Jim Fahnhorst, a three-time Super Bowl winning linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers, died Wednesday, the team announced. He was 66.
Fahnhorst spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the 49ers after landing in San Francisco as a free agent in 1984. Throughout his time with the franchise, Fahnhorst appeared in 82 games with 38 starts, recording 232 tackles, seven interceptions and a sack. He also played in six postseason games, including winning Super Bowls XIX, XXIII, and XXIV.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former linebacker Jim Fahnhorst,” the 49ers said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family.”
Jim Fahnhorst Started His Career With Vikings
Born in St. Cloud, Minn., Fahnhorst was an All-Big Ten linebacker for the University of Minnesota in 1981. While Fahnhorst was drafted in the fourth round (92nd overall) of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, he never played a game for the franchise. Instead, Fahnhorst spent two seasons in the USFL with the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers before signing with the 49ers in 1984.
Fahnhorst told the 49ers website in 2018 that he was overwhelmed when he first joined the team’s star-studded roster, which featured future Hall of Famers quarterback Joe Montana and cornerback Ronnie Lott.
“It was more surreal than anything,” Fahnhorst recalled. “When Bill Walsh called the team together after one practice, I remember looking around at all the talent on the team. I remember thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ It was just a great feeling at the time.”
Jim Fahnhorst Was Teammates With His Brother
Fahnhorst’s older brother, Keith Fahnhorst, was an offensive lineman for the 49ers for 14 seasons (1974-87). The Fahnhorst brothers played four seasons together and were teammates on the 1984 49ers team that beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX and finished with a 15-1 record.
Keith earned one Pro Bowl selection, was a three-time All-Pro, and also helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI. He retired from the NFL because of a neck injury that caused him to miss nine games in 1987. He battled polycystic kidney disease and also had neurological issues later in life, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Keith died June 12,2018, also at the age of 66.
3-Time Super Bowl-Winning 49ers Linebacker Dies at 66