Former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman and longtime NFL coach Howard Mudd died on Wednesday morning, his family announced in a statement. Mudd was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on July 29, 2020, and had been in the ICU since that time. He was 78 years old.
In late 1963, Mudd was selected by the 49ers in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. He quickly carved out an irreplaceable role, qualifying for three straight Pro Bowls between 1966 and 1968, as well as two All-Pro teams. He was later named to the NFL's All-Decade team. After a one-year stint with the Chicago Bears that ended in 1970, he retired and moved to the coaching realm.