The condensed roster, schemes/gameplans, and brief team history will be linked at bottom, I went over character limit.
Hello again everybody and welcome to All Time Teams Part 10, The San Francisco 49ers. For those of you that missed earlier editions of this series, I've covered the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Rams already.
If you're first joining me here, these are the rules that I decided to create these teams with.
I'm going to make an all-time roster for each of the 32 NFL teams. There will be a couple of rules. Firstly, if there's an all-time great like Peyton Manning who spent time with two different teams, Indianapolis and Denver, the team where he spent the most time gets dibs (Indy in this case). Secondly, if there's a player who spent the same amount of time at two teams (Eric Dickerson spent 4 and a half years with both the Colts and the Rams), the player goes to the team where he performed better (Dickerson was better for the Rams). Thirdly, there's the issue of athleticism and conditioning. A player from the 60s would not be nearly as athletic as a player from today. However, I'm going to assume if those players were playing today they'd have access to the same conditioning and resources as all players today. Plus it makes it more interesting. I'll also try to give reasoning for each player. I'll also go through the teams based on when the teams were founded.
I've since decided that once I complete all the rosters, I'm going to have them compete against each other in a standard NFL format. They're going to play a 16 game regular season followed by standard 12 team playoffs. I'll simulate them all the way through the regular season, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl. I'll also be compiling Power Rankings of these teams after I've completed the rosters.
Head Coach: Bill Walsh Bill Walsh was one of the best coaches in NFL history. He brought the 49ers their first 3 Super Bowl wins, and plowed through the 1980s with a 92-59-1 record. He won the NFL Coach of the Year award twice in a 4 year span, and put San Francisco on the map as far as competitive teams are concerned. 1979-1988, 2x NFL Coach of the Year (1981, 1984), 3x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII), Pro Football HoF
Offensive Coordinator: Jim Harbaugh Harbaugh seems to get a lot of hate from some circles, but he is a brilliant offensive mind. He led the 49ers to 3 playoff berths in 4 years, and one Super Bowl appearance. He also led them to a phenomenal 44-19-1 record during his tenure, and didn't have a single losing season (his worst record was 8-8). He also got more out of Colin Kaepernick than anybody else has to date, something I don't think is any small feat. 2011-2014, 44-19-1 record, 2011 NFL Coach of the Year
Defensive Coordinator: George Seifert This defensive mastermind holds the record for most franchise wins with 98, and was a key member of the coaching staff in all 5 franchise Super Bowl wins. He engineered an incredibly underrated defense, which often gets overlooked because of the dominance of the offense with Joe Montana and then Steve Young. 1980-1996 (1989-1996 as head coach), 5x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
QB1: Joe Montana Montana was hands down one of the best quarterbacks to play the game of football, and until the last few seasons, you would be in the extreme minority if you didn't believe he was the greatest quarterback of all time. He is one of a very select few quarterbacks to win 4 Super Bowls, and he did so while being a giant among men. He led the NFC in passer rating 5 times in his career, and the NFL in passer rating twice, in 1987 and 1989. The comeback kid fired off 32 4th quarter comebacks, and including the 1981 NFCCG and Super Bowl XXIII. Montana has the personal accolades, Super Bowl rings, the highlight film, the records, the game film, the intellect, the arm, the footwork, every single thing you look for when making the argument that he is the greatest ever. After being drafted 82nd overall in the 1979 NFL Draft, he spent a year and a half on the bench behind Steve DeBerg. Midway through the 1980 season, Montana took over the starting job, and never looked back. That 1980 season was marked by a phenomenal comeback from a 35-7 halftime deficit against the New Orleans Saints on December 7, 1980, the first of 26 such comebacks as a 49er. Montana would have some injury concerns throughout the mid 1980s, and later would receive competition from QB2 Steve Young, but overall he put together one of the most impressive football careers ever witnessed. If you have the time to go watch any games he influenced, please do. Not only does this man hands down get the QB1 job here on the All Time 49ers, he would possibly get the job if this was an All Time Roster for every single team ever. 1979-1994 (1979-1992), 40,551 (35,124) Pass Yds, 273 (244) Pass TDs, 139 (123) INT, 5,772 (4,758) Playoff Pass Yds, 45 (39) Playoff Pass TDs, 1,676 (1,595) Rush Yds (314 more in postseason, 296 as a 49er), 20 Rush TDs (2 more in playoffs), 2x NFL MVP (1989, 1990), 5x All Pro, 8x (7x) Pro Bowl, 4x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV), 3x Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV), NFL OPOY 1989, NFL Comeback Player of the Year 1986, 2x NFL Passing TD leader (1982, 1987), 127.8 Super Bowl passer rating over 4 games, NFL 1980s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
QB2: Steve Young Young is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He has perhaps the best peak of any quarterback of all time. You can't spell "peak" without Young. He threw 6 TDs in the Super Bowl, and for all his time spent waiting behind Montana, there are others that he spent showing he could play at the level of any All Time Greats. When Young was playing well, he performed at the same level that any other great quarterback in NFL history did. His passer rating of 96.8 is the fifth highest all time, and was the highest ever at the time of his retirement. He also has 43 rushing TDs, which is second by QBs, and his 4,239 Rush Yds are third. I would absolutely say that Steve Young's 1994 season should be judged as one of the best quarterbacking seasons in NFL history. 1984-1999 (1987-1999), 33,124 (29,907) Pass Yds, 232 (221) Pass TDs, 107 (86) INT, 4,239 (3,581) Rush Yds, 43 (37) Rush TDs, 2x MVP (1992, 1994), 6x All Pro, 7x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX), Super Bowl XXIX MVP, 2x NFC OPOY (1992, 1994), NFL OPOY 1992, 4x NFL Passing TDs Leader (1992-1994, 1998), 6x NFL Passer Rating Leader (1991-1994, 1996, 1997), Pro Football HoF
QB3: John Brodie Perhaps the most underappreciated quarterback in 49ers history. Though he won the MVP award in 1970, he arguably had a fair argument for the award in 1965, as well. He was a lifelong 49er, the first of which we've got on this list. Drafted third overall in the 1957 NFL Draft, he sat on the bench behind Y.A. Tittle, but quickly began splitting time with him. By 1961, Tittle had been traded to the Giants, and the team belonged to Brodie. Brodie would only lead the team to 3 playoff appearances, all near the end of his career, but his individual performances speak volumes. 1957-1973, 31,548 Pass Yds, 214 Pass TDs, 224 INT, NFL MVP 1970, 2x All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, NFC Player of the Year 1970, NFL Comeback Player of the Year 1965, 2x NFL Passing TDs Leader (1965, 1970), 3x NFL Passing Yds Leader (1965, 1968, 1970)
QB4: Y.A. Tittle Tittle bounced around from team to team during nearly 3 decades in the NFL, playing for the Colts, 49ers, and Giants. He had career years and a dual peak to his career both in San Francisco and in New York, but he spent 10 seasons with the 49ers and only 4 with the Giants. Thus, Tittle joins the All Time 49ers. He earned an MVP award with the Giants, as well as 3 All Pro nods and 3 Pro Bowl berths. However, with the 49ers, he earned a first team All Pro nod and 4 Pro Bowl berths, and led the 49ers to a spot in the 1957 playoffs, an oasis in a desert of mediocrity throughout that era of 49ers history. He was a key member of the 49ers Million Dollar Backfield, an offense which racked up points better than most other teams in the league at the time. His biggest weakness was his inability to play the shotgun formation with significant success. 1948-1964 (1951-1960), 4x (1x) All Pro, 7x (4x) Pro Bowl, 3x NFL Passing TDs Leader (1955 in SF, 1962, 1963 with NYG), Pro Football HoF
HB1: Hugh McElhenny McElhenny spent the majority of his career with the 49ers, but also had short stints with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. However, his true peak and glory days were with the 49ers. A dual threat rusher/receiver, he was perhaps the most feared back in the NFL during his time. He was another key member of the Million Dollar Backfield that was one of the most electric offenses in the NFL in the 1950s. 1952-1964 (1952-1960), 5x First Team All Pro, 6x (5x) Pro Bowl, NFL 1950s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
HB2: Frank Gore Frank Gore is one of the true living legends in the NFL. The first current player on this roster, he is unfortunately not a current 49er (well, fortunately for me, my 2nd team is the Colts). Gore is one of the most consistent, hardworking players in the NFL today. He is the 49ers All Time leading rusher, and has 9 1,000 yard seasons, 8 in SF. Gore has 9 consecutive seasons with 200+ carries and 4.0+ yards per carry. The only other two players to ever do this were Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. He is number 8 on the All Time rushing list, with 13,065 yards. If he has another 1,000 yard season this year (he did it last year, and came very close in 2015), he'll surpass Eric Dickerson (194 yards to go), Jerome Bettis (597), and LaDainian Tomlinson (619), and quite possibly Curtis Martin (1,036). He has over 1,300 yards more than Adrian Peterson, and does not appear to be slowing down or succumbing to any form of injury bug. He is also a phenomenal leader, and makes his teammates around him better. He excels at hard work, and bring a toughness to any team, even at a current age of 33. 2005-Present (2005-2014), All Pro 2006, 5x Pro Bowl
HB3: Garrison Hearst Hearst is one of the toughest players I can ever remember watching. He was a highly dynamic runner, and had decent hands on screens and short passes. He also earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award after returning from a brutal ankle injury, the same one that ended Bo Jackson's career. He adds some flashy playmaking to this running backs stable, and is a premier third down specialist. 1993-2004 (1997-2003), All Pro 1998, 2x Pro Bowl, NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2001
FB1: Joe Perry Perry is one of the best fullbacks in NFL history, and played most of his 16 season career in two stints with the 49ers. The first 13 year stint with San Francisco began in 1948, and he quickly became a highly elusive ball carrier known for his ability to instinctively find the hole. He was very similar to a very old school Le'Veon Bell in his revolutionary ways of running the football. His first 2 seasons the 49ers were still an AAFC team, and he led the AAFC in Rushing TDs both years, and rushing yards in 1949. He was one of the most successful rushers of his generation. 1948-1963 (1948-1960, 1963), NFL MVP 1954, 4x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, 2x NFL Rushing Yds Leader (1953, 1954), NFL Rushing TDs Leader 1953, 2x AAFC Rushing TDs Leader (1948, 1949), AAFC Rushing Yds Leader 1949, NFL 1950s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
FB2: Roger Craig Craig was another dominant back for the 49ers. Drafted 49th overall in the legendary 1983 NFL Draft, he quickly became an impact player and scored 12 TDs in his rookie season. In 1984, he became the first player in NFL history to both rush and receive 1,000 yards in the same season. He ran for 1,050 yards and received another 1,016, and scored 15 TDs. He rushed for a career high 1,502 yards in 1988, winning NFL MVP honors. He was also a key member of the 49ers dynasty in the 1980s. After San Francisco, he had short stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. He was a Hall of Fame finalist but has yet to be inducted, and I feel he should be inducted. 1983-1993 (1983-1990), NFL MVP 1998, 2x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, NFL OPOY 1988, NFL 1980s All Decade Team
WR1: Jerry Rice There is exactly one word that describes Jerry Rice. Jerry Rice is the absolute greatest receiver in the history of the NFL. Could you make arguments that others are "as good" as Rice? Yeah, I'd at least sit and listen to stories of the greatness of Don Hutson, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, or Calvin Johnson (insert whoever else you'd like here). But doing so would be a moot point, because everything they could have accomplished is what Rice did accomplish. The man is arguably the best football player to ever set foot on a field, and completely reinvented the wide receiver position. From the moment he stepped out of the tunnel, he was open. If your quarterback could hit the water if he fell out of a boat, he could hit Jerry Rice. He also played for just shy of eternity. He aged like he was either a well made Scotch or a beautiful Sequoia. He is a head and shoulders above every other wide receiver to ever play the game. He is the all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and all purpose yards. He will probably hold some, if not all of those records, for a very very long time. (I just did the math because I wanted to see for myself, and he has about 13.4 MILES of all purpose yards. That is over half a freaking marathon.) I could go on for hours, but I'll summarize by just saying I still could very easily be underselling him. 1985-2005 (1985-2000), 1,549 (1,281) Rec, 22,895 (19,247) Rec Yds, 197 (176) Rec TDs, 645 (625) Rush Yds, 10 Rush TDs, 12x (11x) All Pro, 13x (12x) Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX), PFWA NFL MVP 1987, Super Bowl XXIII MVP, 2x NFL OPOY, 6x NFL Receiving Yds Leader (1986, 1989, 1990, 1993-1995), 2x NFL Receptions Leader (1990, 1996), 6x NFL Receiving TDs Leader (1986, 1987, 1989-1991, 1993), NFL 1980s All Decade Team, NFL 1990s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
WR2: Terrell Owens Owens is another one of the best players to ever play the game. He was certainly cocky and full of himself, but he is one of the absolute best to ever play the game. In fact, if you're going to argue that anybody deserves to be in the conversation with Rice, Owens would be one of the people to do so. Would you want him in the locker room? Maybe not. Would you want him on the field? Absolutely. When you've got him, you don't need a halftime show. Terrell Owens kept me as entertained as I have ever been in my life, and his numbers speak for themselves. If you threw it to his half of the field, he was going to come down with it. And no matter where he caught it from, he would also get both feet down in the end zone. His 153 TDs are third to only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss. His yards are second to only Jerry Rice. Hall of Fame voters should be ashamed that he is not a first ballot Hall of Famer. 1996-2011 (1996-2003), 5x (3x) First Team All Pro, 6x (4x) Pro Bowl, 3x (2x) NFL Rec. TDs Leader (2001, 2002, and 2006 with Cowboys), NFL 2000s All Decade Second Team
WR3: Gene Washington Washington spent almost his entire career with the 49ers, and was one of the best receivers of the 1970s. During his peak during the early 1970s, the 49ers reached the playoffs 3 consecutive times, and his 1970 season he led the NFL in receiving yards and TDs. He is a member of the Hall of Very Good.1969-1979 (1969-1977), 4x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, 1970 Rec Yds Leader, 1970 Rec TDs Leader
WR4: Dwight Clark Clark is probably most famous for The Catch. He also was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams, and was one of the best receiving threats in the NFL. He led the NFL in receptions in 1982, and remained a 49er throughout his career. 1979-1987, 2x All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX)
WR5: Gordie Soltau Soltau was a lifelong 49er, and a member of the team during the relatively dark 1950s, where the franchise only made the playoffs once. However, that wasn't Gordie's doing, as he put up a remarkable peak during the early 1950s. As well as being an above average kicker, he was a stellar receiving option for San Francisco, earning 3 consecutive Pro Bowl nods and All Pro honors. 1950-1958, 3x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl
WR6: R.C. Owens Owens was perhaps one of the original possession receivers. He was incredibly tall, and was known for his "alley oop" plays with Y.A. Tittle, where the ball would get thrown ridiculously high, where only Owens could make the catch. In 1961, he had a 1,000 yard season, the best year of his career. However, his key catches warrant him a spot on this list. 1957-1964 (1957-1961), Pro Bowl 1961
TE1: Brent Jones Jones is the best tight end in 49ers history. He technically was drafted by the Steelers in 1986, but never played a down for them after missing the season due to a car accident injury. In 1987, he signed with San Francisco, and became the starter in 1989, at which point he began to make a huge impact. He provided solid blocking and an extremely valuable safety valve for Joe Montana and Steve Young in the offense. His peak coincided with Steve Young's peak in the early 1990s, and was a key member of 3 Super Bowl victories. 1986-1997 (1987-1997), 5,195 Rec Yds, 33 TDs, 3x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
TE2: Vernon Davis Davis is a premier receiving tight end, and can pop off for a huge game on any given day. He also has his biggest days on the biggest stages. He is incredibly fast, and can act almost as a slot receiver. The NFL is full of receiving tight ends right now, but Davis is in the better echelon of these tight ends. He led the NFL in receiving TDs in 2009, and set the (short lived) record for most TDs by a TE in a season with 13. 2006-Present (2006-2015), All Pro 2013, 2x PrO Bowl, NFL Rec TDs Leader 2009
LT1: Joe Staley Staley is the third current player on this list, and the first current 49er. I would in fact say that Staley is the best player on the current 49ers roster. He has been an absolute rock on the offensive line throughout the past decade, and one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. Though aged 32 now and seemingly losing an ever so slight step, he still is one of the top 5 or so blindside tackles in the NFL. 2007-Present, 3x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl
LG1: Mike Iupati Another current NFL player, Iupati was the 17th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent 5 seasons with the 49ers before joining the Cardinals in 2015. Though he has been good over in Arizona as well, he was even better in San Francisco. He is amazing in unique blocking situations, as well as elite in both run and pass blocking. He is underrated in screen and sweep blocking, and is extremely agile for a large 6'5" and 331lb frame. 2010-Present (2010-2014), 2x (1x) All Pro, 4x (3x) Pro Bowl
LG2: Guy McIntyre McIntyre was a stellar guard for the 49ers, where he was a part of the final 3 Montana Super Bowls. He was one of the best run blocking guards of all time, and even was used as a blocking fullback at times. In fact, McIntyre's backfield adventures against the Bears in the 1984 NFCCG inspired Mike Ditka to innovate the use of Refrigerator Perry as a fullback in 1985. 1984-1996 (1984-1993), 3x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XIX, XXII, XXIV)
LG3: Jesse Sapolu Sapolu was a lifelong 49er, and a a member of both the Joe Montana dynasty and the Steve Young dynasty. Drafted 289th overall in the fantastic 1983 NFL Draft, he proved to be a great contributor, playing at above average levels at center and elite levels at the left guard position. Though slightly undersized at 278lbs, he had a towering 6'4" frame and would be able to become a true mauler in today's NFL. His best years came during the Steve Young peak of the early-mid 1990s, but he was stellar throughout his career. 1983-1997, 2x All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, 4x Super Bowl Champion (XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
C1: Forrest Blue Blue was a phenomenal center for the 49ers and later the Baltimore Colts, though his best years came as a 49er. Drafted 15th overall in the 1968 NFL Draft, he quickly became a major contributor on the field, and was one of the most prolific pass blockers of his generation. His towering 6'6" frame allowed him to have an innate advantage over defensive linemen, though he only weighed 261lbs. He reeled off 4 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances at the end of his stint in San Francisco. 1968-1978 (1968-1974), 4x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl
C2: Bruce Bosley Bosley was a stellar offensive lineman for the 49ers during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was very small for today's standards, at a small 241lbs, but he was highly versatile and an athletic blocker that allowed for a proficient offense to flourish. He earned All Pro honors at both guard and center, and was one of the absolute best interior linemen in his generation. 1956-1969 (1956-1968), 4x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl
RG1: Howard Mudd Mudd was a key interior offensive lineman for the 49ers during the 1960s. During his short 7 year career (5 and a half with the 49ers), he earned 2 All Pro nods and 3 Pro Bowl berths. His impact on the game was significantly larger than one would expect given his incredibly short career. During his time, fair arguments could be made that he was the premier guard in the NFL. Had his career been gone another 7 years at the same trajectory, he very likely could have been in the Hall of Fame. 1964-1970 (1964-1969), 2x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, NFL 1960s All Decade Team
RG2: Randy Cross Cross was another guard/center hybrid for the 49ers, and one of the most consistent forces on San Francisco offense in franchise history. He spent his entire 13 season career with the 49ers, and started 180 games for the team during the early parts of the San Francisco dynasty. A highly athletic guard, he was one of the best blockers in the game for the span of a decade. 1976-1988, 4x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII)
RT1: Bob St. Clair Bob St. Clair is one of the most iconic offensive linemen in NFL history. He spent 11 seasons with the 49ers, and was an absolutely ferocious mauler on offense. A lifelong 49er, St. Clair towered at 6'9", and was perhaps the brightest spot on a sometimes struggling San Francisco team. He is quite likely the best offensive lineman in team history, and was a strong prototype for current offensive stalwarts. He earned 9 All Pro nods in his 11 seasons, and was arguably still underappreciated in his time. 1953-1963, 9x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL 1950s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
RT2: Harris Barton Barton was another lineman from the latter half of the San Francisco Dynasty, playing primarily during the Steve Young era. He was actually underappreciated during his era, as his film actually looks better than some of the other linemen of the early 1990s who were even more decorated than Barton. A lifelong 49er, he started 134 games over 12 seasons. 1987-1998, 2x All Pro, Pro Bowl 1993, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
DE1: Justin Smith Smith spent 14 years in the NFL, and split his time evenly between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers. His base statistics are very similar between the two teams, even though his accolades are nearly exclusively with San Francisco. However, looking at both game film and advanced metrics, his impact was larger in San Francisco. He was one of the premier defensive linemen of his era, and received serious DPOY consideration in 2011. 2001-2014 (2008-2014), 5x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl
DE2 (DE/DT): Bryant Young A lifelong 49er, Young was absolutely fearsome on defense during the 1990s and early 2000s. He swallowed up quarterbacks left and right, and was an absolute anchor on defense. Young frequently drew double teams and could stuff the run better than most. Though teammate Dana Stubblefield won the DPOY award, Young was considered by many experts to in fact be the better defensive tackle. The film, in many ways, backs this up. Yes, he did play DT in a 4-3 defense, and could play NT in a 3-4 as well, but I feel in a 3-4 defense his skills project better as a DE. 1994-2007, 4x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, NFL 1990s All Decade Team
DE3: Cleveland Elam Elam, a 4-3 DT, had an incredible talent for rushing the quarterback. In 1977 he posted a 17.5 sack season, following up a 14.5 sack campaign the year prior. Though his career was cut all too short by injury, he was one hell of a mauler on defense who would have been considered one of the absolute best defenders of his generation had his career not been derailed. 1975-1979 (1975-1978), 2x Pro Bowl
DE4: Cedrick Hardman Hardman, the 49ers All Time Sacks leader, was a phenomenal pass rusher as well as an all around defensive lineman. He was drafted 9th overall by the 49ers in the 1970 NFL Draft, and holds the franchise record for most sacks in a season. Hardman is perhaps one of the most underrated linemen of his generation, and had the quickness to play OLB if needed. 1970-1981 (1970-1979), 2x Pro Bowl
DT1: Leo Nomellini Perhaps the greatest defensive star in 49ers history, Nomellini was an absolute force on defense. He was among the strongest players of his generation, and according to Joe Perry, was "as strong as three bulls". He would devour double teams up the middle, and was quite possibly the best defensive tackle of the 1950s, with the possible exception of Ernie Stautner. A lifelong 49er, Nomellini was also an incredibly strong offensive tackle, though he would best be served as a defensive specialist in today's NFL. 1950-1963, 9x All Pro, 10x Pro Bowl, NFL 1950s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
DT2: Dana Stubblefield Stubblefield had two different stints with the 49ers, along with shorter stints with both the Redskins and Raiders. However, his true peak came during his time with the 49ers. He could easily have played both defensive end or defensive tackle, as he had the skillset to play both at an elite level. He had a 15 sack outburst in the 1997 season, earning him DPOY honors. He was also an effective run stuffer, and shut down opposing offensive lines quite frequently. 1993-2003 (1993-1997, 2001-2002), 3x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, DPOY 1997, DROY 1993, Super Bowl XXIX Champion
DT3: Michael Carter Carter was a true monster on the defensive side of the ball. He stuffed the run as well as anybody, and generated pressure up the middle like a tidal wave. He was a key reason for the 49ers success during the Montana dynasty, and was there for the 3 final Montana Super Bowl wins. His leadership on defense elevated the play of all around him, and he created plenty of opportunities for pass rushing on the outside by swallowing up the inside of the line. 1984-1992, 4x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
OLB1: Charles Haley One of the most fearsome outside linebackers I have ever seen play, Haley was a major contributor on the defensive side of the ball, racking up 100.5 sacks during his illustrious career. A legend both in San Francisco and Dallas, he brought a fearsome athleticism to the outside linebacker position, along with breakneck speed. He reminds me a lot of Von Miller today, and he was an unrivaled competitor. He and Tom Brady are the only two NFL players to have 5 Super Bowl Rings. 1986-1999 (1986-1991, 1998-1999), 2x (1x) All Pro, 5x (3x) Pro Bowl, 5x (2x) Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV with SF, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX with Dallas), 2x NFC DPOY, Pro Football HoF
OLB2: Dave Wilcox A lifelong 49er, there were very few players on the same level as Wilcox throughout his career. He excelled at nearly everything he did, shedding blockers to tackle ball carriers for a loss, getting after the quarterback, dropping back into coverage, and rotating inside to blitz interior gaps or stuff interior runs. He was an extremely intelligent player, and always prepared at a high level. His fundamentals were as good as any linebacker who has ever played. 1964-1974, 4x All Pro, 7x Pro Bowl, Pro Football HoF
ILB/OLB: Julian Peterson Peterson was a dominant linebacker for several NFC teams during his career, but the majority of his peak came during his 49ers tenure. He was extremely effective against both the pass and the run, and played linebacker primarily in 4-3 defensive packages. However, he had the pass rushing ability to play OLB in a 3-4 scheme, and occasionally did with great effectiveness. An extremely well rounded player, he had high levels of intellect and athleticism that brought him huge success. 2000-2010 (2000-2005), 3x (2x) All Pro, 5x (2x) Pro Bowl
ILB1: Patrick Willis A premier interior linebacker, Willis spent 8 seasons with the 49ers, where he earned 7 consecutive Pro Bowl nods and 6 consecutive All Pro honors, 5 of them First Team. Unfortunately, he had injuries that nagged him throughout his later years. With better health and thus a longer career, he likely would be a lock as a first ballot Hall of Famer. He managed to rack up 950 tackles in only 8 seasons, and led the NFL in tackles his rookie season. He was every bit the rival of other top linebackers of his time, and is one of the best tacklers in recent memory. 2007-2014, 6x All Pro, 7x Pro Bowl, NFL DROY 2007
ILB2: NaVorro Bowman Bowman is only the second current 49er on this All Time Roster, and is so far the youngest at only 28 years old. He is an outstanding tackler, and is an all around phenomenal linebacker. He also has amazing pass defense skills as a linebacker, and is a true treat to watch play. Unfortunately, he has had some injury concerns lately, particularly in his knees and ankles. When healthy, he is a top-5 linebacker in the NFL. 2010-Present, 4x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl
ILB3: Ken Norton Norton played weakside linebacker, strongside linebacker, and middle linebacker all at high levels in his career. He spent a long time with both the Cowboys and the 49ers, but his longer tenure and prime were with the 49ers. Norton was a superb tackler, and one of the best pass coverage linebackers in recent memory. He also won consecutive Super Bowls on different teams, XXVIII in Dallas and XXIX in San Francisco. 1988-2000 (1994-2000), 2x (1x) All Pro, 3x (2x) Pro Bowl, 3x (1x) Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII in Dallas, XXIX in San Francisco)
ILB4: Michael Walter Walter was originally drafted to be a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid by the Cowboys. However, he struggled before making his way to the 49ers for his sophomore season, where he was moved to inside linebacker, and quickly became a star both on defense and special teams. He quickly showed his speciality is covering the run and rushing the quarterback, though covering the pass is a weakness in his game. However, this is more than made up for by his strengths, as he was one of the underrated players that proved crucial to several 49ers Super Bowl victories. 1983-1993 (1984-1993), All Pro 1989, 3x Super Bowl Champion (XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
ILB5: Keena Turner Turner was a lifelong 49er, spending 11 seasons with the team. He was highly effective inside, and was also a serviceable outside linebacker. He helped bring 4 Super Bowl rings to San Francisco during the Montana era, bringing amazing tackling and pass defense (both rushing and coverage) to the team. His timely plays were often overlooked, but he very rarely made the wrong play. 1980-1990, Pro Bowl 1984, 4x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
CB1: Jimmy Johnson Johnson is one of 3-4 players that can make a real case for being the Defensive MVP on this roster. A defensive juggernaut, he played safety and cornerback at an extremely high level, though unlike All Time teammate Ronnie Lott, he performed better at cornerback. He also was an effective wide receiver, though due to this team's depth at WR and Johnson's proficiency on the defensive side of the ball, he will likely not see playing time on offense. He is one of the best man coverage defenders in NFL history, rivaling nearly any defensive back in NFL history. 1961-1976, 5x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL 1970s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
CB2: Eric Wright Wright was a key contributor to the 49ers dynasty during the Montana era, and he peaked during the 1983, 1984 and 1985 seasons. Dwight is best remembered for having his best performances in the biggest games. He intercepted passes in Super Bowls XVI and XIX, and had several other key interceptions to seal multiple games. This man could single handedly kill any offensive drive. 1981-1990, 2x All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, 4x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
CB3: Eric Davis Davis was another stellar player whose biggest moments came in his biggest games. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive playoff games with an interception, at 5. He spent the majority of his career with the 49ers, but was also successful with the Panthers for a slightly shorter tenure. In the twilight of his career, he played for the Broncos and the Lions. In San Francisco, he nearly singlehandedly crushed the will of the Cowboys offense in the 1994 NFCCG, where he had a 44 yard Pick-6 as well as a forced fumble on Michael Irvin that set up another 49ers TD. He was the definition of a playmaking corner. 1990-2002 (1990-1995), 3x (1x) All Pro, 2x (1x) Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XXIX Champion
CB4: Kermit Alexander Alexander had tenures with the 49ers, Rams, and Eagles. However, his longest tenure and prime came with the 49ers. Though a relatively forgotten player, he was a hard hitting corner that was like a Swiss army knife, doing all things well. He played zone and man well, was a special teams star, a return specialist, and had solid run support defense and tackling. He was overall a fantastic player on a rather unfortunate series of 49ers teams. 1963-1973 (1963-1969), Pro Bowl 1968
CB5: Abe Woodson Woodson was one of the best return specialists in NFL history. Of qualifying returners, his 28.7 yards per kick return leads all returners in NFL history. He was also a potent defensive back, earning him a spot here. However, his roster spot is secured by his returns, as sometimes his man coverage is suboptimal. 1958-1966 (1958-1964), 5x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl
S1: Ronnie Lott Lott is one of the premier defensive players in NFL history. He is one of the most successful defensive backs in the past several decades, and is perhaps still an underrated player. He was runner up for DROY honors behind Lawrence Taylor after picking off 7 passes as a rookie, and quickly propelled himself into the defensive star that would help lead the 49ers to 4 Super Bowl wins. He led the NFL in interceptions twice, though only once with the 49ers. After an absolutely brilliant 49ers career, he spent time with the Raiders and Jets before short training camp stints with both the Chiefs and 49ers (again). However, 10 of his 14 seasons were with the 49ers, along with nearly his entire prime. Some consider him to be the premier open field tackler in NFL history. 1981-1994 (1981-1990), 8x (7x) First Team All Pro, 10x (9x) Pro Bowl, 4x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV), 2x (1x) NFL INT Leader (1986 in SF, 1991 with Raiders), NFL 1980s All Decade Team, NFL 1990s All Decade Team, Pro Football HoF
S2: Merton Hanks Hanks was a dominating safety throughout the 1990s for the 49ers (and one season with the Seahawks). He was known for interceptions and his unique celebrations, in which he performed the chicken dance. He was a crucial member of the 1994 Super Bowl winning team. He had amazing interception returns, and almost always gained significant yardage after picking off a pass. 1991-1999 (1991-1998), 3x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, NFL Alumni Defensive Back of the Year 1995, Super Bowl XXIX Champion
S3: Dwight Hicks Hicks was a key member of the 49ers in his unfortunately all too short career of 9 seasons (7 with San Francisco). He headlined a hard hitting 49ers secondary during the legendary 1981 season, which affectionately became known as "Dwight Hicks and his Hot Licks". He was also a phenomenal on the field leader, and helped buoy his team to a fantastic 1984 NFL season with his leadership abilities. 1978-1986 (1979-1985), 2x All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX)
K: Ray Wersching Wersching is the highest scoring kicker in 49ers history, and a key member of the first to Super Bowl wins. He originally joined the NFL as a member of the Chargers, but after 4 seasons joined the 49ers and became only the 12th player in NFL history to score 1,000 career points. 1973-1987 (1977-1987), All Pro 1986, 2x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX)
P: Andy Lee Lee is an amazing punter and current player, though he now plays for the Carolina Panthers. He averages a phenomenal 46.3 yards per punt, and has over 48,000 punting yards in his career, over 43,000 of which are with San Francisco. He is still one of the premier punters in the NFL. 2004-Present (2004-2014), 4x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl
KR/PR: Abe Woodson (See CB5)
LS: Brian Jennings Jennings was one of the most consistent faces for the 49ers throughout his career. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and quickly became a key contributor to the team where he spent his whole career. Jennings is one of the most consistent players of the 2000s, and earned 2 Pro Bowl berths as a longsnapper. 2000-2012, 2x Pro Bowl
Submitted May 02, 2017 at 11:53AM by chrisjoe1992 http://ift.tt/2p0qzpp nfl
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