All-Time San Francisco 49ers 53-man Team

Happy Thanksgiving Faithful,

As we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday I thought I'd provide something fun to debate rather than politics or crypto. Here's the game:

Create the best 53-man squad of All-Time San Francisco 49ers players.
1. I used a 4-3 defense based on the players I selected but you could choose a 3-4 as we have used both.
2. I used the current roster allotment that our 2022 team is using.
3. I did not select any players that only spent a short time in San Francisco (i.e. Deion Sanders, Randy Moss, Rickey Jackson, etc.). My rule was that they must have had at least two strong seasons in San Francisco. This also ruled out players who spent their better years somewhere else (i.e. Richard Sherman, Y.A. Tittle).
4. I gave preference to players who are in the NFL Hall of Fame, made the NFL All-Pro team, were selected to Pro Bowls, or have had their numbers retired by the 49ers.
5. I tried my best to select players who predominantly played at a certain position (i.e. Ronnie Lott who played CB and FS).

Offense (25; starters in bold)
QB: Joe Montana, Steve Young, John Brodie
RB: Hugh McElhenny, Frank Gore, Roger Craig
FB: Joe Perry, Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Jerry Rice, Gene Washington, John Taylor (KR)
TE: George Kittle, Brent Jones, Vernon Davis
LT: Trent Williams, Joe Staley
LG: Guy McIntyre, Mike Iupati
C: Jesse Sapolu, Forrest Blue
RG: Randy Cross
RT: Bob St. Clair, Harris Barton
WR: Terrell Owens, Dwight Clark

4-3 Defense (26; starters in bold)
DE: Fred Dean, Justin Smith, Dwaine Board
DT: Leo Nomellini, Charlie Kruger
DT: Bryant Young, Dana Stubblefield, Michael Carter
DE: Cedrick Hardman, Nick Bosa
OLB: Charles Haley, Julian Peterson
MLB: Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman
OLB: Dave Wilcox, Kenna Turner
CB: Jimmy Johnson, Kermit Alexander
CB: Eric Wright, Don Griffin, Abe Woodson (PR)
FS: Ronnie Lott, Dwight Hicks, Merton Hanks
SS: Tim McDonald, Carlton Williamson

PK: Robbie Gould
P: Andy Lee
KR: John Taylor
PR: Abe Woodson

Head Coach: Bill Walsh
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Holmgren
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Carroll

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my team. Feel free to agree or disagree and make your own team if you feel so inclined. We certainly have had some amazing players play for our San Francisco 49ers and I'm proud to be a lifelong fan.

GO NINERS!

Originally posted by ArmchairQB:
Happy Thanksgiving Faithful,

As we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday I thought I'd provide something fun to debate rather than politics or crypto. Here's the game:

Create the best 53-man squad of All-Time San Francisco 49ers players.
1. I used a 4-3 defense based on the players I selected but you could choose a 3-4 as we have used both.
2. I used the current roster allotment that our 2022 team is using.
3. I did not select any players that only spent a short time in San Francisco (i.e. Deion Sanders, Randy Moss, Rickey Jackson, etc.). My rule was that they must have had at least two strong seasons in San Francisco. This also ruled out players who spent their better years somewhere else (i.e. Richard Sherman, Y.A. Tittle).
4. I gave preference to players who are in the NFL Hall of Fame, made the NFL All-Pro team, were selected to Pro Bowls, or have had their numbers retired by the 49ers.
5. I tried my best to select players who predominantly played at a certain position (i.e. Ronnie Lott who played CB and FS).

Offense (25; starters in bold)
QB: Joe Montana, Steve Young, John Brodie
RB: Hugh McElhenny, Frank Gore, Roger Craig
FB: Joe Perry, Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Jerry Rice, Gene Washington, John Taylor (KR)
TE: George Kittle, Brent Jones, Vernon Davis
LT: Trent Williams, Joe Staley
LG: Guy McIntyre, Mike Iupati
C: Jesse Sapolu, Forrest Blue
RG: Randy Cross
RT: Bob St. Clair, Harris Barton
WR: Terrell Owens, Dwight Clark

4-3 Defense (26; starters in bold)
DE: Fred Dean, Justin Smith, Dwaine Board
DT: Leo Nomellini, Charlie Kruger
DT: Bryant Young, Dana Stubblefield, Michael Carter
DE: Cedrick Hardman, Nick Bosa
OLB: Charles Haley, Julian Peterson
MLB: Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman
OLB: Dave Wilcox, Kenna Turner
CB: Jimmy Johnson, Kermit Alexander
CB: Eric Wright, Don Griffin, Abe Woodson (PR)
FS: Ronnie Lott, Dwight Hicks, Merton Hanks
SS: Tim McDonald, Carlton Williamson

PK: Robbie Gould
P: Andy Lee
KR: John Taylor
PR: Abe Woodson

Head Coach: Bill Walsh
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Holmgren
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Carroll

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my team. Feel free to agree or disagree and make your own team if you feel so inclined. We certainly have had some amazing players play for our San Francisco 49ers and I'm proud to be a lifelong fan.

GO NINERS!

I am 67 years old and started following the 49ers seriously in 1962. That said, I am impressed with your selections. Very hard to argue.

-Just my opinion, I would insert, Joe Staley over Bob St Clair at RT since Staley did play RT one year.

-I would cut Kruger and put Michael Carter at the starting DT over Leo

-I like your pick of Hardman over Bosa for now. Seems like that will change

-I would switch Woodson (my favorite player) to KR and JT to PR

-Seifert and Fangio better than Pete Carrol

No Deion?

Jimmy Johnson, one of the great cover corners in NFL history.

Originally posted by krizay:
No Deion?

One-year rental.

Jimmy Johnson was as good a CB as Deion and close as a returner.

Originally posted by 60sFan:
I am 67 years old and started following the 49ers seriously in 1962. That said, I am impressed with your selections. Very hard to argue.

-Just my opinion, I would insert, Joe Staley over Bob St Clair at RT since Staley did play RT one year.

-I would cut Kruger and put Michael Carter at the starting DT over Leo

-I like your pick of Hardman over Bosa for now. Seems like that will change

-I would switch Woodson (my favorite player) to KR and JT to PR

-Seifert and Fangio better than Pete Carrol

I love Joe Staley but St Clair is a well-deserved HOFer.

Leo the Lion was the best DT in team history.

Other than that, I'm in.

No Terrell Owens?

No Larry Allen?

Control F "Purd..." nothing.

Originally posted by Ninerlakerdodger:
No Terrell Owens?

A top 2-3 WR in NFL history doesn't make an all time 49er team that has 3 WRs on it?

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by Ninerlakerdodger:
No Terrell Owens?

A top 2-3 WR in NFL history doesn't make an all time 49er team that has 3 WRs on it?

He included TO as the other starter...

Solid list! I'd take this 53 over any other franchise's top 53.

Ummmm.....TOM RATHMAN!

Stopped reading when Cody Pickett wasn't one of the quarterbacks.

Originally posted by dj43:
One-year rental.

Jimmy Johnson was as good a CB as Deion and close as a returner.

Agree with JJ as a CB but was not a returner. He did play WR in 1962 with some decent numbers.