Former Lions lineman John Gonzaga, who was working in a steel mill when he was signed by the 49ers in 1956, has died. He was 74. Gonzaga died Thursday at his home in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield Township, according to the Lions and McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills. A cause of death wasn't released, the funeral home said. The team said Gonzaga's death followed a lengthy illness. Born in Martinez, Calif., Gonzaga played five seasons for Detroit (1961-65) and worked for Ford Motor Co. during the offseason. He also played for the 49ers (1956-59), the Cowboys (1960) and the Broncos (1966).