Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: The best 53-man roster of all time

By Peter Panacy

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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 20: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball in the first half against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium on December 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 20: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball in the first half against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium on December 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Running Back

Halfback: Frank Gore, Roger Craig

Fullback: Joe Perry, Ken Willard

49ers running back Roger Craig should be in the Hall of Fame. After all, he was such a massive dual threat — the epitome of a strong runner capable of being a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield.

Long before the St. Louis Rams boasted Mashall Faulk, there was Craig. He set the tone for runners of that caliber.

SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 20: Running back Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers looks for room to run during the 1990 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park on January 20, 1991 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 15-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 20: Running back Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers looks for room to run during the 1990 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park on January 20, 1991 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 15-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

Still, Craig isn’t the No. 1 tailback in franchise history.

That distinction, of course, goes to now-Miami Dolphins runner Frank Gore who, at 35 years old, continues to set records well after the age most running backs call it a career. One of those records, of course, is the franchise’s all-time rushing title — a whopping 11,073 ground yards in a 49ers uniform.

That record may never be broken.

But fans will recall when Gore broke fullback Joe Perry’s rushing record of 8,689 yards. Those numbers, particularly from a fullback (used much differently during Perry’s time) are still insanely impressive.

No wonder Perry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969, the same place Gore will be someday.