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San Francisco 49ers: 10 best quarterbacks in franchise history

By Bobby Horne

Feb 3, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; General view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame bust of Joe Montana at the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; General view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame bust of Joe Montana at the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alex Smith, SF 49ers
Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

49ers All-Time Quarterback No. 8: Alex Smith

2005-2012

His career might have gotten off to a rocky start, thanks to a franchise wallowing in all kinds of dysfunction.

But quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2005 NFL Draft, eventually transformed into a fan favorite once the Niners finally identified a head coach, Jim Harbaugh, who believed in him.

Smith’s turnaround after years of mismanagement and numerous offensive coordinators was a thing of beauty, and the embattled quarterback endeared himself to fans finally with his memorable efforts in the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints in early 2012.

He finished his seven-year San Francisco career with 14,280 pass yards and 81 touchdowns against 63 interceptions.