Freddie Solomon Remembered for More Than Just Football

Freddie Solomon passed away on Monday, but football isn't the only thing the former San Francisco 49er will be remembered for. 

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Solomon died at the age of 59 after a nine-month battle with colon and liver cancer. 

A two-time Super Bowl champ, Solomon did a great deal for his community, and he was loved by all. 

Sheriff David Gee, whom Solomon worked with in organizing an annual Christmas party for foster children, told the paper who Solomon was and of all the great things he did for those around him. 

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Our Sheriff's Office family is saddened by the loss of Freddie, but we are so proud to have the privilege to call him a friend and a colleague. That will never change. He worked for us for 21 years teaching children about sports and about life. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of countless boys and girls, some of whom are now adults.

Freddie never stopped fighting his illness despite debilitating pain and fatigue, and he kept his smile until the end. He leaves us all with lessons about humility, and caring and loving others. Those timeless traits are what defined Freddie Solomon.

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He may have been a stellar football player, but his life was much more than that. The Tampa Bay Times stated that Solomon was honored back in December by University of Tampa's Vaughn Center with a scholarship in his name.

Solomon's former quarterback, Joe Montana, told the paper that "there was no one who gave more on and off the field than Freddie." 

He truly was a great person to be around at all times, and the tragic news of his passing hits hard for so many.  

Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1975, Solomon spent most of his career with the 49ers, but football was never the only thing that defined him. 

Dolphins vice president Nat Moore illustrated that in a statement he released, courtesy of ESPN.

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Besides his accomplishments as a player, Freddie truly cared about his community, whether it was here in South Florida or in the Tampa Bay area where he had his roots.

He was a kind and generous person, as exemplified by all of his charitable and civic deeds. It's a shame he passed away so young, and the Miami Dolphin organization extends its condolences to his family. 

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Solomon finished his career with 371 receptions for 5,846 yards and 48 touchdowns in 371 games, but his life off the field is much more memorable than his on-the-field achievements.