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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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49ers All-Time Quarterback No. 7: Frankie Albert

1946-1952

Quarterback Frankie Albert was the first-ever 49ers signal-caller, taking the torch in 1946 when the franchise began and helped transition the team from the AAFC into the NFL. During his time with the Niners, Albert passed for 10,795 and 115 touchdowns.

Impressive, considering the time and the nature of the game.

Albert has also been labeled as the inventor of the “bootleg” play, where the quarterback would fake the handoff to the running back and run wide out with the ball hidden on their hip.

The “bootleg” play is still used today, marking a notable contribution from the Niners’ inaugural quarterback.

In 1948, Albert had his best season with San Francisco, finishing with a 12-2 record as a starter and co-winning the All-America Football Conference’s Most Valuable Player award along with Otto Graham, and Albert’s 10,795 passing yards still rank No. 8 in franchise history.