Dwight Hicks

By Chad Hollingsworth
Love of Sports Correspondent

I know, it’s almost become passé to write about old school members of the San Francisco 49ers.

Montana, Rice, Lott … I’ll just stop there, because I could write down about 10 other names without doing any research at all. Plus, I’ll probably need some future Old School Love topics as well.

However, I’m giving Dwight Hicks some props today. He’s often forgotten as an integral part of the early 1980s 49er teams that were feared by everyone in the NFL.

After a stellar four years playing high school football in New Jersey, followed up by four more at the University of Michigan, Hicks was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1978 NFL Draft. However, he couldn’t catch on with the Lions and ended up spending a year with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Something else happened in 1978, though. The 49ers hired Bill Walsh to be their head coach.

After revamping the offense into a West Coast-style scoring attack, Walsh turned his attention to the defense. Retooling the secondary began with getting Hicks back into the NFL.

The 49ers didn’t become a dynasty overnight, but something clicked in 1981. By “something clicked,” I mean to the tune of a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl championship.

Although “The Catch” in the NFC Championship against the Cowboys is often the most memorable moment of the 49ers’ playoff run of 1981, Hicks had a huge play in the Super Bowl against the Bengals. The Niners had turned the ball over on the opening drive, but Hicks intercepted Ken Anderson in the red zone to cut off the Bengals’ scoring threat.

And how about Hicks’ 1981 season? He had nine interceptions returned for 239 yards and a touchdown that year. He also played both safety and cornerback for the 49ers, which is something you don’t see very often these days.

The 1982 season was a strike-shortened one in the NFL, and the 49ers didn’t make much noise at all. However, they came back in 1983 and won the NFC West with a 10-6 record, but succumbed to the Washington in the NFC title game. Hicks only picked off two passes that season, but he just so happened to return both of them for touchdowns.

The next season was a banner year for the 49ers, and Hicks was one of the many big names who still makes this team stand out when the NFL’s best teams are discussed, as they went 15-1 and won the Super Bowl. As for Hicks, he had three interceptions that season, but the Niners’ secondary was a force to be reckoned with. All four starters (Hicks, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, and Carlton Williamson) were somehow voted to the Pro Bowl.

Speaking of Pro Bowls, Hicks played in four of them. When he retired in 1986, he’d intercepted 32 passes, returned three of them for touchdowns and was the owner of two Super Bowl rings. Not bad for a guy who got drafted in the sixth round and was immediately cut.

Astute movie and television viewers can occasionally catch Hicks on the small screen and/or the silver screen. He’s had bit parts in shows like The O.C., ER and Passions (yes, a feared member of an NFL secondary appeared in Passions). Also, keep an eye out for him the next time you watch The Rock or Armegeddon.

Whether he’s intercepting passes or adding credits to his imdb.com page, Hicks is truly deserving of some Old School Love today.