RIP Russ Francis (1953-2023; 49ers TE 1982-1987)

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Russ was always a free spirit that wanted to try everything in life. For him to die in a plane crash is almost karma. Better than a long painful death like Dwight Clark endured.

I thought the same thing. As for Clark, when he died, I was actually relieved because selfishly I didn't want to see the ALS take the full effect. My last memory of him is the A Football Life and I admired how he was so upfront,honest,and head on about everything.

Karma? What a weird flex.

Originally posted by VaBeachNiner:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Russ was always a free spirit that wanted to try everything in life. For him to die in a plane crash is almost karma. Better than a long painful death like Dwight Clark endured.

I thought the same thing. As for Clark, when he died, I was actually relieved because selfishly I didn't want to see the ALS take the full effect. My last memory of him is the A Football Life and I admired how he was so upfront,honest,and head on about everything.

Karma? What a weird flex.

Russ was always doing dangerous stuff. He was told to stop some of his off field activities when he was with the 49ers. I don't know where he was going in that plane but when you travel by small plane a lot and skydive, surf and do all the things Russ locved the you have a bigger chance of getting injured or killed. Russd loved to live on the edge.

Damn….RIP

Very sad news. RIP. Russ.

I heard the news with a gasp and ache. I remember him well, especially in the 1984 Super Bowl against the Dolphins. Bill Walsh got Francis out of retirement and traded a 2nd round pick for him to the NE Patriots. From his Wikipedia page.

San Francisco 49ers (1982–1987)
After leaving the Patriots, Francis got a job with ABC Sports. While in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, Francis interviewed Bill Walsh, the 49ers head coach. Walsh told him this was the only time in his life he would be able to play football, and that he would never get these years back and should not turn his back on this chance. Francis came out of retirement, after sitting out the 1981 season, joined the 49ers and eventually won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1984 49ers.[12] Francis played a key role in San Francisco's win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX (5 catches for 60 yards). In 1985, Francis had a career-high 44 receptions.

RIP

RIP.

RIP

I can't help but think of the 1984 America's game episode. He spoke in detail about how Coach Walsh and the team asked him to scale back on the daredevil stuff. Flying/skydiving etc.

RIP RF

Originally posted by VaBeachNiner:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Russ was always a free spirit that wanted to try everything in life. For him to die in a plane crash is almost karma. Better than a long painful death like Dwight Clark endured.

I thought the same thing. As for Clark, when he died, I was actually relieved because selfishly I didn't want to see the ALS take the full effect. My last memory of him is the A Football Life and I admired how he was so upfront,honest,and head on about everything.

Karma? What a weird flex.

Not karma for me. The universe wasn't after him or anything. Just interesting, crazy, and tragic he died thst way. I should've clarified.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Russ was always doing dangerous stuff. He was told to stop some of his off field activities when he was with the 49ers. I don't know where he was going in that plane but when you travel by small plane a lot and skydive, surf and do all the things Russ locved the you have a bigger chance of getting injured or killed. Russd loved to live on the edge.

This is very true of him. People call him James Bond. Dude is a legend here in Hawaii

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Russ was always a free spirit that wanted to try everything in life. For him to die in a plane crash is almost karma. Better than a long painful death like Dwight Clark endured.

He's was a pilot, fitting he died in one.

I think back on a report that he took off in a small jet once after a game near a stadium doing a barrel roll. Any oldsters remember that?

Damn so crazy, RIP.

Was he our best TE in the '80s? I remember Dr. John Frank before Brent Jones (who I equate coming on in '89 so more a '90s TE to me).