Joe Perry ( American football ) Fletcher Joseph " Joe " Perry ( January 22 , 1927 – April 25 , 2011 ) was a professional American football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1950 ( while the 49ers were a member of the NFL ' s rival league , the AAFC ) , then 1950 to 1960 when the 49ers were absorbed into the NFL , the Baltimore Colts from 1961 to 1962 , and finally back to the 49ers for his final year in football , 1963 . After military service in World War II , Perry attended Compton Junior College where he teamed with future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Hugh McElhenny . Together they won back - to - back national championships in 1946 and 1947 . Perry then went directly into pro football joining the 49ers ' in 1948 . Nicknamed " The Jet , " Perry was not known for being a powerful fullback , or particularly elusive ; he simply had fantastic speed ( 9 . 7 100 yards ) . Perry retired as the NFL career rushing leader , surpassing the old record of 5 , 860 yards held by Steve Van Buren , and which was later broken by Jim Brown on October 20 , 1963 . He was also the first NFL runner ever to have consecutive 1 , 000 yard rushing seasons ( 1953 and 1954 ) , Perry ' s durability allowed him to play in three separate decades , from the 1940s to the 1960s , for 16 seasons . During the mid - 1950s , Perry was a member of the San Francisco 49ers " Million Dollar Backfield " , playing alongside Hugh McElhenny , John Henry Johnson and Y . A . Tittle . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969 . Currently the 49ers " Million Dollar Backfield " is the only full - house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Hall . In addition to his football career , Perry also hosted a popular sports and music radio program , " Both Sides Of The Record , " sponsored by Burgermeister Beer , on R & B - formatted KWBR ( 1310 AM ; later known as KDIA ) beginning in 1954 . The program was arranged by Franklin Mieuli , a sports entrepreneur who worked in marketing for Burgie , in addition to being a part - owner of the 49ers and producer of the team ' s radio and television broadcasts . After retiring from football , Perry competed in the Professional Bowlers Association Tour . Death . The San Francisco 49ers announced that Perry died on Monday April 25 , 2011 in Arizona of complications from dementia at the age of 84 . 49ers owner John York said : I was deeply saddened to hear of Joe Perry ' s passing . He was a dear friend to my family and I and to the entire 49ers organization . He was also an integral part of our rich history . A truly remarkable man both on and off the field , Joe had a lasting impact on the game of football and was an inspirational man to the generations of players that followed him . Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife , Donna , and his entire family . He will be sadly missed by all of us . On June 9 , 2011 , it was announced that Perry and his fellow " Million Dollar Backfield " teammate , John Henry Johnson , who died on June 3 , 2011 , would have their brains examined by researchers at Boston University who are studying head injuries in sports . Both men were suspected of suffering form Chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) , a disorder linked to repeated brain trauma . Perry ' s widow , Donna , told the " San Francisco Chronicle " that she believes her husband suffered from CTE . She further told the newspaper that " When Joe was playing , they ' d give them smelling salts and put them back in . " Now the equipment is better , and they ' re looking into ways to protect them . We have to look at what this is doing to our children . "