The MOST HEARTBREAKING End to a Career in San Francisco 49ers HISTORY | Paul Hofer
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
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The end to the 1981 NFL season, where the San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl XVI, should have been a joyous occasion for Paul Hofer, who suffered through the lowest of lows and the darkest period in franchise history. Instead, it marked the end of a promising career, and the lowest point in his entire career. This is the story of Paul Hofer and the saddest ending to a career in 49ers history
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I played 2 high school games at the Silverdome. That field was basically a slab of cement with a carpet thrown on top.
That's pretty much what they all were. It's amazing that any player, football or baseball, from that era can walk unassisted.
I played for five years at Ratliff Stadium when it was first opened. The movie didn't show you how much exactly you left on the turf as the surface had been changed after 1987 and the field had been raised to track level.
Unfortunately all artificial turf were like that... concrete covered by the carpet
Same as USC field that I played on in 1977
Yep, totally agree, they all were, I played third base on a carpet like that for one game, it's was like being in a shooting gallery.
As a Niners fan. I remember very well how Hofer was one of the few bright spots during the losing. Great video and who ever suggested it. Major props. He does have a ring and well deserved regardless.
Thank you for noting the 1949 AAFC Championship Game as the only other Championship Game that the 49ers participated in prior to the subject Super Bowl. This was due to a switch in the AAFC playoff structure where the top 4 team played each other in a 1v4 and 2v3 structure. SF was the 2 seed and won their semi-final game, losing to their arch-rival, the Cleveland Browns in the finals. This would be the only season where they made the AAFC playoffs as they were always second to Cleveland in the West (never worse than 3rd overall, including 2nd best regular season record in 1948 at 12-2, but were in the West behind Cleveland at 14-0). To say that Super Bowl XVI meant a lot to the franchise is an understatement.
The 48 49ers got jobbed. Second best team in the AAFC, but in the same division as the Browns. The AAFC East came down to two .500 teams, Buffalo and Baltimore. The Bills beat the Colts in a playoff for the right to get slaughtered by the Browns.
This was extraordinarily well done. Not just good, but EXTRAORDINARILY WELL DONE. I remember Paul Hofer. I watched Paul Hofer play. He was indeed the most exciting player the 49ers had for a few seasons before Bill Walsh arrived and changed the face of the franchise as well as NFL football. He was the best player on a team so horribly bad that they were laughable. This video captures all of that and kudos to the writer and narrator, as he could not have been alive to witness this, but somehow he nailed it. And yes, what happened to Paul Hofer was indeed a gigantic tragedy. I know that Paul was angry with the 49ers for a very long time. I am not sure if he still is. But I would love to see him return one day for one of the veteran tributes and celebrations. There are fans who remember you, Paul. We would love to see you in the colors of red and gold one more time.
Thanks for doing this. Hofer is still remembered fondly in the eyes of a lot of 49ers fans despite what happened. It's a shame, because he really could have been special if not for the injuries. He fit Bill Walsh's offense perfectly.
Billy Sims was also a victim of an early exit due to turf.
Back when Astroturf was extremely brutal too...
I grew up in Redwood City, which was the home to the 49ers offices at Red Morton Center. During the 76-79 seasons, I and my friends would ride our bikes down and watch practice during the last few weeks of preseason after camp in Rockin broke. After 78, when Walsh arrived, they beefed up security and chased us kids away. 76-78, it was fun to go watch practice by stacking benches. We even got our pics in the local paper then.
They were all nice to us except Steve Deberg. He was a jerk. But always the nicest guy was Paul Hofer. He was a guy we always pulled for. The other really nice guys were Randy Cross, Gene Washington, and Jim Plunkett. That was a fun time for my 10-13 year old summers.
Right on man. Those were the days. I grew up not far from you in Foster City. Many pro football players from the Niners and Raiders lived in my hometown. Dwight Clark lived in the same condos as me. I used to see Eason Ranson driving around in his silver corvette. Montana, Rice all of them lived for a time there. The Redwood City training camp HQ was THE PLACE to be back in the day. Too bad I was too young to drive there and be with you guys. I'm sure it was a blast! Remember Randy Cross trying to swing on a rope at Marine World and breaking his leg? What was he thinking?😂🤣
I lived in Redwood Shores and Foster City later on. The whole Mid Peninsula was a good place to be in the 70's and 80's.
When that team was bad in the 70's, it was fun. After they started winning, they were more about photo ops and the like. Winning gave an attitude away from the press.
Kids today will never have the experience we had. The money and the growing press coverage changed the whole dynamic.
That's a really cool story. Thanks for sharing. I used to live in Redwood City a few years ago.
I grew up in the area too. The 49ers were much more accessible back then. Mainly because players in the late 70's were all making less than a $100,000 a year with some just making $30,000 to $50,000 and many of them had off season jobs.
@@tomjacoubowsky275 I know you did. Did you read my name?????
If I was an NFL quarterback, I would play one game where all I would do was spike the ball to the ground on every play, just to get JaguarGator9 to make a video about it.
Steve Deberg joins the impressive list of QBs that had a worse passer rating than I'd he just spiked the ball onto the ground on every play
That truly defines heartbreaking. Great job laying out the context here. You're a fantastic story-teller
I met Paul circa 81-82 , I was working out in the weight room of a club here in Sacramento CA.(Rio Del Oro). 2 guys in the small room. Paul and myself.. After assuring myself who he was I struck up a conversation. He was such a nice friendly guy. Totally down to Earth. Loved watching him play. Hello Paul wherever you are.
A neighbor of mine told me about Hofer a couple of years back. I can’t wait to show him this video.
I have been a lifelong Niners fan and remember Paul Hofer very well.
They could have at least let him suit up and be on the sidelines to
experience the Super Bowl, and enjoy the moment as his career ends.
I suspect there might have been some other reason why he was not at
least allowed to do that.
Yeah, having a 53 man roster who could be called on if needed. Who were you going to sit for him? A backup offensive lineman who might be needed to protect Joe Montana?
Good point Ivan, he SHOULD have been given a play just out of respect.
Right. The man was retiring after the game anyways. Keep him on the depth chart as the last RB and let him run a few plays.
@@PaulGaitherRoster was only 45 players in 1982 with no inactive players unlike today with the 53 man roster and inactive. You pretty much needed each roster spots as players who didn’t see regular duty on offense or defense played special teams.
@@paulsonj72 - Great reply. so even more difficult to get him on the field.
Could have put him on the bench and given him one play.
Right. He was already planning on retiring after the game any way, just put the guy in for a few plays as a thank you for everything he did for the team over the years.
I had done some work at his house back in the day when he was still playing, between his first injury and the one that had him retire and he and his wife were some of the most genuinely kind and decent folks you'd ever want to meet.
Just down to earth and no arrogance at all, I stayed in touch with them when they moved to Sacramento area but lost touch when they went back home to Tennessee, last I had heard he was a manager of some type at FedEx.
Paul Hofer is one of the most forgotten players in the 49ers dynasty period.
Great story! I remember Paul Hofer! God bless him.
I totally remember Paul Hofer; he was one of the toughest layers to play the game. When he ran it was always exciting, yet at the same time he looked -injury dangerous...kind of with reckless abandon.
I did know about the lawsuit, but I didn't know about why he didn't play in the Superbowl. Thank you for sharing
I might say that Jeff Fullers career is heartbreaking as well.
Dont ever wanna see anyone taken off the field forever.
It's nice to see Paul Hofer getting the credit that he deserved. I remember him missing the Superbowl and retiring because of that leg injury.
By the way, over the years since RUclips existed I sometimes looked for Paul Hofer, but didn't see much. You managed to get a lot of screen time of him. Great work!
My family first became 49er season ticket holders when I was 9 in 1976. Paul Hofer really emerged a couple of years later and quickly became my favorite player. Still is one of my favorite 49ers of all time. In 1981, I wore #36 my freshman year in high school because of Hofer. Roger Craig has long been considered the first true duel threat back, but had Hofer stayed healthy I think it would have been him. The video does a good job telling his story, but you truly had to see him play to appreciate how good he was. In addition to being a good runner and great pass catcher, he was a tough blocker as well and played on special teams a lot his first few years. In all of the 49ers success that followed he gets forgotten a lot of the time. In fact, it's become a bit of a running joke or litmus test in our tailgate group--many of which started doing it with our parents some 45 years ago...If you know who Paul Hofer is then you are a legit 49er fan..Lol...
Something about the dysfunction of the late 70s 49ers that you didn't mention here (though I think you have in the past) is that while the 49ers were 2-14 in 1978, they didn't get to enjoy the high draft pick. Why? Because before the season, they traded their first round draft pick for 31 year-old OJ Simpson. Not only was he a 31 year old RB but he was coming off of a season where he played only 7 games. The pre-Walsh 49ers were really a sight to behold.
Thanks to the rather shrewd moves of Captain Bligh... Thank goodness a young Eddie DeBartolo had the foresight to admit his mistake and get rid of the Captain and bring Bill Walsh aboard. His Stanford teams were lighting it up back then.
But had they that first round pick they would have selected Phil Simms and some other team would have gotten Montana.
O shit...movin up in the world w a sponsor n a not so hidden shoutout from sb....
I remember one guy in the stands at a 49er game wearing a very old and beat up Hofer Jersey. The coolest jersey I've ever seen. He's a legend in terms of hard-core niner fans. What a tough player.
he was an explosive runner. Right up the middle not looking for a hole but usually getting a quick 10 or 15 yards per carry on those.
Hofer, despite his last name, is unfortunately not forever enshrined in Canton. Maybe he could’ve been if not for turf fields.
I was a kid growing up in the Bay Area during the Hofer era. Although I was a Browns fan, Hofer was always a favorite of mine because he was one of the few bright spots on a usually crappy Niners team. I remember being really excited when I pulled one of his football cards out of a pack! I always wondered why he disappeared so quickly (didn't have ESPN and other 24 hours sports channels back then), so thank you OJG9 for posting this. Oh, I still have that card in my collection. :)
Speaking of injuries, the Bills Cornerback out of Fisk university Robert James, all pro 72,73,74 and tore up his knee in preseason of '75 on a hit by Lawrence McCutcheon running back an inception and never played another game, he would have been one of the best ever.
Astroturf chewed up a lot of players. It was basically wall to wall carpet on top of concrete.
Thanks for this sad sad story. I played on astroturf once at CU-Boulder for the Wyoming club soccer team We even had to pay to play for the University at the time, cheap bastards. I did one sliding tackle and burned my calf. It became infected and was gnarly looking for almost 2 months. Many players would rub vaseline on their legs to play, or they would play in training pants. Oh yeah, my feet hurt since it was a hot day.
Hofer no doubt opened Walsh's eyes to the possibilities of what a rb like Roger Craig could do
Great point!
As a Falcons fan back in the day, I obviously didn't like the 49ers. Especially when they got really good in 1981. But, I remember Paul Hofer well. He was a tough, gritty guy who always went hard every play and was well respected. Kind of like Bill Bates who played for the Cowboys
It is amazing how much double digit round picks helped the 49ers dynasty. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about a tenth round pick that helped spark the 49ers dynasty.
i was a big hofer fan. I remember him being interviewed either before the game or at halftime during the super bowl in street clothes, being asked some questions about his future playing. I swear to god his reponse was, no i can't. the doctor's said i can't or shouldn't play anymore.
He made a good point saying he didn't want to leave the game a cripple more players need to think about that
Thanks for sharing such unusual and interesting videos! I’d love to see one on Duane Thomas of the Cowboys.
Bill Walsh is a legendary head coach and offensive genius no doubt, but he was also ruthless, cold and devoid of sentimentality when it came to personnel decisions. Except for Joe Montana, Bill's 3 super bowl winning teams always had different rosters.
Ha, something else interesting here was the Cowboys v 49ers in '80 and '81. I was also a Cowboys fan back then as a teenager. I'd forgotten about the blow out game in '80 when the Cowboys hung 59 points on the 49ers. Pretty freaking ironic that the very next year, the 49ers beat the Cowboys in the NFC title game. That was the last good Landry coached Cowboy team.
It's like" Finally! I made it!" Til you realize, I can't walk!. Heartbreaking stuff. Very sobering.
Since you mentioned that Monte Clark was Hofer’s first coach with the 49ers this unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about how Clark’s presence almost led to the 49ers acquiring Bob Griese, and how Clark’s exit caused the deal to fall through.
The Niners were actually decent that year going 8-6 with Jim Plunkett as QB. But a front office power struggle hastened Clarks early exit.
@@Crunkboy415 Plus, it was Monte Clark that drafted the line that protected Joe Montana's backside during the first two Super Bowl runs. Every pick, with the exception of Fahnhorst I believe, came from Clark. Randy Cross and John Ayers, starting guards on those first two Super Bowl teams, were selected in the same draft. Clark was brilliant. He doesn't get the credit he deserves.
Great video. Hofer gave it all. He was memorable.
I woulda gone in for 1play
He should have seen at least a play with him throwing a block or something, I'm a Bengals fan but this is heartbreaking
Just wondering, what are your primary sources for this one? As a lifelong 49er fan who remembers the 1981 season -albeit as a 13 year old- I recall him not being able to play. I have a 49er Team Video from NFL films that, if I remember correctly, states that as well. I did a quick search and couldn’t find much on the subject at all.
When you are picked that late you have to make the best of your opportunity.
It's too bad if you never got to watch the guy play because he really gave it a 110% every time he grabbed the ball great football player one of my all time favorites
I was playing RB in High School then...I just loved this guy.
Vet aquisitions DE Fred Dean from the Chargers...and LB Jim "Hacksaw Reynolds from the Rams...and a wicked rookie defensive backfield with Ronnie Lott...changed the 49rs and helped set up a dynasty.
He was a great player...I bought his #36 jersey in 1982
Have you done a video on William Andrews of the Atlanta Falcons?
That guy was an awesome back
Where do you get all the film?
3:21 The Niners fake a screen and Hofer cuts back into the middle. The wiiiiiide open middle. That Bill Walsh guy was pretty good.
I was lucky enough to work at a camp with Paul Hofer. He is a genuinely nice guy. This was after he hurt his knee.
I remember him talking about the pressure he got to come back too soon. "Never doubt that it is a business."
At the 49ers celebration after their 1981 Super Bowl win, then SF mayor Dianne Feinstein hugged one player: Paul Hofer.
I was a big fan of Paul Hofer back in the day. Tough guy, excellent back and hit the holes hard. When he got injured, I saw the incident on TV and it sure reminded me of Bo Jackson's injury, but it now looks like Bo hyperextended his hip whereas Paul hyperextendened his knee. Too bad he came back what looks to me too early, should have stayed out for the year and came back the year after when things were better. However, back in those days I doubt they had the diagnostic tools like MRI and CT scanning perfected and relied mainly on Xrays.
Jack Lambert, the Steelers beast, had to retire due to turf toe because of the hard turf in Pittsburgh at the time. Such a tough guy and phenomenal player brought down by a toe. SMH.
It was my understanding that there would be no Harry Potter references on this channel.
We don't control our destiny I know most athletes want to believe they do but they dont.
All of the artificial turfs that started in the 70’s were terrible! And it was in a lot of stadiums because it saved money since there was so little maintenance involved in it’s upkeep. Why didn’t the NFL step in and ban artificial turf and domed stadiums?!?!
The superbowl should never be played on turf or indoors.
A lot of your news clips in your videos are from the Santa Cruz sentinel. Are you from the area?
Moving up I the world Jaguar. Got that sponsorship money now. Don't forget my recommendation on the worst halftime show featuring Shea Stadium and a flying lawnmower.
“Turf” is grass. Artificial or synthetic turf, on the other hand, is not grass.
40 Years Ago
What a last name!! HOFer. Or Hofer 😊
In 1980 Paul Hofer was on the brink of becoming a Roger Craig-type all-purpose running back.
Thank you Jag I just want to say That’s why Walter Payton is the greatest football player ever he Played on hard AstroTurf in the freezing Cold In Windy Chicago and ran it 30 times a game and only missed one start becuz a coach wouldnt let him let’s give up to the GOAT Walter.
It caught up to him indirectly...painkiller addiction --> liver disease
@@urbanleftbehind yes I don’t know about his personal life like OJ Simpson but on football field he left it all out there but then Walter was used to being the Solo star for so long he was kinda selfish he wasn’t happy after the Super Bowl Cuz he didn’t score you’d think he’d be Happy just winning as bad as they were when he started there..But selfish but greatest football player ever..
Willie McGee had his career ended on Astro-Turf when he was laid out in the end zone. He was Theismanned before Theismann.
MY MAN GOT A SPONSOR
What happened to Paul Hofer was inexcusable by both Dr Fred Behling, the team physician in 1980 and later the Genius himself. Hofer had the terrible knee injury against Dallas in 1980; only the teams' sixth game. Instead of operating immediately, Dr Behling waited till after the season, ten games away! Hofer would sue him for negligence rather than the team. Fans can only imagine what his 1981 season could have been like, had he recovered from surgery much quicker ...
In 1981, though not the same runner and receiver as before, Hofer still contributed to their Cinderella season, until playing against the Houston Oilers. For some insane reason, The Genius, decided to play Hofer on a slick, rain soaked field, where Hofer got injured again. The Niners were cake-walking to their divisional title and this game was meaningless. Walsh should have just saved Hofer for the postseason but made one of the worst decisions of his career. In his book, he admitted how guilty he felt over letting him play on the nasty field. I have a copy of the game. It rained throughout.
Of course, Hofer missed the SB and never played again. I am convinced had he played in the playoffs and SB, he and Joe would have put on a passing show ... What a player!
How about a player who played in the super bowl with a really bad injury. Jack Youngblood played in the super bowl with a broken leg. That’s crazy.
That’s why the decision makes no sense. The SB is what every player strives for and yet they put him under glass late in his career? One play?
He was a Awesome player. 😎👍
I was in Frisco in 1981 and bought a #36 Paul Hofer Jersey. I loved watching this guy. I still have the Jersey...my daughters jersey now.
"We need some context" = "Here comes 10 minutes of filler before we get to the matter at hand."
Hope he got a Super Bowl ring
"O.J. Simpsons was hurt"
That must have been murder for the 49ers
If the game had been played at The Rose Bowl, like it was the following year, Hofer coulda played.
Hofer should be a HoFer...lol
Hofer was a WARRIOR!. the only player that was any good on those terrible Niner teams of the late 70's. The only reason to watch a game at Candlestick. He deserved to play in that Super Bowl. Even for 1 play. Such a shame. At least he still got a ring.
They should have at least let him suit up,and give him some carries,this was his big moment and his career was all but over...would have been a fitting end for a pretty damn good player.
If it ain't ads during the videos you put ads on the videos so you can't enjoy watching them why you tube? need the money that much don't you make enough from google they got billions of dollars .I just want to see one video with out one ad.
Always wondered what happened to Hofer.
I agree with Ivano below....Paul should have been allowed a token play out of respect for his dedication, period.
Shula would have done it.
LIVE NFL trivia every Monday and Tuesday night on TWITCH. ANYWAY This video is STILL WAY BETTER than SPIKING the football into the ground on EVERY SINGLE OFFENSIVE PLAY!!!!
So many players fell victim to that poor excuse of a field called astroturf
Steve deberg is a name this inners fan hoped would never hear again like coffer. I think ida played risk it for the biscuit go out in a blaze of glory. Course at 47 I’m now paying for playing when I shouldn’t have with an injury.
Kinda of weird... 49ers benched him in the playoffs to attempt to preserve him for the future.
Turned out it *would* have been his last game anyway... I wonder if they knew that?
If they didn't... would it have affected their choice had he told them?
Can somebody explain to me why the catch is called the catch? The throw was the impressive part
Poor guy caught some bad luck. At least he got a ring for his efforts?
Hofer = HOF'ER
A video that has NOTHING to do with the Atlanta Falcons? I need some context to this.
Most heartbreaking end to a 49ers career was Jeff Fuller in 1989, getting kicked in the head and losing use of his right arm for life.
I vaguely remember him.
They could have let him play a couple of snaps
These videos are great but the now almost manufactured chances to add the cringey "if he just spiked the ball" attempted catch phrase for 46th time really takes away from the quality
You can't put him on the Super Bowl roster! It sucks but it's true. He knew that. People saying to put him on the roster and give him one carry watch too many Rudy movies. This is a business.
Injuries happen at all levels....including grass. Quit blaming the turf.......
no rudy bs here
Hahaha...dark arts teacher at Hogwarts....hilarious
I remember watching that game without knowing the ass whoopin i was about to see lol steve deberg was garbage
49ers were so bad, they made the Cowboys were blue jerseys at The Stick.
The guy's voice is so annoying. I was trying to have this video on in the background as I read instructions for a stereo receiver and I had to turn it off. Awful. He should have hired a voice-man.