Finding interesting storylines surrounding the listless 2016 49ers has been a chore so far this season, so lets take some time to reflect on colorful moment involving two hall of famers from the 49ers’ glory days.
Former 49er and five time Super Bowl champion Charles Haley joined the Murph and Mac show on Thursday morning to promote his new autobiography, Fear No Evil: Tackling Quarterbacks and Demons on My Way to the Hall of Fame, and told a surprising anecdote regarding his best friend and former teammate Ronnie Lott.
Haley was known for being one of the most feared players during his time in the NFL, and seemingly the last person you’d want to confront. Lott, however, had no problem being the one to put Haley in his place when he needed too, and even took things a step further, after Haley had a forgettable performance against San Diego.
“Kellen Winslow and some other tight end kicked my butt,” Haley remembers. “Ronnie called me out in front of everybody, and I’m telling you I got pissed. I ran out of the room and I balled them fists up and I was waiting for him to come out. I was going to get in it.”
“He came out. Came directly to me. And slapped me in the head, and told me I expect more out of you. I said ‘you call me out again, that expectation is going to go down the hill.’
Though Haley might not have been thrilled to get smacked, Lott’s motivational tactics were apparently the kind of tough love the defensive end needed. Haley called Lott a father figure to him during his time in San Francisco and a lifelong mentor.
“He took me under his wing, he taught me how to be a professional, he took me to some of the charity events that he had, where he gave shoes away, and he taught me to be compassionate.”
“Ronnie got the biggest heart in the world. He stood up for me many a time, even when I was wrong.”
Listen to the full interview below.