Ex-49ers DE Cleveland Elam dies
He was not on the list.
Former 49ers defensive end Cleveland Elam, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who had a team-high 17.5 sacks in 1976, has died. He was 60.
Elam died last Thursday. The team confirmed his death Wednesday.
The 49ers drafted Elam in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL draft and he contributed immediately as a member of the 49ers Gold Rush defensive line, which led the NFL in sacks during the 1976 season.
He went to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and 1977 and was a first-team All-Pro in 1977. Injuries cut short his career in 1979.
Elam is survived by his wife, Blanche, and their four children. A memorial service is scheduled at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Salisbury, North Carolina., on July 21.
He played at the defensive tackle and defensive end positions in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. He attended Lester High School in Memphis and played collegiate football at Memphis State University. Selected by San Francisco during the 4th round of the 1975 NFL Draft, Elam's impact on the league was immediate and along with Tommy Hart, Cedrick Hardman and Jimmy Webb he became a component of the 49ers' famed "Gold Rush" defensive line. Individually, he earned Pro Bowl honors twice (1976 and 1977) and All-Pro status in 1977. He appeared in 62 regular season games. After his football career, Elam was the proprietor of a cleaning service.
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