While the 49ers are still mourning their Super Bowl loss to rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, their old-school fans will now be mourning the death of a former wide receiver.
“Indiana University mourns the loss of All-American & IU Hall of Famer John Isenbarger,” the school said in a short statement. He was 76 years old.
Following a standout career with Indiana the Hoosiers, Isenbarger became a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1970. Initially signed as a running back, he would flip to wide receiver during his third year in the league.
He played all four of his NFL seasons with the 49ers, racking up 370 total yards and two touchdowns.
Isenberger is likely known best for his illustrious sports career during his tenure in college as a member of the Indiana Hoosiers. He was later inducted into the school’s sports Hall of Fame.
In high school, John Isenberger earned 3 letters in football, 3 in basketball, and 3 in track; UPI All-State and All-Conference 2 years in football as a quarterback; All-Conference and All-State as a guard in basketball; finished 4th in pole vault at the state meet; named team MVP in football, basketball, and track 1965-1966.
After high school, Isenberger joined the Indiana Hoosiers where he became a legend and Hall of Famer.
John won football letters in 1967, 1968 and 1969 as a tailback and punter on Indiana’s 1967 Big Ten Co-Championship and Rose Bowl team. He was Indiana’s Most Valuable Player in 1969 and first team All-Big Ten in 1969.
John earned All-American honors in both 1967 and 1969. John set Indiana season and career rushing records and led Hoosiers in rushing and punting three straight years and had an IU record 1,217 rushing yards in 1969.
John played in the East-West, All-American, Hula Bowl and College All-Star games and played professionally with the San Francisco 49ers.
For years it has been difficult to argue that the Isenbargers are not Indiana’s most athletic family.
As of this weekend, it’s impossible.
John Isenbarger played on the Indiana Hoosiers 1968 Rose Bowl football team and played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers.
Phil Isenbarger played on IU’s 1981 national championship basketball team.
Jake Isenbarger was a state tennis champion for North Central High School.
Katie Isenbarger, a senior at Zionsville High School, is the state’s best high jumper, earlier this season having cleared 6′ 1″.
And Luke Isenbarger, John’s son, Phil’s nephew and Jake’s brother, and himself a former Little 500 cycling champion, became the 2018 Linear Bocce North American champion.
The 39-year-old righthander bested a large and high-quality field in the event held in a back alley in Indianapolis’ Meridian-Kessler neighborhood.
Among the 90-plus athletes Isenbarger had to get past were 2017 Linear Bocce World Champion Bond Sandoe III; Butler University tennis coach and former standout player Parker Ross; and George S. Higgins, ranked 49th in the country in platform tennis.
“I’m definitely proud of this victory,” Isenbarger said at the awards banquet held immediately after the competition at the Red Key Tavern. “It’s definitely fulfilling to come home with the hardware.”
It looks like the former San Francisco 49ers WR will leave behind a legacy of athletic success at all levels.
