Cleveland Elam (April 5, 1952 – July 12, 2012) was a
National Football League defensive tackle
A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that will typically line up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the offensive guards, however he may also line up opposite one of the tackles. Defensive tackles are typically the la ...
who played for the
San Francisco 49ers and the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...
in an injury-shortened five-year career that lasted from 1975 to 1979
Teaming with Cedric Hardman, Jimmy Webb and Tommy Hart, the 49ers Gold Rush defensive line led the NFL in sacks during the 1976 season. Elam had 14.5 sacks in 1976 and led the team with 17.5 sacks in 1977.
Elam played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at
Tennessee State University and was drafted in the fourth round of the
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League draft was held January 28–29, 1975, at the New York Hilton at Rockefeller Center in New York City, New York. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected quarterback Steve Bartko ...
by the 49ers. He was a two time
Pro Bowler in 1976 and 1977.
Elam died on July 12, 2012. He was survived by his wife Blanche and four children.
Cleveland Elam, member of 49ers' mid-70s 'Gold Rush' defensive line, dies at 60
References
1952 births
2012 deaths
Players of American football from Memphis, Tennessee
American football defensive tackles
Tennessee State Tigers football players
San Francisco 49ers players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
Detroit Lions players
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