On the defensive side of the ball, it is also hard to argue with the selection of George Seifert who served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 1983 to 1988. For starters, how could anyone argue with the placement of Bill Walsh as head coach of an all-time 49ers team? Drafted in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft, Wright was part of a 49er backfield that, along with fellow defensive back Ronnie Lott, helped San Francisco win its first Super Bowl title. Your privacy is safe with us. Yet if we can separate the attitude from the talent just for a moment, we can also recall the fact that Owens was one of the most productive receivers to ever wear a 49ers uniform. The 49ers got a gem when they drafted Dana McLemore in the 10th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He currently has the seventh-most reception yards in franchise history. What makes Montana's case intriguing, though, is the fact that he was not an overly-touted prospect coming out of college during the 1979 NFL Draft. Perhaps those efforts are the direct reason behind the success he enjoyed as head coach. The franchise was also rebuilding, and would spend years trying to revamp a team that had fallen from grace in the NFL. Stubblefield then left the 49ers and spent a three-year stint with the Washington Redskins before returning to San Francisco for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. That alone is quite an accolade, and makes the decision to put him on this list an easy one.

During his first year with the 49ers, Norton totaled 75 tackles and 11 assists, helping a dynamic and dominant 49er defense win their fifth Super Bowl at year's end. Nedney played with the 49ers from 2005 through 2010 and was often the sole offensive weapon for the 49ers’ anemic offense during the forgettable years between 2002 and 2011. During his first season with the 49ers, Barton impressed so much that he wound up being runner-up for Rookie of the Year. San Francisco 49ers All-Time Team 1946-Present The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL. Place kicker Joe Nedney still remains one of the best special teams weapons in 49ers history and was frequently the lone bright spot in what was largely an ugly period in team history. The Bay Area native and graduate of Santa Clara University went on to have a stellar career for the 49ers, amassing 417 receptions for 5,195 yards and 33 touchdowns. You don't think it at the time, but it changed my whole life for the positive. For that reason alone, he is able to force himself onto this list and justifiably so.
There is a definite possibility that he will be at some point, but not yet. When San Francisco drafted him in the third round of the 1996 draft, they were hoping to get a receiver that could complement the aging Jerry Rice and provide another target for quarterback Steve Young.

His offensive implementations have been vital to the recent surge in production seen by the team. While Harbaugh will forever be known as the first 49ers head coach to lose a Super Bowl, one cannot discredit the work he put in to building one of the more dominant NFL teams in recent years. Willis is a "no-brainer' addition to this list. Yet Haley's first tenure with the 49ers created problems with head coach George Seifert, as well as quarterback Steve Young. Kick Returner: Dexter Carter (1990 - 1996), Punt Returner: Dana McLemore (1982 - 1987). There is no way he can be left off the all-time 49ers team. While both Brown and Toon would go on to have decent careers, the clear winner of the 1985 draft were Rice and the 49ers. In 1991, Ronnie Lott was on his way out and rookie safety Merton Hanks was on his way in. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices.

Fortunately, Sapolu also has the accolades to back up the selection. Yet the four-time Super Bowl champion always remained upbeat and hopes that his story will inspire those with similar conditions. Yet we must examine how each individual player impacted the team, and the game for that matter, during the time-frame they played. Only John Taylor had more punt returns than McLemore, and even he was not able to put up the same numbers in comparison. His receiving yards and touchdowns place him second on the 49ers' all-time leaders list behind Rice. In all, Montana would complete 2,929 passes out of 4,600 attempts for 35,124 yards and 244 touchdowns over his 13-year 49er career. Rice had an immediate impact during his rookie season, attaining 49 receptions for 927 yards in an offense that already featured Joe Montana and Dwight Clark. San Francisco's offensive line has turned into one of the best in the NFL and Staley is a big reason why. Wide Receivers: Jerry Rice (1985 - 2000) & Terrell Owens (1996 - 2003).

Yet Rice's legacy expands beyond the game itself.

Selected in the third round of the 1984 draft by the 49ers, McIntyre would take four seasons to earn a starting job on the line, but, when he did, he eventually developed into one of the best guards in the NFL. Here are the all-time 49ers greats put together on a team for the ages. The next guy on this list would have certainly been impressed with Hardman's efforts. It is a reasonable assumption that Staley's best days are still ahead of him. Peter Panacy is a featured columnist covering the San Francisco 49ers for Bleacher Report. He took over the job in 1979, one year after the 49ers suffered a disastrous season, thanks in large measure to the debacle that was Joe Thomas' tenure as general manager. Instead, nominations came the following two years and Wright continued to be a recognizable force in the backfield. Exceptional impacts and performance are always noteworthy and San Francisco is fortunate enough to have a deep pool of players who could contend for an all-time team. He was there when San Francisco made pushes during the late '90s and into the early 2000s. The 49ers did not lose a whole lot there. Many young 49er have never heard the name Cedric Hardman, but they should have. Certainly comparisons between recent 49er teams and the teams of yesteryear are difficult to make. Along with fellow 1981 draftee Eric Wright, Lott became part of a backfield that was being renovated by head coach Bill Walsh. Washington State's Jack Thompson got the highest grade among the quarterbacks -- 8. All statistics and records courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Former teammate Ronnie Lott summarized it pretty well by saying: If Michael Jordan was the standard for hard work in basketball, then Jerry Rice is the standard for football.

He would also be named to the Pro Bowl four times, including one selection as first team All-Pro in 1995. Surprisingly, he was not named to the Pro Bowl. The late Bill Walsh was instrumental in ensuring the 49ers would rise from mediocrity in the late 1970s to a dynasty in the 1980s. Justin "the Cowboy" Smith has emerged as one of the current lynch-pins in the 49ers defense.

Drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 1986 draft, Rathman would wind up being the lead blocker for Roger Craig for three years and wind up winning two Super Bowls with the team. Not bad, considering tackles do not typically receive such awards. Dwaine Board - Defensive End (1979 - 1988), Cleveland Elam - Defensive Tackle (1975 - 1978), Jeff Stover - Defensive Tackle (1982 - 1988), Outside Linebackers: Charles Haley (1986 - 1991, 1998 - 1999) & Bill Romanowski (1988 - 1993), Inside Linebackers: Ken Norton Jr. (1994 - 2000) & Patrick Willis (2007 - present). In 1998, Owens began to come into his own hauling in 67 passes for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns during the season. He stated: I feel like it’s a good thing to let people know what I dealt with during my whole career. There’s a way they can come back and play with a certain procedure which allows them to fulfill their dreams if they choose to. It is no surprise that Lott would be named as a first team All-Pro that year. In all, Jones spent 11 seasons with the 49ers, which included four trips to the Pro Bowl. (via usatoday.com). For Harbaugh, his demeanor and knowledge have helped transform a 49ers franchise that had struggled since the middle of the previous decade into a Super Bowl contender. Many games had an option to select "all-time greats" as the team you would play. During his four-plus seasons with San Francisco, cornerback Dana McLemore posted an impressive 1,531 return yards and four touchdowns on 142 punt returns. Tom Rathman was as solid as a fullback could be. I would argue that nobody ever hit as hard before or after Lott. Young joined the 49ers as a rookie in 1994 when they were one of the league's most dominant franchises. 1,281 receptions for 19,247 yards and 176 touchdowns during his fabled San Francisco career. Offensive schemes often revolve around Smith and what he is doing on the field.

Some records, like his 22,895 career receiving yards, may never be broken. Both were able to turn a struggling franchise around in quick succession.