Lenvil Elliott

Lenvil Elliott (September 2, 1951 – October 12, 2008) was a former professional American football player who played running back for nine seasons in the National Football League. He was a part of the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XVI winning team.

Early life

Elliot was born in Lexington, Missouri to Lenvil Nelson and Helen Constance (Williams) Elliott. He grew up in Richmond, Missouri and was a 1969 graduate of Richmond High School. He was drafted in 1973 while attending Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Career

Elliott was drafted in the 10th Round of the 1973 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played running back for the Bengals from 1973 to 1979, then was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, for whom he played from 1979 to 1981. In the final game of his nine-year NFL career, he played a key role in the 49ers' NFC Championship Game victory over the Dallas Cowboys on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park. Elliott carried four times for 31 yards on the 49ers' 89-yard final drive, culminating in "The Catch", Dwight Clark's famous 6-yard touchdown reception from Joe Montana with only fifty-one seconds left in the game. Elliott suited up but did not play in the 49ers' Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Following Super Bowl XVI, he retired. He finished his career with 1900 yards rushing, 1484 yards receiving, and 18 total touchdowns (8 rushing and 10 receiving).

Later life and death

Following his retirement, Elliot returned to his hometown of Richmond, Missouri and was a member of the Laborers Union Local #1290. Elliott died of a heart attack at 11:10 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2008, at the Ray County, Missouri Memorial Hospital in Richmond.^[1]

References

External links

• St. Petersburg Times
• http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125154
• http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/features/superbowl/archives/16/