By Matthew Barrows, Sac Bee
SANTA CLARA – Several months ago, even after Alzheimer's disease had forced Dick Nolan into an assisted living facility, he had football on his mind. The former coach of the 49ers would walk down the hall of Autumn Leaves and conduct football meetings with the facility's administrator, who would pretend to be one of his assistant coaches. Sunday, Nolan died at age 75. He also had been battling prostate cancer, and his failing health prompted his son, Mike, to fly to the Dallas area last week to see his father one last time. "Dick's love of football came second only to family, and those values persevere as his son Mike continues to carry on the legacy of his father both on the field and off the field," 49ers owners John and Denise York said in a statement.
The elder Nolan was a standout quarterback in White Plains, N.Y., and later was part of the University of Maryland's national championship team in 1953. The New York Giants drafted him the following year, and he developed a lifelong friendship with Tom Landry. Both played cornerback, and Dick Nolan said in 2005 he thought of Landry as his older brother. Landry died of leukemia in 2000. After Landry became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, he hired Nolan as a defensive assistant. Nolan got his own head-coaching job in 1968 when the 49ers hired him to replace Jack Christiansen. Charlie Krueger, a 49ers defensive tackle from 1959 to '73, on Sunday said he remembered that during the 1971 season his own father had become ill and that he was apprehensive about asking Nolan for time off.
The elder Nolan was a standout quarterback in White Plains, N.Y., and later was part of the University of Maryland's national championship team in 1953. The New York Giants drafted him the following year, and he developed a lifelong friendship with Tom Landry. Both played cornerback, and Dick Nolan said in 2005 he thought of Landry as his older brother. Landry died of leukemia in 2000. After Landry became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, he hired Nolan as a defensive assistant. Nolan got his own head-coaching job in 1968 when the 49ers hired him to replace Jack Christiansen. Charlie Krueger, a 49ers defensive tackle from 1959 to '73, on Sunday said he remembered that during the 1971 season his own father had become ill and that he was apprehensive about asking Nolan for time off.
"He just looked at me – he had that same demeanor no matter what was happening," Krueger recalled. "He said, 'You do what you have to do. Don't worry about us here.' In football, you don't meet many people that treat you square. Dick Nolan did." Nolan was successful by his third season with San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 10-3-1 record and the first of three consecutive NFC West titles. But the 49ers lost to Landry's Cowboys each time in the playoffs.
Nolan left the 49ers after the 1975 season. He then was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1978 to 1980. Nolan joined the Houston Oilers as defensive coordinator in 1981 before returning to the Cowboys under Landry as a defensive-backs coach in 1982. Nolan stayed with Dallas until 1990.
Nolan left the 49ers after the 1975 season. He then was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1978 to 1980. Nolan joined the Houston Oilers as defensive coordinator in 1981 before returning to the Cowboys under Landry as a defensive-backs coach in 1982. Nolan stayed with Dallas until 1990.
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