Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 San Francisco 49ers.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the 49ers again represented the NFC in the Super Bowl but could not dethrone the defending Super Bowl Champions, Kansas City.  Last year saw two new entrants and two elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Jerry Rice
2. Joe Montana
3. Steve Young
4. Ronnie Lott
5. Leo Nomellini

You can find the entire list here.

Linebacker Fred Warner, now a three-time First Team All-Pro had a significant jump to @8 from #49.

Tight End George Kittle blasted to #29 from #46, showing another seismic jump.  He is now a five-time Pro Bowl selection.

Offensive Lineman and likely Hall of Famer, Trent Williams makes his first appearance at #46.

The second new entry is Nick Bosa, who enters at #49. 

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

As of this writing, Nick Bosa is one of the top Defensive Ends in football, which he wasted little time proving as the Second Overall Pick in 2019.

Bosa, the Big 10 Defensive Player for Ohio State in 2018, showcased his power and pass-rushing technique immediately by winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year.  A torn ACL held him to only two games as a sophomore, but he rocketed back in 2021 with a 15.5 Sack year and a league-leading 21 Tackles for Loss.  Bosa was a Pro Bowler again and the dominant force for a powerful defense on a contender.   That turned out to be just the beginning.

In 2022, Bosa led the NFL in Sacks (18.5) had 48 Quarterback Hits, and was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  Last year, he had his third straight double-digit Sack year, added a fourth Pro Bowl, and has already played in 12 Playoff Games. 

Entering 2023, Bosa has the stats to become an elite all-time player.

Trent Williams went to seven Pro Bowls with Washington but sat out the 2019 Season after he was misdiagnosed with a form of cancer and wanted to go to another team.  He got his wish with a 2020 trade to San Francisco, where on the West Coast, Williams has played the best football of his life.

A Pro Bowl Selection again in 2020, Williams added three more over the last three seasons, all while earning First Team All-Pros.  Williams has proven to be the finest Left Tackle in the NFL in the 2020s thus far and has anchored the Niners to three deep playoff appearances. 

Williams is aging like wine going into the 2024 Season.

Russ Francis was the first Tight End drafted in 1975. The Oregon product went on to have two distinct careers in the NFL.

Beginning his professional career with the New England Patriots, Francis's blocking ability, matched with his soft receiving hands, led him to three straight Pro Bowls (1976-78) and a Second-Team All-Pro in 1976 and 1978. This was a great time for Francis on the field, though there were some problems off of it. 

The Pats were not the juggernaut of the first two decades of the 2000s and were looked at within the NFL as a laughable organization.  This was especially true in the 1970s, as New England refused to pay Francis’ bonus for a Pro Bowl (their rationale was that he didn’t play the game due to injury) and he was also upset with the Patriots’ attempt to cancel his roommate, Darryl Stingley’s medical insurance after he was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum hit.  Francis retired in 1981, with his heart out of the game.  He would return for his second phase in 1982, this time as a San Francisco 49er.

Francis’s second half did not generate a Pro Bowl, but he was a factor in the Niners Super Bowl XIX win over Miami where he had five Receptions.  Francis’ blocking opened up holes for Roger Craig, and spaces for Jerry Rice, and protection for Joe Montana.  It was a great fit for Francis, whose profile rose, even if his individual accolades did not. 

He was released by San Francisco during the 1987 season and returned to the Patriots, where he played one more year.

Robbie Gould is one of the most consistent kickers in NFL history. Although he was only a Pro Bowl and All-Pro player once, that doesn’t detract from his impressive career.

Gould was undrafted in 2005 from Penn State, but he signed with the Chicago Bears during the NFL season and won the starting job. He kept this position until he signed with the New York Giants 10 years later. During his time with the Bears, Gould had his Pro Bowl year in 2006, led the NFL in field goals, and was later named one of the 100 Greatest Chicago Bears.

After leaving the Giants, Gould joined San Francisco, where he continued his success as a top kicker. He was first in field goals in 2017 with 39, and in field goal percentage in 2018.

At the time of his retirement, he was eighth all-time in field goals with 447, and tenth in points with 1,961.

2023: Pre-Season Rank: #83. Peak Period: 2019-23

The explosive Nick Bosa is one of a handful of players who won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2019) and later the AP Defensive Player of the Year (2022), a combination of trophies that can pave the way to a bronze bust.

The cornerstone of a defense that has been to two Super Bowls, Bosa’s five-year peak is impacted by an injury that held him to two Games in 2020, but when he is healthy, Bosa is among the best pass-rushers in football. 

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 San Francisco 49ers.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, San Francisco advanced to the NFC Conference Finals, but injuries kept them from a Super Bowl appearance. Last year, generated two new entrants to the Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Jerry Rice

2. Joe Montana

3. Steve Young

4. Ronnie Lott

5. Leo Nomellini

You can find the entire list here.

The new entrants are Tight End, George Kittle and Linebacker, Fred Warner, enter at #46 and #49 respectively.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Fred Warmer rose his 2018 draft stock with an excellent Senior Bowl and combine, which landed him a Third Round Selection. The 49ers were impressed with his work and he became a starter at Middle Linebacker.

Warner quickly proved his worth recording 124 Combined Tackles as a rookie and 118 as a sophomore, winning the NFC November Defensive Player of the Month, and helping them in their march to the Super Bowl, where they fell to Kansas City. In 2020, Warner was recognized as the game’s top interior Linebacker, winning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors with a top ten finish in Approximate Value (19).

The 2020s conituned to be great for Warner.  He was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro in both 2022 and 2023, and has a four-year run of at least 120 Tackles.  Last season, Warner finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, his first time finishing in the top ten.

Warner begins 2024 as an elite Linebacker and if the 49ers win it all, he will be a huge reason why.

As of this writing, it is safe to say that George Kittle is part of the next generation of Tight Ends, and had it not been for Travis Kelce, would be far more celebrated than he is now.

That seemed strange to type, as Kittle has been great since San Francisco drafted him in the Fifth Round of the 2017 Draft. After a good rookie year, Kittle had what is currently a career-high 1,377 Yards that netted him his first Pro Bowl. He “only” had 1,053 in 2019, but with Kelce’s injury, Kittle was a First Team All-Pro, and was huge in the Niners run to the Super Bowl.

Kittle missed half of 2020 because of injury, and was back the year after, obtaining Pro Bowls in both 2021 and 2022 with Second Team All-Pros.  Kittle added another 1,000-plus Yard year along with a First Team All-Pro.

He begins 2024 as one of the best Tight Ends in football, and should vault multiple spots on this list if he remains healthy.

Professional Football lost another great one yesterday with the passing of Dave Wilcox, who was 80 Years old

Drafted from the University of Oregon in the Third Round in 1964, Dave Wilcox won the Left Linebacker role during his rookie season, and he would hold on to it until he retired after the 1974 Season.

Wilcox went to his first Pro Bowl in 1966 and would begin a six-year streak of that honor in 1968.  Twice a First Team All-Pro, Wilcox used his freakish strength to repel blockers and get to his intended target.  Wilcox was a devastating tackler and had good hands, as shown by his 14 career Interceptions.

Wilcox was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and the 49ers Hall of Fame as part of the first class in 2009.

The “Intimidator” will be greatly missed.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, family and friends of Dave Wilcox.

The Hall of Fame case for Frank Gore is the ultimate test of dominace vs longevity and statistical compiling.

A Third Round Pick from Miami (FL), Gore had his best year early in his career with a sophomore effort seeing Gore post career-highs in Rushing Yards (1,695) and Yards From Scrimmage (2,180).  Gore went to his first Pro Bowl that year, and was a Second Team All-Pro.  Over the next eight seasons with the Niners, Gore exceeded 1,000 Rushing Yards in seven of them, and earned four more trips to the Pro Bowl.

In 2015, Gore joined the Colts, and had his last 1,000 Yard season in 2016.  He would later play for Miami, Buffalo and the New York Jets.

Gore left the game with an even 16,000 Rushing Yards, which places him second all-time, and his 19,985 Yards From Scrimmage is fourth all-time.

With regards to Canton, Gore could be a first-year inductee or positioned for a long wait.  The stats are there, but a delay could arise, as at no point was, he ever considered the best at his position, nor might he be considered the top five in any group of Finalists.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 San Francisco 49ers.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the San Francisco 49ers failed to make the Playoffs, and there were no active players that climbed to the Top 50, or are active on the list, but there was one significant change overall.

As always, we present our top five:

1. Jerry Rice

2. Joe Montana

3. Steve Young

4. Ronnie Lott

5. Leo Nomellini

You can find the entire list here.

The only addition was 1950s star Tackle, Bruno Banducci, who we erroneously omitted from our first list. 

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Born in Italy and raised in the United States, Bruno Banducci played his college ball for Stanford but was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1944.   Banducci was more at home in 1946 when the Guard joined the San Francisco 49ers of the upstart All-American Football Conference.  Banducci stayed there for the remainder of his career, which included the migration to the NFL up until his retirement after 1954.  Banducci was a two-time First Team All-Pro and was chosen for the 1940’s All-Decade Team.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #141, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #136

Samuel is the most unique Wide Receiver in the National Football League, as there has not been a stud WR who was also given the ball ample time on the ground, so much so that he currently has the same amount of Rushing Touchdowns (19) as Receiving Touchdowns.  The inverse, Roger Craig, went to his first Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro in 2021 but has not done anything close since.

This is a key year for Samuel’s Hall of Fame resume.

The career of one of the most durable football players of all-time is coming to an end.

Running Back, Frank Gore will be signing a one-day contract with the San Francisco 49ers, the team he had his greatest success with, and is expected to join their front office.

A Third Round Pick from Miami (FL), Gore had his best year early in his career with a sophomore effort seeing Gore post career-highs in Rushing Yards (1,695) and Yards From Scrimmage (2,180).  Gore went to his first Pro Bowl that year, and was a Second Team All-Pro.  Over the next eight seasons with the Niners, Gore exceeded 1,000 Rushing Yards in seven of them, and earned four more trips to the Pro Bowl.

In 2015, Gore joined the Colts, and had his last 1,000 Yard season in 2016.  He would later play for Miami, Buffalo and the New York Jets.

Gore leaves the game with an even 16,000 Rushing Yards, which places him second all-time, and his 19,985 Yards From Scrimmage is fourth all-time.

As Gore did not play last season, he is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, and conceivably be a first-year inductee.  The stats are there, but a delay could arise, as at no point was, he ever considered the best at his position.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Gore the best in his post-playing career.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #118, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #142.  Peak Period: 2019-23

Warner has arguably been the best Middle Linebacker in the NFL since 2020, and the career Niner is looking to add his fourth First-Team All-Pro and third consecutive in 2024.  He has at least 130 Combined Tackles in the last three seasons, and his big play moments have increased.  He has also been instrumental in San Francisco’s last two NFC Championships.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. Eventually, we are going to get to that of the Division I schools, and conferences.  As such, it is news to us that the San Francisco 49ers will be inducting John Taylor and Patrick Willis into their Hall of Fame.

Taylor played all ten of his NFL seasons with San Francisco after he was taken from Delaware State in the 3^rd Round of the 1986 Draft.  The Wide Receiver helped the 49ers win three Super Bowls (XXII, XXIV & XXIX) and had 5,598 Yards with 43 Touchdowns.  Taylor was also an excellent Punt Returner, recording 1,417 Punt Return Yards with a pair of TDs.  Notably, Taylor is also a member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Willis was a career Niner, who was taken number 11 overall in 2007.  Spending eight years in the NFL, Willis was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and an All-Pro six times as well as being a Pro Bowler seven times.  He led the NFL in Tackles twice and the Linebacker had 950 overall.  Willis also had 20.5 Sacks and 60 Tackles for Loss.

The 49ers Hall of Fame was formed in 2009, and the addition of Taylor and Willis brings the number to 30.

We would like to congratulate both John Taylor and Patrick Willis for their impending induction to the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.

Debuting for the San Francisco 49ers as a Second Round Pick from UCLA in 1976, Randy Cross played his entire 13-year career with the Niners, where he would help them win three Super Bowls.

One of the best football players, regardless of the position that Central Michigan ever produced, has to be Joe Staley.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the San Francisco 49ers. 

The San Francisco 49ers history goes all the way back to 1946, where they were a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and were the first professional team in the Bay Area.  They joined the NFL when the two leagues merged, but it was not until the 1980s where they had any significant success.

Legends like Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice arrived, and they won three Super Bowls in the 80s (XVI, XIX & XXIII) and two in the 90s (XXIV & XXIX).  With an overall Super Bowl record of 5-2, the 49ers are one of the most successful teams in league history and one of the most popular.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2019 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always, we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Jerry Rice

2. Joe Montana

3. Steve Young

4. Ronnie Lott

5. Leo Nomellini

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for our more material coming soon!

As always we thank you for your support.