Jesse Freitas Sr., a quarterback on the inaugural San Francisco 49ers squad and longtime football coach at Serra High in San Mateo, died Monday morning at his home in San Diego at the age of 99.
The second-oldest living NFL player at the time, Freitas succumbed to cancer, according to his son, James.
“The 49ers are saddened to learn of the passing of Jesse Freitas Sr., a QB on our inaugural 1946 team,” the organization posted on Twitter.
Freitas, a veteran of the U.S. Army, earned a Bronze Star during World War II and commanded an artillery unit at the Battle of the Bulge.