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 having 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 had 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." See also Black players in professional American football References Further reading External links 1927 births 2011 deaths American football fullbacks American football players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy Baltimore Colts players San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) players San Francisco 49ers players Compton Tartars football players National Football League players with retired numbers Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Western Conference Pro Bowl players United States Navy personnel of World War II People from Stephens, Arkansas Players of American football from Los Angeles African-American players of American football Deaths from dementia in Arizona 20th-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century African-American people African Americans in World War II National Football League Most Valuable Player Award winners African-American United States Navy personnel