Fred Dean

Frederick Rudolph Dean (February 24, 1952 – October 14, 2020) was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). A twice first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler, he won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Dean played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He was selected in the second round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He was traded to San Francisco in 1981 due to a contract dispute. He is a member of both the Chargers and 49ers Hall of Fame. Early life Dean was born in Arcadia, the seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana. He grew up east in Ruston, where he attended the all-Black, segregated Lincoln High School. After integration, he moved as a junior to Ruston High, where he graduated. College career Dean was a standout at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, having spurned an opportunity to play for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at nearby Grambling State University, which at the time was sending African American players to the NFL on a yearly basis. Playing mostly as an end, Dean excelled as a defensive lineman for the Bulldogs and was a four-time all-conference selection and two-time conference defensive player of the year in the Southland Conference. He was an All-American as a senior in 1974.