Former 49ers Defensive End Larry Roberts Dies At 53
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) -- Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Larry Roberts, who played on two Super Bowl championship teams, has passed away at the age of 53, the team announced Monday.
Roberts was a backup defensive end on the Super Bowl XXIII & XXIV champions. He played all eight seasons of his NFL career as a member of the 49ers, retiring following the 1993 season.
He was originally selected by the 49ers in the second round (39th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. He appeared in 89 games (34 starts) in the regular season in addition to 12 career playoff games (three starts) during his career.
Roberts registered 5.5 sacks as a rookie in 1986, tied with LB Charles Haley for the team lead with 7.0 sacks in 1991 and finished his NFL career with 28.0 total sacks.
A Dothan, Alabama native, Roberts attended the University of Alabama where he transitioned from tight end to defensive end and registered 48 tackles and 3.0 sacks as a senior in 1985.
Roberts had reportedly battled health problems related to diabetes in recent years. A USA Today article in February reported he had both legs amputated because of gangrene.