The San Francisco 49ers have come so close to winning a Super Bowl several times over the past decade, but their most recent championship still came back in 1994. After a busy offseason, the Niners are hoping that they finally have enough firepower to go on a run back to the Super Bowl.
There are many reminders of the team’s dynastic run from the 1980s and 90s, and unfortunately, fans of the 49ers received one such reminder in a tragic way. That’s because one of the team’s longtime assistant coaches from the 80s, Sherman Lewis, has died at the age of 83, according to multiple reports.
Sherman Lewis Dies at 83 Years Old
Lewis was a star running back as a player during his collegiate career with the Michigan State Spartans, and he even finished third in the 1963 Heisman Trophy race. However, he never managed to truly find his way as a professional player, so he opted to begin a career as a coach once his playing days came to an end in 1969.
As a coach, Lewis spent 14 years working as an assistant coach for Michigan State before finding his way to the NFL. Once he did, he latched on with San Francisco, spending his first eight years working as the team’s running backs coach, before spending his last year with the team in 1991 as their wide receivers coach. During his time in town, Lewis won three Super Bowls with the Niners.
After leaving San Fran, Lewis would spend time with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Washington Redskins, working as an offensive coordinator during each of those stints. 2009 ended up being Lewis’ final season as a coach, and he would go on to win the Award of Excellence by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. Just a few years later, Lewis’ life has come to a tragic end at the age of 83.
“Sherman Lewis, whose long coaching career included 12 seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator, has died at the age of 83,” Michael David Smith wrote for ProFootballTalk.
49ers Mourn the Passing of Sherman Lewis
GettyFormer 49ers coach Sherman Lewis has died at the age of 83
Lewis’ passing is the latest piece of tough news the 49ers have received, as their former tight end Charle Young also died earlier last week at the age of 75. Similar to Lewis, Young helped the Niners build their dynasty from the ground up, as he was part of their 1981 championship team. With both guys passing away within just days of each other, it’s safe to say things have been tough for San Francisco as of late.
The Niners will take their time to mourn Lewis’ death, while also offering support for his family and friends. Soon enough, though, the team will turn its attention to the 2026 campaign, and it’s clear that winning a Super Bowl is going to be the primary goal. Losing Lewis and Young has been difficult, but San Fran could pay tribute to them and all they did for the franchise by going out and winning its first championship in over three decades when it eventually returns to action.
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