Late 49ers coach Bobb McKittrick named recipient of assistant coach award from PFWA
May 22, 2023, 2:15 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm
SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 14: Offensive line coach Bobb Mckittrick of the San Francisco 49ers talks with his offensive linemen Roy Foster #67, Guy McIntyre #62 and Harris Barton #79 during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Candlestick Park on December 14, 1991 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 28-14. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers have had a slew of great coaches over their 70-plus-year history, with the late Bobb McKittrick receiving his flowers recently.
The 49ers’ longtime offensive line coach was named Monday as a winner of the Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award. This accolade is given out by the Pro Football Writers of America, signaling a lifetime achievement for an assistant coach in the NFL.
McKittrick was named alongside Don “Wink” Martindale and John Mitchell. The trio made up the 21st, 22nd and 23rd recipients of the award, which the PFWA debuted in 2014.
The offensive line guru spent more than 20 years with San Francisco, spanning from 1979 to 1999. He coached under Bill Walsh, George Seifert and Steve Mariucci during that time, winning five Super Bowl rings in the process. Described by coach Seifert as one of the team’s “secret weapons”, Bobb McKittrick was known for taking underachieving linemen and turning them into formidable units for the Red & Gold.
Bobb McKittrick, the 49ers offensive line czar for 21 years, wins an overdue lifetime achievement award from PFWA.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 22, 2023
Bobb passed away in 2000. Niners give an award in his name annually to an offensive lineman (Jake Brendel in 2022) https://t.co/l77XIy3R9q
The 49ers’ coach passed away in 2000 after a 14-month battle with bile duct cancer. He was 64-years-old. In love with football until the end, McKittrick decided to continue coaching in 1999, despite the diagnosis of his terminal condition. He was a finalist for the award in each of the past 10 years.
This marks the third year in a row that a former 49ers’ assistant has won the award. In 2021, 49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner won the award. A year later, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was recognized for the achievement.
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