NEA NFL MVP in 1982, PFWA NFL MVP in 1979 and 1982, and UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year twice (1979, 1982). —Three-time First-Team All-Pro selection (1979, 1982, 1985) and 1980 Second-Team All-Pro selection San Diego may credit San Francisco for providing the city with probably its best football player of all time. In fact, it was also probably the worst thing that ever happened to them.
In 1967, in his only season with the 49ers, Jerry Rice broke all the single-season receiving records then available. When he retired after the 2005 season, he had 1,848 yards, which at the time of his retirement was more than any other receiver in NFL history. He is still the most productive receiver in NFL history by far and holds virtually every major receiving record there is.
The next year, the 49ers released him during the offseason. They said he was too expensive but really they just didn't want him around anymore. Today, we know this because they never even tried to hide it. After all, it's not like they gave any reason why they were letting him go. They just did. And then they signed Joe Montana.
So yes, the greatest athlete in franchise history is definitely one of their own guys. If you ask me, though, he's not even the best quarterback they've had. That would be Steve Young who went on to have a very successful career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Each NFL franchise's all-time Pro Bowlers are listed below.
1. L.G. Upshaw, Gene (1967-81), Gene Upshaw is widely regarded as the best Raiders player of all time for a variety of reasons. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection during his career with the team. He also has the distinction of being the last player to appear in a Super Bowl who had not won a championship. In fact, he was playing for the Raiders in 1977 when they lost to Joe Montana's undefeated season at quarterback for the 49ers.
Upshaw played college football at California and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round (third overall) of the 1967 NFL Draft. He earned a spot on the roster right away, appearing in 16 games as a rookie while posting 42 tackles and five sacks. He went on to become one of the most feared pass rushers in football during his tenure with the club, finishing his career with 175 1/2 sacks.
Upshaw was named the Raiders' MVP after they returned from their two-year hiatus in 1969 and 1970. He was also selected to four consecutive All-Star Games from 1967 to 1971. His accomplishments don't stop there though; Upshaw also holds the record for most solo tackles in a game with 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1970.
The All-Time Greatest Offensive Linemen
1. Jim Otto The Raiders' standout was by far the greatest player in his position in any season he played. He was the best at whatever he did to protect quarterbacks like Tom Flores, Dary Lamonica, and Ken Stabler. He was also great at blocking for runners because he had more than 100 catches in each of his first three seasons.
Otto was a four-time All-Pro selection and two-time Pro Bowler. He won the Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 1978 and 1979 and was ranked # 18 on the NFL's All-Time Team.
Otto played in 160 games over eight seasons, recording 507 tackles, 21 passes defensed, and seven interceptions. He died in 1998 at the age of 49.
Otto's son, James, now plays for the Oakland Raiders as a guard. He's one of the top guards in the league and has helped guide his father's replacement, Donald Penn, into becoming an elite left tackle.
It's safe to say that Jim Otto is one of the greatest centers of all time. He's first on our list.
The San Francisco 49ers have a long history of Super Bowl titles and appearances. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice have been in many of the 49ers' Super Bowl outings. The 49ers have a lot of Super Bowl experience. The San Francisco 49ers have a long history of Super Bowl titles and appearances.
The San Francisco 49ers have five Super Bowl titles: 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994.
In the 2019 Conference Championship, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers. When was the last time the San Francisco 49ers lost a playoff game? In 2019, the San Francisco 49ers were defeated in the Super Bowl by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 49ers are one of the most popular teams in the NFL, owing to their more success than most others. San Francisco can thank their incredible run in the 1980s, as well as an additional Super Bowl win in the 1990s, for this. Now, in its first title game appearance since the 2012 season, San Francisco is pursuing another Super Bowl.
Numbers retired by the San Francisco 49ers Position Tenure Retired Refs No. Of Players 8 Steve Young, quarterback, 1987-1999 October 5, 2008 12 p.m. QB John Brodie *, 1957-1973 15 December 1973: 16 QB Joe Montana (1979-1992)
It's crucial to remember that this list only includes what they did while wearing the 49ers uniform, not their whole career. Randy Moss, for example, is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, and he played for the 49ers. He is not the finest 49er to ever wear No. 84 because he only played one season in San Francisco at the end of his career.
The 1962 Green Bay Packers are widely regarded as the best NFL team of all time, yet they only appeared in one postseason game and won the title prior to the Super Bowl era. They were also coached by the renowned Vince Lombardi. Every team on the list is a Super Bowl champion.
They had an impressive 46-0 record and led the league in scoring defense (10 points per game). The Packers lost their first playoff game 21-6 to John Brodie of the Chicago Bears at Milwaukee County Stadium. That's it - one game, one championship.
Given that criteria, it's not hard to see why the Packers are considered the best team of all time. They had a legendary quarterback in Bart Starr, a powerful running back in Eddie Lacy, and one of the most intimidating defenses in NFL history. Plus, Lombardi was one of the best coaches of all time. He won more than half of his games each season and never had a losing year.
Starr was voted MVP after leading the Packers to a 9-1-1 record during the regular season. He passed for 2,229 yards with 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions. In the playoffs, he threw four touchdowns without an interception as the Packers beat the Chicago Bears at City Stadium in the first round before falling to the Oakland Raiders in the conference championship game.
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