Former San Francisco 49er Pro Bowl punter Tom Wittum dead at 60

Former San Francisco punter Tom Wittum dead at 60

ANTIOCH, Ill. — Former San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl punter Tom Wittum has died at age 60.

Wittum’s son, Matt Wittum, said his father died of cancer Friday at his home in this northern Chicago suburb.

A Chicago-area native, Tom Wittum was a three-year letter winner as a place kicker and punter at Northern Illinois University, where he also lettered in baseball. Wittum set 10 NIU kicking records, including the school’s career, single-season and single-game records for punts, punting yards and punting average.

Wittum was a two-time Pro Bowler with the 49ers from 1973-77. He played in 70 games, kicking 380 punts for 15,494 yards and a 40.8-yard gross average. After his NFL retirement, he spent more than 30 years as a teacher and coach.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, four children and four grandchildren.