Tom Rathman

Biography

Thomas Dean Rathman (born October 7, 1962) is a former NFL fullback whose blend of physicality, versatility, and football intelligence made him one of the defining players of the San Francisco 49ers’ late‑1980s dynasty. A native of Grand Island, Nebraska, Rathman was a standout multi‑sport athlete in high school, earning first‑team all‑state honors in football and winning a state championship in the high jump. His college career at Nebraska cemented his reputation as an elite fullback; as his biography notes, he was “often considered the greatest fullback in modern Nebraska history,” finishing…