Hall of Fame lineman Bob St. Clair dies at 84

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Hall of Fame offensive tackle and 49ers legend Bob St. Clair, whose raw meat diet and tough-as-nails reputation made him famous in the early days of the NFL, died Monday. He was 84.

The University of San Francisco, where St. Clair played collegiately, confirmed his death in a statement.

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St. Clair, a 6-9, 270-pound behemoth during his playing days, spent the entirety of his 11-year professional career with the 49ers. He was drafted by the team in the third round in 1953 and become a fixture of the offensive line charged with blocking for the "Million Dollar Backfield," including quarterback Y.A. Tittle and running backs John Henry Johnson, Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry. All five were eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A five-time Pro Bowler, St. Clair was the last of the group to make it to Canton in 1990. He was best known for his toughness, spending a portion of his career playing in a leather helmet. According to SFGate.com, he broke his nose at least six times, twice tore his Achilles' tendon and once remained in a game after a blocked kick knocked out five of his teeth.

While at USF, St. Clair helped the Dons to an undefeated 9-0 season in 1951. That team was most known for declining an invitation to a bowl game that season because its two African-American players would not have been allowed to play.

St. Clair was also known off the field for his appetite for raw meat, earning him the nickname "The Geek," after a character in the 1947 movie "Nightmare Alley."

“My grandmother used to feed me raw meat off the kitchen table,” St. Clair said one time when asked of his habit. “I grew to love raw liver and hearts, bird hearts, dove and quail.”

Before his Hall of Fame induction, when asked if the players of his era could compete in the modern NFL, St. Clair said, “I don’t think the question should be, 'Could we play today?’ The question is, 'Could these candy asses have played with us?’”

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Brandon Schlager is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News.