Alright, so you wanna know about that “64” thingy on the 49ers helmets, huh? Well, lemme tell ya. It ain’t just some random number they slapped on there, no sirree. That “64” stands for a fella named Dave Wilcox, a real tough guy who played linebacker for them 49ers way back when.
Now, this Dave, he wasn’t just any player, y’hear? He was one of the best, a real Hall of Famer. They say he was strong as an ox and mean as a snake when he was out on that field. He played for the 49ers for a long, long time, from the 1960s to the 1970s. Wore that number 64 on his jersey, he did.
- Tough as nails
- Played linebacker
- Hall of Famer
- Wore number 64
Anyways, ol’ Dave, he passed away here recently, in 2023. The 49ers, they wanted to do somethin’ special to remember him, see? So, they put that “64” on the back of their helmets for the Super Bowl LVIII game against them Kansas City Chiefs. It was their way of sayin’, “Hey, we ain’t forgotten ya, Dave. You’re still with us in spirit.”
That’s what I heard tell, anyhow. Folks ‘round here, they say Dave Wilcox was a real legend, one of them fellas who gave his all for the team. He played hard, he played fair, and he earned the respect of everyone who watched him. That “64” on them helmets, it’s more than just a number, it’s a reminder of a good man and a great player. They honored him, ya know. It’s a big deal when they do that.
And lemme tell ya, that Super Bowl game, it was a real nail-biter. Them 49ers, they fought tooth and nail, but those Chiefs, they were tough too. It went right down to the wire, but in the end, the Chiefs, they squeaked out a win. But even though the 49ers lost, I bet Dave Wilcox woulda been proud of how them boys played. They put up a good fight, just like he always did.
You know, football ain’t what it used to be. Back in Dave’s day, them fellas were tough. They played through the pain, they didn’t complain, and they always put the team first. Nowadays, it’s all about the money and the fame, but back then, it was about the love of the game. That’s what I tell my grandkids, anyway. They don’t listen half the time, but that ain’t gonna stop me from preachin’.
And that number 64, it’s a symbol of that old-school football. It’s a reminder of a time when the game was simpler, when players were tougher, and when loyalty meant somethin’. It’s a shame that Dave ain’t around to see it, but I bet he’s lookin’ down from heaven with a big ol’ smile on his face. He’s probably up there, tellin’ all them other football angels about how his number is still on them helmets.
So, next time you see them 49ers playin’, and you see that “64” on their helmets, remember Dave Wilcox. Remember the man, the player, and the legend. He was one of a kind, and he’ll never be forgotten, not by the 49ers or by anyone who ever saw him play. They retired his number, see? Can’t nobody wear it no more. That’s how special he was. And putting that “64” sticker on the helmet? That’s just another way of keepin’ his memory alive, of makin’ sure that future generations know who Dave Wilcox was and what he meant to the San Francisco 49ers. It’s about respect, y’know. You gotta respect the folks who came before ya, the ones who paved the way. And Dave Wilcox, he sure paved the way.
And that’s the whole story, as best as I can tell it. That “64” on the 49ers helmets, it ain’t just a number, it’s a memory, it’s a tribute, and it’s a whole lotta history. It’s somethin’ special, and it’s somethin’ worth rememberin’. So next time you see that number, you’ll know what it means, y’hear? You’ll know it’s about Dave Wilcox, one of the greatest 49ers ever to lace up a pair of cleats. That’s somethin’, ain’t it? A little number tellin’ a big story.
