49ers: Ranking the 5 Most Infamous Plays in Franchise History

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 Most Infamous Plays in Franchise History

Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tips the ball against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) for an interception by Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) is carted off the field after an injury against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Dishonorable Mentions

There are a few plays worth mentioning that don’t quite make it into the top five.

Thankfully, we can keep these short.

Vance McDonald’s Stone Hands versus the Bengals in 2015

49ers tight end Vance McDonald doesn’t have a good reputation as a pass catcher.

Instead, his questionable hands have done more harm than good at times. And this was certainly the case on December 20, 2015 as the Niners were hosting the Cincinnati Bengals:

Enough said.

NaVorro Bowman’s Gruesome 2014 NFC Championship Injury

The 49ers were in an all-out battle with the Seattle Seahawks back in 2014 with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman had just stripped Seattle wide receiver Jermaine Kearse of the ball. But safety Eric Reid ran into Kearse, who subsequently fell into Bowman’s left leg.

The subsequent injury resulted in Bowman tearing his MCL and ACL, and it sidelined the All-Pro linebacker for the subsequent 2014 season.