All four played together during the 1988 and 1989 seasons when the team won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Each is enshrined in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Twitter is abuzz with comments. Most everyone agreed with the four listed as the most important players to don a 49ers uniform. Comments abounded like "on the money" and "no debate."
Alexander Hyacinthe approved: "The best quarterback ever, the best left-handed quarterback ever, the best football player ever, and the best safety ever."
Sam Eshghi suggested two of the four should be featured on the NFL's Mount Rushmore. Although he didn't specify which two, it's reasonable to conclude he was referring to Montana and Rice.
Joe Montana is the first player to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award three times. He earned four Super Bowl rings and had the NFC's highest passer rating five times.
Rice is universally regarded as the greatest receiver of all time, holding 36 NFL records, including most receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Rice was a twelve-time Pro Bowler and was selected to the NFL All-Pro team eleven times.
Steve Young led the league in passer rating in six seasons and was named the league's MVP twice. He threw for a record six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX and won more games than any quarterback in the team's history. Young retired with more rushing touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL history.
Ronnie Lott began as a cornerback and transitioned to safety. He was a tremendously physical player and the heart and soul of four San Francisco Super Bowl wins. Lott was named to the league's All-Pro team eight times and picked off 51 passes during his career with the Niners.
"If we're talking players only," this (Montana, Rice, Young, and Lott) is the only answer," said Alex Reyes. Others broadened the list by subbing Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh for either Young or Lott.
Walsh guided the Niners to three Super Bowl wins and was named NFL coach of the year twice.
Hannibal Thompson questioned if pitted against other teams' top four, is there a better Mount Rushmore, or even close? He offered the Cowboys, Ravens, and Packers as potential candidates who boasted the most star-filled foursome.
T R Sullivan went old school by switching out Steve Young for Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Wilcox.
One respondent offered a twist by limiting his list to modern-day 49ers: Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Joe Staley, and Trent Williams.
Please tweet and tell me who makes your top 49ers of all time. Who makes the list if you can name a modern-day 49ers Mount Rushmore?
Written By:
Jon Opelt
Reporter. Immersed in 49ers football from Kezar to Candlestick to Levi's Stadium.
All articles by Jon Opelt
Jon Opelt
Reporter. Immersed in 49ers football from Kezar to Candlestick to Levi's Stadium.
All articles by Jon Opelt
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