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San Francisco 49ers: 5 greatest running backs in franchise history

By Robert Smith

Nov 17, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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No. 2: Roger Craig

Taken with the 49th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by San Francisco, Roger Craig had an immediate impact for the team.

Totaling 12 total touchdowns rushing and receiving in his rookie season, Craig and the Niners made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game before losing a classic to the Washington Redskins 24-21.

And while that wasn’t the outcome the 49ers wanted, the next seven years saw the team win three Lombardi trophies while the high-stepping Craig accumulated 11,506 yards from scrimmage.

In 1985, he also became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and gain 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.

All total, he racked up 66 touchdowns during his eight years with the 49ers to go along with those three Super Bowl victories.

In 1988, he also was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year, en route to 1,502 yards rushing, over 2,000 total yards and, most importantly, a Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Craig’s versatility to be a runner and receiver helped Bill Walsh realize perfecting the West Coast offense and set the course for how teams use the passing game to set up their run game.

It was a monumental shift from offense that focused on power running attacks to set up play-action. Many of the concepts of the West Coast offense are still seen in today’s high-powered passing attacks.

As far as impact on the league, team success, and overall numbers, an argument could be made that Craig could be interchanged with the No. 1 running back on this list.