San Francisco 49ers: 10 best rookie seasons in franchise history

Best rookie seasons in San Francisco 49ers history: No. 4: FB, Earl Cooper (1980)

While Roger Craig was able to turn his stellar rookie season into a long-term career, Cooper was never really able to duplicate the success he had as a rookie, which goes to show you that one good season does not necessarily mean anything in the long run.

But this isn’t a ranking of “long run.” It’s about rookie seasons, and Cooper’s was great.

He had 83 receptions, second in the NFL behind only Kellen Winslow. He added 720 yards rushing, finishing with 1,287 yards from scrimmage, thriving in the West Coast offense. He really was San Francisco’s top offensive option that year.

Dwight Clark was still young and cracking the starting lineup, and the running back situation was done by committee. Cooper had another solid year the next season and then fell off the map as Roger Craig took over his role as a fullback.

But in that one prelude-to-dynasty year, Cooper looked like he would be the next big thing in the 49ers’ backfield.