Well, howdy there! Let’s gab a bit about that “64” you see on them fancy football helmets of the San Francisco 49ers. Folks been askin’ about it, so let me tell ya the story as best as I can, the way I heard it, you know, plain and simple.
That number 64 ain’t just some random number, no sirree. It’s there for a reason, a real important one. It’s to remember a fella, a fella named Dave Wilcox. He was a football player, a real tough one, played for them 49ers back in the day.
- He played linebacker, meanin’ he was one of them fellas that tackles the other team.
- He was good, real good. They say he was one of the best ever.
- He wore the number 64 when he played.
Now, Dave, he ain’t with us no more. He passed away, earlier this year, they tell me. So, them 49ers, they wanted to do somethin’ special to remember him.
They put that “64” on their helmets, right there on the back, so everyone can see it. It’s like they’re sayin’, “Hey, we ain’t forgotten Dave. He was one of us, and we’re gonna keep his memory alive.” It’s a way to show respect, you know, like wearin’ a black armband or somethin’.
This happened durin’ the Super Bowl LVIII. That’s the big game, the one everybody watches. So, durin’ that big game, when all them eyes were on them 49ers, they were carryin’ Dave with ‘em, in a way.
I reckon it’s a nice thing to do, a real nice thing. Shows they care, shows they remember the folks who came before ‘em. Football ain’t just about throwin’ a ball around, ya know. It’s about teamwork, about stickin’ together, and about rememberin’ where you came from and who helped ya get there. And Dave Wilcox, well, he helped them 49ers get where they are today.
They didn’t make a big fuss about it, didn’t announce it or nothin’. Just put that “64” on there, quiet-like. But folks noticed. Folks always notice them kinda things, especially when it’s somethin’ heartfelt.
See, Dave Wilcox, he played a long time ago, back when the helmets looked a bit different. They had this here “SF” on the side, white letters inside a red oval with a black border. That logo’s been around for a while, changed a little bit over the years, got a thicker black border at one point, but it’s still there, representin’ San Francisco. But this year, it was the “64” that really stood out.
Some other players, they get their jerseys retired. That means no one else can wear that number again. Like this fella Jimmy Johnson, number 37. They had a whole night for him, “Jimmy Johnson Night at Candlestick Park”, they called it. But for Dave, they did somethin’ different, somethin’ that everyone could see, every time they looked at them 49ers helmets. They added the “64” decal.
So, next time ya see them 49ers playin’, take a look at them helmets. See that “64”? Now ya know what it means. It’s more than just a number. It’s a memory. It’s a way of sayin’ thank you. It’s a way of sayin’, “We remember you, Dave Wilcox. You were a great one.” It’s a tribute, plain and simple. A tribute to a football legend, a 49er through and through. A way of keepin’ his spirit alive on that football field. And that, my friends, is the story of the “64” on the 49ers helmets. It’s a story about respect, about remembrance, and about the legacy of a man who gave his all to the game.
And that’s all there is to it. Nothin’ fancy, just a good ol’ fashioned way of rememberin’ a good ol’ fashioned football player. A legend, they say. And that number 64, well, it tells ya all ya need to know. He was important, and he won’t be forgotten, not by them 49ers, and not by the folks who know the story.
They keep track of all these things, you know, all the players and the numbers and the stats. They got books and websites and all sorts of things. But sometimes, all ya need is a little sticker, a little “64” on a helmet, to remind ya of the important things.
