It's been over 30 years since Roger Craig high-kneed his way through opposing NFL defenses. In his storied career with the San Francisco 49ers, Craig changed the way NFL teams employ running backs. Three decades later, we still see the impact of how Bill Walsh used the former Nebraska rusher throughout the 1980s.
But Craig's absence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame has left many of his fans, former teammates, and media members wondering why the 49ers great has yet to be enshrined. Count me as one of those wondering the same thing.
So in 2022, I released a story, and with the help of several others, including some of Craig's former teammates like Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Ronnie Lott, made the case that Roger Craig belongs in the Hall of Fame. I followed up that piece with another one, this time getting endorsements from players who played against Craig, namely Mike Singletary and Harry Carson. Still, Craig was not among those selected for enshrinement in 2023.
So this year, I took a different route, deciding to build a four-part podcast series around the first story from 2022. With some guidance from 49ers Webzone editors, David Bonilla and Brian Renick, as well as 49ers reporter, Matt Maiocco, we put together the series, which features former 49ers like Young, Lott, Brent Jones, Carmen Policy, and other players, as well as media members, including three Hall of Fame voters.
We hope you'll take the time to watch the series. We believe we've made a compelling argument. This is the Hall of Fame case for Roger Craig!
Episode 1: Why is Roger Craig still not in the Hall of Fame?
With Bay Area media member, Larry Krueger, we tackle the question of why Roger Craig is not yet in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Episode 2: The numbers
Larry Krueger returns to share the impressive numbers that make up part of the Hall of Fame case for Roger Craig.
Episode 3: The media
Featuring Matt Maiocco, Daniel Brown, Clark Judge, and Rick Gosselin, four media members, three of which are Hall of Fame voters, give us a better understanding of why Roger Craig isn't already in the Hall of Fame, as well as why he belongs in Canton.
Episode 4: The players
Steve Young, Ronnie Lott, Brent Jones, Carmen Policy, Randy Cross, Jesse Sapolu, and Guy McIntyre make their Hall of Fame pitch for Roger Craig.
This podcast series required the help of many people. Huge thanks to:
- Brian Renick, editor and producer extraordinaire
- Our show guests
- And others who provided support and help along the way: David Bonilla, Leisa Knudsen, Alex Tran, Jerry Walker, Valerie Panou, Joy Hayame, and Trey Coleman.