Lott, who started as a corner and was moved to safety later in his career, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, his first of nine Pro Bowl appearances. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Williamson, a safety, played in two Pro Bowls, as did Wright, a cornerback.
In 1984, all four made the Pro Bowl...and won their second Super Bowl together. Among them, they won a combined 12 Super Bowls. Lott and Wright played on all four Super Bowl teams in the 1980s. Williamson and Hicks both played on the 1981 and 1984 teams.
So is this the greatest secondary in 49ers history? When it comes to championships, you can't argue it is. But if it is not, which is? Here are a few other contenders.
1988-1989
We have already discussed Lott, who was one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. But in 1988 and 1989, the 49ers had two of the league's best corners in Tim McKyer and Don Griffin. And they had one of the hardest hitting safeties in football, Jeff Fuller. This secondary was dominant, and it helped the team win the Super Bowl in 1988 and 1989. Among its members, they won a combined 11 Super Bowls. Lott with four, Fuller with three, and McKyer and Griffin with two. Sadly, Fuller's career was cut short after a spinal injury in October 1989. He is able to walk, thankfully, but still suffers from the injury.1994
Any secondary that includes Deion Sanders will be a contender. He was, perhaps, the greatest corner to ever play the game. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, first ballot Hall of Famer, and won two Super Bowls (one with Dallas). In addition to Sanders, the 1994 secondary included Merton Hanks (a four-time Pro Bowler), Tim McDonald (a six-time Pro Bowler) and Eric Davis (a two-time Pro Bowler). Three of the four defensive backs made the Pro Bowl in 1994.2011-2012
Although this secondary won't get the attention of the others, it was really good. The secondary consisted of Tarrell Brown, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson. This secondary didn't win any Super Bowls together, but it was an effective group that played much better than expected.So which group are you going with? For my money, it has to be the 1981-1985 group. Cast your vote!
Written By:
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
Marc Adams
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers have great history with 11th pick
As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the San Francisco 49ers hold the eleventh pick in the first round. If the team stays put and makes a selection, history suggests they will land a great player. The team has previously used the 11th pick to select two players that went on to... -
49ers climb in power rankings after defense-heavy draft haul
NFL.com's Eric Edholm released his post-draft power rankings, offering insight into where each team stands after adding their latest rookie classes. At the top of the list are the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose draft haul once again earned Edholm's praise. The... -
49ers Draft Night Vibes at Levi's Stadium
This past Thursday, I had the chance to soak in the electric atmosphere at Levi's Stadium for the 49ers' Draft Party. From the gold-blooded diehards to the next generation of the Faithful, there was plenty of buzz about who the 49ers would select with the 11th overall pick. As... -
Details emerge on George Kittle's contract extension with 49ers
Tight end George Kittle signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio shared the specifics of the deal, which once again makes Kittle the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The new agreement is a...