San Francisco 49ers Top Jersey Numbers 51-99

March 2, 2019
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Aldon Smith
Aldon Smith could have been one of football's all-time great players but legal troubles mired his life and career. Photo Credit: Terence White USA Today Sports Images via Creative Commons License.

Last time we focused on the greatest players to wear jersey numbers 1-50. This time we will finish the list by looking at the greatest players to wear jersey numbers 51-99 in franchise history. There are some all-time greats on this list from punishing linemen to the greatest player of all time.

* retired number

+ Hall of Fame player

  1. Randy Cross, G/C- The late 1970s were brutal for the 49ers as the team went 2-14 in back-to-back seasons. The team had very little talent but they did have the nucleus of a great offensive line. Cross was one of the holdovers from that forgettable era and saw the franchise rise from the ashes of obscurity and into the annals of history as one of the greatest teams of all time. He started his career at center before moving to guard for the majority of the 1980s. He made three Pro Bowls as the 49ers won three Super Bowls, cementing their status as the Team of the Decade.
  2. Patrick Willis, MLB- He made the Pro Bowl every year of his career except for his injury-plagued final season in 2014. He was also named All-Pro five times in his eight-year career. He was a tackling machine with 950 tackles and 60 for a loss. He had a nose for the ball with eight interceptions, two touchdowns, 16 forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. His impact reverberated throughout the league as he was generally seen as one of the top defensive players throughout his illustrious career.
  3. NaVorro Bowman, ILB- He played alongside Willis and together they defined what makes a great linebacker is in this present day. The three-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection was all over the field. He left an impressionable mark on the hearts of 49er fans when he returned a Matt Ryan interception 89 yards for a touchdown to seal the win in the final game at Candlestick Park.
  4. Lee Woodall, LB- He was selected to two Pro Bowls with the 49ers. He never had fewer than 55 tackles in a season and had 10 sacks for his career.
  5. Ahmad Brooks, OLB- He was probably the most underrated player on the 49ers defense of the early 2010s. He never had fewer than five sacks in a season while with the 49ers. His finest season was 2013 when he recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks and was invited to his only Pro Bowl.
  6. Fred Quillan, C- He survived the dismal 1970’s and was a hardened veteran when the 49ers dynasty began in 1981. He led the 49ers offensive line to their first two Super Bowls and was selected to two Pro Bowls.
  7. Dan Bunz, LB- Statistically, he was a decent player but he is best remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XVI. In that game he had three critical stops at the goal line to secure a 26-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
  8. Keena Turner, LB- He was the most reliable linebacker for the franchise during its dynasty of the 1980s. He was invited to his only Pro Bowl in 1984 and recorded a career-high six sacks the following year. He is one of four players with the 49ers to win all four Super Bowls in the decade.
  9. Willie Harper, LB- He was with the team for a decade and saw the lowest of lows in the late 1970s but was able to stay until the team won the Super Bowl in 1981. He recorded three sacks in his final season in 1983.
  10. Roland Lakes, DT- He was a solid performer on the defensive line. His best season was in 1969 when he had four fumble recoveries and scored a touchdown.
  11. Jesse Sapolu, G/C- He played the majority of his career at guard. When Cross retired after the 1988 season he took over at center and led the team to another Super Bowl title in 1989. Both Joe Montana and Steve Young were named league MVP while he was their center. He moved back to guard in 1994 and the team won another Super Bowl. He was invited to two Pro Bowls and named All-Pro twice.
  12. Guy McIntyre, G- He didn’t start any games in 1984, his rookie year, but he did play fullback in the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears. This inspired the Bears coach, Mike Ditka, to implement William “The Refrigerator” Perry in his offense as a fullback. McIntyre made five Pro Bowls with the 49ers and proved to be dependable on the offensive line.
  13. Derrick Deese, RG/LT- He started his career at right guard and helped the team win the Super Bowl in 1995. He moved to left tackle the following season and remained there for the rest of his career. He was a mainstay on the offensive line while the team transitioned from Young to Jeff Garcia at quarterback.
  14. + Dave Wilcox, LB- He made seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro twice during an illustrious Hall of Fame career. He recorded 14 interceptions and scored a touchdown during his time in San Francisco.
  1. Ray Brown, LG- He proved his toughness by only missing one game in his six seasons with the 49ers. He was invited to the Pro Bowl in 2001.
  2. Eric Heitmann, LG/C- Though he was never selected for the Pro Bowl he was the leader on the offensive line during the dark times of the 2000s.
  3. Chris Dalman, RG/C- The local product out of Stanford University and Palma High School had a hard time getting on the field in his early years on the team. After toiling on the sidelines for three years he was finally put in the starting lineup as a right guard in 1996. He made the transition to center the following year and led the team during its last great moments of the 1990s.
  4. John Ayers, LG- The 49ers of the late 1970s were pitiful but they had the building blocks of a great offensive line. Ayers was one of the few holdovers from that era and battled in the trenches as the 49ers went from the laughingstock of the NFL to one of the greatest sports dynasties of all time. He started every game of the championship years of 1981 and 1984.
  5. Woody Peoples, RG- He had a great ability to not miss games, only missing four during his eight years as a starter. He played his final years with the Philadelphia Eagles and started all 16 games during his final year in 1980. He was invited to two Pro Bowls while with the 49ers.
  6. * Charlie Krueger, DE/DT- He was a key component of the 49ers dominant pass rush of the early 1970s. He rarely missed games and was invited to two Pro Bowls during his career.
  1. Keith Fahnhorst, RT- He was another holdover from the 1970s who made a direct impact on the dynasty of the 1980s. His best season was 1984 when he was invited to the Pro Bowl and was named an All-Pro.
  2. Jeff Stover, DE- He was an underrated member of the 49ers defense during their dynastic run. His best seasons were 1985 and 1986 when he recorded 21 sacks between those two years.
  3. *+ Leo Nomellini, OT/DT- He played during an era when two-way players dominated the game and he left a bruising impact on both sides of the ball. He was so dominant that he was named All-Pro for both offense and defense. He was invited to 10 Pro Bowls and named All-Pro six times during his Hall of Fame career.
  1. Joe Staley, LT- He was drafted in the same round as Willis and while he does not have nearly as many accolades as Willis does, his impact is felt just as strongly on the offensive line. He has been selected to six Pro Bowls and named second-team All-Pro three times.
  2. Forrest Blue, C- He was a part of an offense led by quarterback John Brodie which twice came within a game from reaching the Super Bowl. He was invited to four Pro Bowls and named All-Pro twice.
  1. Len Rohde, LT- He was a remarkable athlete who started every game for 12 straight seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970 and spent his entire 15-year career with the 49ers.
  2. Bruce Bosely, DE/LG/C- He spent 13 seasons with the 49ers and moved around between offense and defense. He finally found a home at center in 1962 and made three Pro Bowls at that position. He was also invited to the Pro Bowl as a left guard in 1960.
  3. John Thomas, MLB/LG/LT- While he primarily played on the offensive line, he did play linebacker in 1962. His best season was 1966 when he was invited to the Pro Bowl and named All-Pro as a left guard.
  4. *+ Bob St. Clair, RT- The native San Franciscan played high school, collegiate and professionally at Kezar Stadium, the field which now bears his name. He also loved to eat raw meat, making him an enigma amongst his teammates. He was invited to five Pro Bowls during his career and was inducted in the Hall of Fame. 
  5. *+Jerry Rice, WR- Possibly the greatest player of all time, he set the standard for modern day receivers. He set league records for receptions (1,549), yards (22,895), and touchdown receptions (197). He was well known for his work ethic and offseason conditioning. He was invited to 13 Pro Bowls and named either first or second-team All-Pro 12 times. 
  6. + Terrell Owens, WR- He played alongside Rice and eventually replaced him as the 49ers go-to receiver. He was invited to the Pro Bowl four times and was named All-Pro three times while with the 49ers.
  1. John Taylor, WR- He played alongside Rice in the late 1980s through the 1994 Super Bowl season. He caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XIII against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had great speed and was used as a punt returner through much of his early career. He was invited to two Pro Bowls.
  2. J.J. Stokes, WR- He was a good complement for Rice and Owens. His best season was 1998 when he had 770 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
  3. Brent Jones, TE- He is arguably the greatest tight end in franchise history. The local product out of Santa Clara University and Leland High School was invited to four Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 5,195 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns.
  4. Vernon Davis, TE- He had played his way into the hearts of the 49er Faithful in 2011. When the playoffs began that year, he had a game for the ages. He had seven receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. The final touchdown was in the waning seconds of the game to clinch a 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints. That play had been known as “The Catch III” and “The Grab”. He was selected to two Pro Bowls while with the 49ers.
  5. Cedrick Hardman, DE- He was a member of the 49ers fierce pass rush of the early 1970’s. He was invited to two Pro Bowls during his career.
  6. * Dwight Clark, WR- He made “The Catch” which sent the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 1981. He was invited to two Pro Bowls and named All Pro once during his career. His best season was 1981 when he had 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and four touchdowns.
  1. Freddie Solomon, WR- He was the first truly athletic receiver during the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s. His best season was 1981 when he had 59 receptions for 969 yards and eight touchdowns.
  2. Tai Streets, WR- He was a solid complement for Owens in the early 2000s. His best season was in 2002 when he had 72 receptions for 756 yards and five touchdowns.
  3. Isaac Sopoaga, DT- He was very good playing against the run. His best season was 2008 when he had 41 tackles and a sack.
  4. Larry Roberts, DT- He was a good pass rusher and provided steady pressure against the opposing quarterback. His best season was 1991 when he had seven sacks.
  5. Aubrayo Franklin, DT- He played well against the run and established a hard hitting mentality on the 49ers defense. His best season was 2008 when he had 46 tackles and a sack.
  6. Ian Williams, DT- He slowly got playing time but when he finally got in the starting lineup he starred. His best season was 2015 when he had 65 tackles and a sack.
  7. + Charles Haley, OLB/DE- He was dynamic as a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. He was invited to three Pro Bowls and named All Pro once while with the 49ers. His best season with the franchise was 1990 when he recorded 16 sacks. He was the first player with five Super Bowl rings, two with the 49ers and three with the Dallas Cowboys.
  1. Michael Carter, NT- He came to the 49ers as an Olympic shot putter, having won the Silver Medal in the 1984 Games. He was invited to three Pro Bowls and named All Pro once during his career. His best season was 1988 when he recorded 6.5 sacks.
  2. Dennis Brown, DE- He was a solid pass rusher during his career. His best season was 1990 when he recorded six sacks.
  3. Bryant Young, DT- He was a force on the defensive line while making four Pro Bowls and being named All Pro once. His best season was 1996 when he recorded 11.5 sacks.
  4. Julian Peterson, LB- He was a force for the 49ers defense in the early 2000s. His best season was 2003 when he recorded seven sacks. He was invited to two Pro Bowls and named All-Pro once while with the 49ers.
  5. Aldon Smith, OLB- Despite his legal troubles, he was a tremendous player for the 49ers in the early 2010s. He was invited to the Pro Bowl in 2012 after recording 19.5 sacks. He recorded a remarkable 44 sacks in four seasons with the 49ers.
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