Cleveland Elam

American football player (1952–2012)

American football player

Cleveland Elam

No. 72

Position:

Defensive tackle
Defensive end

Personal information

Born:

(1952-04-05)April 5, 1952
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Died:

July 12, 2012(2012-07-12) (aged 60)
Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Weight:

252 lb (114 kg)

Career information

College:

Tennessee State

NFL draft:

1975 / Round: 4 / Pick: 85

Career history

San Francisco 49ers (1975–1978)
Detroit Lions (1979)

Career highlights and awards

First-team All-Pro (1977)
2× Pro Bowl (1976, 1977)

Career NFL statistics

Sacks:	34.5
Fumble recoveries:	4
Defensive TDs:	1

Player stats at PFR

Cleveland Elam (April 5, 1952 – July 12, 2012) was a National Football League (NFL) defensive tackle who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions in an injury-shortened five-year career that lasted from 1975 to 1979

Teaming with Cedric Hardman, Jimmy Webb and Tommy Hart, the 49ers Gold Rush defensive line led the NFL in sacks during the 1976 season. Elam had 14.5 sacks in 1976 and led the team with 17.5 sacks in 1977.

Elam played college football at Tennessee State University and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He was a two time Pro Bowler in 1976 and 1977.

Elam died on July 12, 2012. He was survived by his wife Blanche and four children.^[1]