Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 10 best linebackers in franchise history

By Logan Stanley

December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers former player Patrick Willis before the game against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers former player Patrick Willis before the game against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 10: Matt Hazeltine

49ers Tenure: 1955 – 1968

Pro Bowl Selections: 2

A team captain for five seasons out of his 14-year career with San Francisco, Matt Hazeltine was the franchise’s first exceptional linebacker. A fourth-round draft selection, Hazeltine ended up being a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1963 and 1965 and played 190 games for the 49ers — the most ever for one player at linebacker.

Unfortunately, there are no records of tackling statistics from that era, so it’s impossible to say where Hazeltine stacks up on the 49ers leaderboard. But considering he started nearly every single game during his 15-season tenure that’s available, that number has to be in the 350s to 450s. That would place him around the top five for franchise history.

As well as being exceptional on the field, he was just as off the field. So much so that San Francisco has a team award named after him. The Matt Hazeltine Award is “given annually to the most courageous and inspirational defensive player.”