95 Days to Miami football: Iron Man DE Kevin Fagan
Defensive end Kevin Fagan led the Miami football team in downs played during their 1983 national championship season. Fagan was a key part of the Hurricanes defensive line as they won their first national championship.
Kevin Fagan began his career with the Miami football program in 1981 as a 200-pound defensive end and linebacker. He left Coral Gables as a 260-pound defensive lineman and one of the strongest players in football. Fagan led the 1983 Miami national championship team in snaps played.
In three seasons lettering for the Hurricanes from 1983-85, Fagan played in three New Years Day Bowl games. In the Orange Bowl upset over Nebraska in January 1984, Fagan sacked legendary Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill twice and recorded nine tackles as the Hurricanes upset the Cornhuskers 31-30.
Fagan continued his iron man stretch as a junior in 1984 playing all 12 games. Fagan led the Miami football team in tackles for loss and sacks during the 1984 season. The Hurricanes earned their first trip to the Fiesta Bowl following Jimmy Johnson’s first season which they lost to UCLA. Fagan also played in the 1986 Sugar Bowl.
The Hurricanes would lose their final two bowl games in Fagan’s junior and senior seasons. The Hurricanes 35-7 loss to Tennessee in the 1986 Sugar Bowl cost them a National Championship after number three Oklahoma defeated number one Penn State on the Hurricanes homefield in the Orange Bowl.
Miami had defeated Oklahoma in Norman earlier in the season, but lost their regular-season opener to Florida, just like in 1983. Fagan was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Fagan made his NFL debut with the 49ers in 1987. Fagan started 45 games from 1988-90.
The 49ers won Super Bowls following the 1988 and 1989 seasons with Fagan a starter and key part of the S.F. defense. Fagan had six tackles and a sack in the 49ers 20-16 victory in Superbowl XXIII, the first one played at Joe Robbie (Hard Rock) Stadium. His actions earned Fagan a game ball in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fagan had seven sacks during the 1989 season with San Francisco that culminated in what is still the largest victory in Superbowl history, 55-10 over John Elway and the San Francisco 49ers. A nine sack season in 1990, was named second-team all-NFC by UPI following the season. Fagan finished his career with 25.5 sacks.
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Back, shoulder and knee injuries caused Fagan to retire after the 1993 season. Fagan was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Fagan is currently the head softball coach at the College of Central Florida.