Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Dean -- a 2-time Super Bowl champ with the S.F. 49ers and a 4-time Pro Bowler -- has died after a lengthy battle with coronavirus.
He was 68 years old.
Dean's good friend and former teammate Dwight Hicks reportedly made the announcement on social media Thursday ... writing in a statement, "I'm sorry to say that he succumbed to complications of Covid-19."
"May peace be with his wife Pam and their families."
Dean -- 6'3", 230 lbs -- is considered one of the best defensive ends of all-time .