 10 seasons, was quoted by the Corridor of Fame as saying that Wilcox was “the most effective outdoors linebacker that has ever performed the sport — by a great distance.”
Wilcox, who missed just one recreation in his 11-year profession, was a first-team All-Professional choice in 1971 and 1972 and a second-team choice in 1967.
He was a key a part of the protection that helped the 49ers attain the Nationwide Soccer Convention title recreation in 1970 and 1971. San Francisco misplaced to Dallas each instances.
David Wilcox was born on Sept. 29, 1942, in Ontario, Ore., and started his school profession at Boise Junior Faculty (now Boise State College) in Idaho earlier than transferring to the College of Oregon.
He was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2000.
His survivors embody his spouse, Merle, and his sons, Justin, the pinnacle soccer coach on the College of California, Berkeley, and Joshua.
The New York Occasions contributed reporting.
