Dave Wilcox
Encyclopedia
David Wilcox is a former American football
linebacker
for the National Football League
's San Francisco 49ers
between 1964
and 1974
. Wilcox was selected to play for seven Pro Bowl
s and was named All-NFL five times during his career. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2000.
) before transferring to the University of Oregon
for his final two campaigns. At Boise he earned junior college All-America honors. A guard on offense and an end on defense, Wilcox played in the Hula Bowl, Coaches’ All-America Bowl, and the College All-Star game. In 1964, he became the first defensive lineman in Hula Bowl history to earn outstanding lineman honors. In 1964, both the Houston Oilers of the young American Football League and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League sought to sign the Oregon star. The Oilers drafted him in the 6th round (46th player overall) of the AFL draft, while the 49ers tapped him in the 3rd round (29th player overall) of the NFL draft.
, Wilcox quickly established himself as one of the league’s finest. Nicknamed “The Intimidator,” he was ideally suited for the position, both mentally and physically. Known for his ability to disrupt plays, he was particularly tough on tight ends. He did not let anybody easily off the line of scrimmage whether to block or get into a pass route. Always prepared, Wilcox was a true student of the game and worked to be “fundamentally correct.”
During the 1964-1974 span, the 49ers had a winning record 4 times (1965,1970,1971,1972), and made the playoffs 3 times (1970,1971,1972). In 1970, San Francisco won the NFC west division title with a win-lost-tie record of 10-3-1. In a divisional game of the 1970-71 NFL playoffs, San Francisco defeated the Minnesota Vikings
17-14, holding them to 124 net passing yards and 117 yards rushing. However, they lost the NFC championship game to the Dallas Cowboys
.
In 1971, the 49ers had a particularly good year on defense, allowing only 216 points (15.4 points/game), 6th least in the NFL, winning the NFC west division with a win-lost record of 9-5. Once more they won their divisional game of the 1971-72 NFL playoffs, this time against the Washington Redskins
, allowing them only 99 yards rushing and 93 net passing yards, but lost the NFC championship game to Dallas. In 1972, San Francisco won the NFC west division for the 3rd straight year with a record of 8-5-1, allowing on defense 249 points (17.8 points/game), 9th in the league. But they lost their divisional game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs to Dallas, thus eliminated by the Cowboys 3 consecutive years. In those 3 years, Wilcox at left side linebacker formed a strong tandem with middle linebacker Frank Nunley
and right linebacker Skip Vanderbundt
.
He thrived on action and wanted it all directed his way. “What I do best,” Wilcox once stated, “is not let people block me. I just hate to be blocked.” Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt was impressed by his strength. “He gave us fits,” he remarked. “The lead block had to really come out hard to take him out because he was so strong.” Aided by his speed and long reach, he was also effective in pass coverage and managed to intercept 14 passes during his career.
Following each season, San Francisco would rate their players based on their performance. The typical score for a linebacker was 750. Wilcox’s score in 1973 was 1,306. That season the veteran linebacker recorded 104 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and tackled opposing ball carriers for a loss 13 times. Durable, Wilcox missed only one game during his career due to injury. Four times he was named All-NFL (1967, 1971, 1972, 1973) by the AP
and two times All-NFC (1971, 1972). He was also selected to play in seven Pro Bowls.
city of Ontario, Oregon
, and played high school football for nearby Vale Union High School
. He lives in Junction City, Oregon
, near Eugene, where his sons Justin
and Josh also played football for the Oregon Ducks
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
between 1964
1964 San Francisco 49ers season
-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *...
and 1974
1974 San Francisco 49ers season
-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *...
. Wilcox was selected to play for seven Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s and was named All-NFL five times during his career. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 2000.
Boise Junior College & Oregon
After graduating from Vale High School in 1961, Dave Wilcox played collegiate football at Boise Junior College (now Boise State UniversityBoise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
) before transferring to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
for his final two campaigns. At Boise he earned junior college All-America honors. A guard on offense and an end on defense, Wilcox played in the Hula Bowl, Coaches’ All-America Bowl, and the College All-Star game. In 1964, he became the first defensive lineman in Hula Bowl history to earn outstanding lineman honors. In 1964, both the Houston Oilers of the young American Football League and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League sought to sign the Oregon star. The Oilers drafted him in the 6th round (46th player overall) of the AFL draft, while the 49ers tapped him in the 3rd round (29th player overall) of the NFL draft.
San Francisco 49ers
The 6-3, 241-pound Wilcox opted to sign with the more established 49ers where he went on to star for 11 seasons. Converted to outside linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Wilcox quickly established himself as one of the league’s finest. Nicknamed “The Intimidator,” he was ideally suited for the position, both mentally and physically. Known for his ability to disrupt plays, he was particularly tough on tight ends. He did not let anybody easily off the line of scrimmage whether to block or get into a pass route. Always prepared, Wilcox was a true student of the game and worked to be “fundamentally correct.”
During the 1964-1974 span, the 49ers had a winning record 4 times (1965,1970,1971,1972), and made the playoffs 3 times (1970,1971,1972). In 1970, San Francisco won the NFC west division title with a win-lost-tie record of 10-3-1. In a divisional game of the 1970-71 NFL playoffs, San Francisco defeated the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
17-14, holding them to 124 net passing yards and 117 yards rushing. However, they lost the NFC championship game to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
In 1971, the 49ers had a particularly good year on defense, allowing only 216 points (15.4 points/game), 6th least in the NFL, winning the NFC west division with a win-lost record of 9-5. Once more they won their divisional game of the 1971-72 NFL playoffs, this time against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, allowing them only 99 yards rushing and 93 net passing yards, but lost the NFC championship game to Dallas. In 1972, San Francisco won the NFC west division for the 3rd straight year with a record of 8-5-1, allowing on defense 249 points (17.8 points/game), 9th in the league. But they lost their divisional game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs to Dallas, thus eliminated by the Cowboys 3 consecutive years. In those 3 years, Wilcox at left side linebacker formed a strong tandem with middle linebacker Frank Nunley
Frank Nunley
Frank Hembre Nunley is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan and spent ten seasons in the National Football League , all with the San Francisco 49ers...
and right linebacker Skip Vanderbundt
Skip Vanderbundt
William Gerard Vanderbundt was an American football linebacker in the NFL from 1969-1978. He played college football at Oregon State University and was selected in the 3rd round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1968 NFL Draft...
.
He thrived on action and wanted it all directed his way. “What I do best,” Wilcox once stated, “is not let people block me. I just hate to be blocked.” Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt was impressed by his strength. “He gave us fits,” he remarked. “The lead block had to really come out hard to take him out because he was so strong.” Aided by his speed and long reach, he was also effective in pass coverage and managed to intercept 14 passes during his career.
Following each season, San Francisco would rate their players based on their performance. The typical score for a linebacker was 750. Wilcox’s score in 1973 was 1,306. That season the veteran linebacker recorded 104 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and tackled opposing ball carriers for a loss 13 times. Durable, Wilcox missed only one game during his career due to injury. Four times he was named All-NFL (1967, 1971, 1972, 1973) by the AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and two times All-NFC (1971, 1972). He was also selected to play in seven Pro Bowls.
Personal
Wilcox was born in the Eastern OregonEastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
city of Ontario, Oregon
Ontario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
, and played high school football for nearby Vale Union High School
Vale High School
-Academics:In 2008, 87% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 92 students, 80 graduated, 9 dropped out, 2 received a modified diploma, and 1 is still in high school....
. He lives in Junction City, Oregon
Junction City, Oregon
Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census.- History :In the 1870s, Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided this would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail...
, near Eugene, where his sons Justin
Justin Wilcox (American football coach)
Justin Wilcox is currently beginning his second year as the defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.- Coaching experience :...
and Josh also played football for the Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
.