Jeff Stover

Jeff Stover is a retired defensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers American football team during the 1980s.

History

Stover finished in third place in the NCAA shotput competition in 1979. In 1980, while attending the University of Oregon, he was named Pac-10 champion shot-putter. With record-breaking statistics, Stover made it to the 1980 Olympic trials. However, as a result of the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott by the United States (held that year in Moscow), he never had the opportunity to compete.^[1]

Stover had a great eagerness to play professional football, and earned a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers shortly after they won Super Bowl XVI. He was signed by the 49ers, but played sparingly during his first few seasons. In 1984, he was named the team's starting left end, but a knee injury during the first regular season match against the Detroit Lions caused him to miss several games. In 1985, he finally played a full, healthy season in a starting role, and registered 10 sacks. In 1986, in 15 games, he registered 11 sacks.

He is one of only seven 49ers defensive linemen (along with Dwaine Board, Charles Haley, Dana Stubblefield, Chris Doleman, Roy Barker, and Bryant Young) to register 10 or more sacks more than once during their tenure with the team since the statistic started being recorded in 1982...

Stover remained a free agent through all of training camp and preseason in 1987 (in the midst of talk of a possible strike by the players), but signed before the season began. However, this proved to be a turning point in his career, as he in poor physical condition and posted only 3.5 sacks. In 1988, he failed to register even half a sack for the first time in his career, but still was able to play in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. He retired following the season and now owns the Chico Sports Club in Chico, California. He became interested in medicine and rehabilitation largely because he was plagued by injuries in his own career.

Playing style

Stover had more size and power than most defensive ends of his time period. Listed at 275 pounds but probably closer to 290, he was capable of simply overpowering opposing linemen. He could play defensive end in the 3-4 and defensive tackle in the 4-3, and regardless of where he played, he would simply try to run over his opponents rather than beat them with speed. In 1984, Bill Walsh called him his "most consistent defensive player."

References

↑ Craig, Roger; Walsh, Bill; et al. (2004). Roger Craig's Tales from the San Francisco 49ers Sideline. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 77. ISBN 1-58261-307-9.

Other sources

Jeff Stover's Football Reference

San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XIX champions

4 Max Runager 6 Matt Cavanaugh 14 Ray Wersching 16 Joe Montana (MVP) 19 Tom Orosz 21 Eric Wright 22 Dwight Hicks 24 Derrick Harmon 26 Wendell Tyler 27 Carlton Williamson 28 Tom Holmoe 29 Mario Clark 30 Bill Ring 32 Carl Monroe 33 Roger Craig 42 Ronnie Lott 43 Dana McLemore 49 Jeff Fuller 50 Riki Ellison 51 Randy Cross 52 Blanchard Montgomery 53 Milt McColl 54 Ron Ferrari 55 Jim Fahnhorst 56 Fred Quillan 57 Dan Bunz 58 Keena Turner 61 Jesse Sapolu 62 Guy McIntyre 64 Jack Reynolds 65 Lawrence Pillers 66 Allan Kennedy 67 Billy Shields 67 John Macaulay 68 John Ayers 71 Keith Fahnhorst 72 Jeff Stover 74 Fred Dean 76 Dwaine Board 77 Bubba Paris 78 Manu Tuiasosopo 79 Jim Stuckey 81 Russ Francis 83 Renaldo Nehemiah 84 Al Dixon 85 Mike Wilson 86 John Frank 87 Dwight Clark 88 Freddie Solomon 89 Earl Cooper 90 Todd Shell 94 Louie Kelcher 95 Michael Carter 97 Gary Johnson 98 Greg Boyd 99 Mike Walter

Head coach Bill Walsh

Coaches Paul Hackett Tommy Hart Norb Hecker Sherman Lewis Bobb McKittrick Bill McPherson George Seifert Ray Rhodes Fred von Appen

San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XXIII champions

4 Max Runager 6 Mike Cofer 8 Steve Young 9 Barry Helton 15 John Paye 16 Joe Montana 20 Tory Nixon 21 Eric Wright 22 Tim McKyer 24 Harry Sydney 25 Doug DuBose 26 Darryl Pollard 29 Don Griffin 31 Chet Brooks 32 Terrence Flagler 33 Roger Craig 35 Del Rodgers 38 Greg Cox 42 Ronnie Lott 44 Tom Rathman 46 Tom Holmoe 49 Jeff Fuller 50 Riki Ellison 51 Randy Cross 53 Bill Romanowski 54 Ron Hadley 55 Jim Fahnhorst 57 Sam Kennedy 58 Keena Turner 60 Chuck Thomas 61 Jesse Sapolu 62 Guy McIntyre 65 Jeff Bregel 67 Pete Kugler 69 Bruce Collie 72 Jeff Stover 74 Steve Wallace 75 Kevin Fagan 76 Dwaine Board 77 Bubba Paris 78 Pierce Holt 79 Harris Barton 80 Jerry Rice (MVP) 82 John Taylor 83 Terry Greer 84 Brent Jones 85 Mike Wilson 86 John Frank 88 Calvin Nicholas 89 Ron Heller 91 Larry Roberts 92 Kevin Lilly 94 Charles Haley 95 Michael Carter 96 Danny Stubbs 97 Doug Mikolas 99 Michael Walter

Head coach: Bill Walsh

Coaches: Dennis Green Tommy Hart Mike Holmgren Sherman Lewis Bobb McKittrick Bill McPherson Ray Rhodes George Seifert Lynn Stiles Fred von Appen

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