Jim Fahnhorst was hit and down on the icy turf once again. During the harsh Minnesota winters, when Fahnhorst was a fifth-grader, the cold turf felt more like cement pavement. And because the boy got knocked down so often, it was almost… punishing. By middle school, he was too tall to play against other children his own age, and so, as per the junior league rules in the 1960s, he had to face the eighth graders. He wasn’t surprised that he was always outmatched.

He felt like a blocking dummy instead of a contributing teammate. “I was tall, but I just got abused,” he once recollected. But he was also accustomed to it, thanks to his older brother, Keith Fahnhorst. Both would often play backyard football growing up and tackle each other full speed. The younger Fahnhorst brother would obviously get wrecked each time, and Keith took absolute pleasure in believing Jim loved getting hit. That’s a kind of justification only an older brother could give. The physical nature of the sport led the fifth-grader to contemplate why he even continued playing the sport.

But when he’d see Keith playing football in high school, he’d know exactly why. Truth be told, if it weren’t for Keith, Jim wouldn’t have played football. From backyard football and getting drafted by the NFL’s Vikings in 1982 to playing seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, it was a long road. However, the man who won three Super Bowls with the 49ers died on Wednesday at age 66. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of former linebacker Jim Fahnhorst. Our thoughts are with his family,” the team wrote on X. His family has not released any statement so far.

Fahnhorst has been private about his family life, and there are no credible reports about whether he was married or not. However, an old Sports Illustrated article mentions that when Fahnhorst’s wife, Kim, delivered twins, team owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. sent flowers that weighed 70 pounds. And in 2018, an article on the 49ers’ website had mentioned how both Keith and Jim had growing families, with grandkids running around.

Jim had followed Keith’s path to success. When the big brother got in as an offensive tackle at the University of Minnesota, Jim would hear his name on the radio and think about how cool Keith was. Soon, Jim played in Minnesota too and followed his brother to the NFL, and though he got drafted by the Vikings, he successfully made his way to the 49ers to play alongside his brother.

They had an age difference of seven years, and the 49ers camo brought back childhood memories of their backyard games. So, when Keith and Jim would line up once again in the 49ers team facility, but this time as an NFL offensive tackle and linebacker, respectively, they understood that they could not afford to make each other look bad. Yet, Keith, being the older Fahnhorst, would time and again remind Jim of the pecking order.

Keith died in 2018, also at age 66.

Fans reminisce about Jim Fahnhorst from the 49ers’ dynasty era

Saying goodbye to a legend like Jim Fahnhorst isn’t easy for the team or for the fans. Though his journey in the league was short, it was full of accolades. He made 82 appearances and started 38 out of them. He finished his career with 232 career tackles, seven interceptions, and a sack. One fan wrote, “RIP JF he was a good quality player during the glory day.”

With utter shock, another fan wrote, “Oh my. I think he was related to Keith? Both died at 66. Way tooo young.”

The Fahnhorst brothers only spent four years together in S.F., and after his retirement, Jim Fahnhorst began a coaching career by joining the staff at Division III Macalester College and a Minneapolis high school.  Remembering the Fahnhorst brothers, another fan added, “The Farnhorst bros Keith and Jim….together again in heaven.”

Between the Vikings and the 49ers timeline, Jim had played two years in the USFL. Another fan sent their condolences, highlighting Jim’s tenure in S.F. and his championship legacy. “RIP 49ers Legend Jim Fahnhorst. 7 years with the team (1984-1990) 3x SB champion.”

The 49ers shared being “deeply saddened” after hearing about Jim’s death. Right now, they are holding space for his fans to grieve. Fans have been sending “RIP” to the beloved linebacker. Jim Fahnhorst, you will be missed!