SANTA CLARA — Keith Fahnhorst, an offensive tackle on the 49ers first two Super Bowl teams, passed away earlier this week, the team announced Thursday. He was 66.
No cause of his death Tuesday was listed in the 49ers announcement. Fahnhorst encountered health issues after his retirement, and in a 2015 49ers-produced video, he said he learned he had either primary progressive multiple sclerosis or Charcot-Marie-Tooth neurological disorder. He received a kidney transplant in 2001.
“He was the definition of a gentle giant and he was a badass,” said Randy Cross, Fahnhorst’s teammate and locker mate. “Quiet, intelligent and hugely respected by every member of the team and organization.
“He was also the most attentive father I’ve ever seen to his girls. He was also our Union rep during both strikes in the 80’s, a thankless job he handled with his usual class, attention to detail and dedication.”
The 49ers lost another franchise legend only eight days prior to Fahnhorst’s death as Dwight Clark passed away from ALS at age 61.
Fahnhorst, a 6-foot-6, 273-pound right tackle, played the second-most games (193) of any offensive lineman in 49ers history during his tenure from 1974-87. Only Len Rohde (208) played more. A franchise cornerstone as the 49ers transitioned from NFL flop into their 1980s dynasty, Fahnhorst made All-Pro in 1983 and ’84, and the 1985 Pro Bowl.
“I’d like to say it was me who got the franchise turned around,” Fahnhorst once joked to 49ers.com. “But it had a little more to do with Bill Walsh and obviously Joe Montana and Dwight Clark and the rest of them.”
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Fahnhorst was a 1974 second-round draft pick by the 49ers out of Minnesota, where he played tight end. He wanted to catch passes in the NFL, too, but then-49ers coach Dick Nolan asked the rookie to give things a go on the offensive line. When Fahnhorst told his wife about his position switch, she had an averse reaction. “Oh, God,” she said. “You’re going to get fat.”
But Fahnorst thrived in his new role. He was a two-time recipient (1981, ’86) of the 49ers’ Bobb McKittrick Award, given annually to the offensive lineman who best exemplified their long-time position coach.
Fahnorst also emerged as a key figure in the locker room. “Keith Fahnhorst was a great leader,” running back Roger Craig said. “I loved him. He was like the team spokesman.”
Keith was my teammate for 12 years and I played RG next to him for 9 1/2 years. We won SB’s together, went to ProBowls together, lockered next to each other + I was lucky to call him my friend. WorldClass Dad + Husband who was gentle + kind to all. RIP https://t.co/Zcr5BQ79y1
— Randy Cross (@randycrossFB) June 15, 2018
The summer after retiring, Joe Montana gave his old right tackle a call.
“He said, ‘We miss you,’ which was bull,” Fahnhorst told this news organization in 1999. “It meant a lot to me for him to call me and take the time when I was going through the struggle I was. I remember him asking me what it was like. I could tell then he was already thinking about what (retiring) would be like.”
A St. Cloud native, he returned to Minnesota after his playing days, living in Eden Prairie.
Fahnhorst became a stockbroker.
“It’s the closest thing I can find to being a football player,” Fahnhorst said. “It isn’t playing the Cowboys. There’s no substitute to having a conflict and a resolution in 3 1/2 hours. The thrill of the thing. Not a life or death struggle, but it’s as close as you can get to a pretend one. You have a resolution, then you go on to the next one. That’s what was so fun. You thrive on that.”
So sad to hear about the death of another @49ers stalwart, Keith Fahnhorst. When I arrived in Bay in 1984, he was very helpful and open with insights. We were the same age, which helped. But the NFL ravaged his body, per this video. RIP … https://t.co/lv1tqbVgXY via @YouTube
— Mark Purdy (@MercPurdy) June 15, 2018
