Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ top 10 special teamers of all time

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Bradley Pinion #5 of the San Francisco 49ers punts the ball away against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Bradley Pinion #5 of the San Francisco 49ers punts the ball away against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 21: Defensive back L.J. McCray #31 of the San Francisco 49ers in action during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 21, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 23-14. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 21: Defensive back L.J. McCray #31 of the San Francisco 49ers in action during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 21, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 23-14. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Gunner L.J. McCray

It’s funny because the 49ers actually have a great gunner right now in Raheem Mostert who wears No. 31 on his jersey, just like L.J. McCray did in his two years on the team back in 2014 and 2015.

Mostert is a crucial part on the team’s current special teams unit, and an even better guy off the field (met him at an event at my high school where he helped out special students), but he did not make the momentum-changing plays that McCray did.

The video above shows a lot of what McCray did during his time on the team.

I have always felt that McCray was a special special teams player, as confusing as that sounds. His big-play ability was a bright spot in what was otherwise two dismal seasons.