EMQB Interview: Fred Dean
Photo courtesy Pro Football Hall of Fame
Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
Former San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers defensive end Fred Dean’s quickness, speed, and strength made him one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers during his 141-game career. Although the sack did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, if numbers tallied by the teams were included with his official sack count, Fred’s career sack total would stand near 100. In all, Fred played for five division winners in three NFC championship games and in two of San Francisco’s Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls XVI and XIX). He earned all-conference honors four times — twice with the Chargers and twice with the 49ers and played in four Pro Bowls. Today Fred is an associate pastor at the New Hebron Baptist Church in Arcadia, La. And he’s one of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2008). I spoke with Fred on a national conference call.
DAVID: Are you comfortable being thrown back into the spotlight for the first time since your playing days ended over 20 years ago?
FRED: You know, as far as comfortable, I never cared for all the spotlight and stuff. It’s okay for the purpose at hand.
DAVID: What has your life been like since it was announced that you are a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
FRED: It’s been a life‑changing experience for me since that day. Everything is go, go, go now.
DAVID: Specifically, how has it changed your life?
FRED: Well, it changed my life because in the ministry I was attempting to reach people. Sometimes you’re not in situations the way you can. It puts you in a light to actually meet people, greet them and talk to them, further discuss the word. There’s a number of different things that helped me in my ministry as far as establishing programs for the youth, seeing the different things that take place. I’ll be able to inject those into what I’m trying to achieve, to accomplish.
DAVID: What was it about your game that made you a Hall of Famer?
FRED: You know, I never really looked at it from that standpoint. The thing for me was I loved the game. I played it to win and I was a team player. I love competition. Even amongst my own teammates, I liked the thing about challenging my teammates so we could all step up another level.
DAVID: Who was the most influential person on your football career?
FRED: Well, I’d have to say that was my mother as far as influential because, number one, she didn’t want me to play the game at first. It went against her better judgment. Then she became my biggest fan. I would say it was kind of — how would you say it — she influenced me a lot. There were others that were around me that was instrumental in influencing me, but I would say she put forth the best effort. I’m saying she had a lot to do with my training and everything. You know, I would say it was my mother. Her name was Rosalie Dean. I guess you could say, a lot of the guys in the NFL, their mothers probably didn’t want them to play either. I know she was concerned about me getting hit, all of that, because I was very small. But after some time, I went to play and she came to see me, then all of that changed. You could see her and see all that at the same time, yeah.
DAVID: What do you think when you see what great money defensive ends are making these days?
FRED: I’m saying I know that time changes things. I’m saying gas used to be 20 cents a gallon, but is now four dollars something cents a gallon. Time changes things. Along with that comes the technology and everything else. You know, I can understand it. Different stages to different people, different levels.
DAVID: When you step to the podium on August 2nd, what do you think will be going through your mind?
FRED: Well, you know, I can’t really say. If I could tell fortunes, I guess I could, but I just can’t say. It’s difficult for me to even start to imagine. I know it will be emotional, but it’s hard to say.
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POSTED IN: Interviews, Pro Football HOF, San Francisco 49ers
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