Niner Noise
FanSided

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

By Peter Panacy

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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive end Justin Smith #94 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a sack on quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL game at AT&T Stadium on September 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive end Justin Smith #94 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a sack on quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL game at AT&T Stadium on September 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Defensive Tackle: Leo Nomellini, Justin Smith, Dana Stubblefield, Michael Carter

End: Fred Dean, Bryant Young, Cedric Hardman, Charlie Krueger, Dwaine Board

OK, this one was tough.

It isn’t hard to figure out the names to make the 49ers’ 53-man all-time cut. Instead, it’s deciding who starts and who rides the honorary bench.

SAN FRANCISCO – NOVEMBER 18: 49ers Hall of Famer Leo Nomellini attends the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 18, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 31-7. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – NOVEMBER 18: 49ers Hall of Famer Leo Nomellini attends the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 18, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 31-7. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

The only surefire starter, who can’t at all be classified a reserve, is Hall of Famer Leo Nomellini, who spent his entire 14-year career with the 49ers from 1950 through 1963. During that span, Nomellini earned five first-team All-Pro selections and… wait for it… 11 Pro Bowl nods.

Just imagine a player of that caliber today thriving in such a media-rich environment. Nomellini would have been a household name.

Instead, he gets the right to be called San Francisco’s first Hall of Fame inductee (1968).

Fellow Hall of Famer Fred Dean also makes it on the starting list too. And while he had just four-plus years with the 49ers, his 17.5 sacks in 1983 are sure worth remembering.

Of course, where would our starting lineup be without defenders Justin Smith and Bryant Young? Each epitomized the toughness and sheer physicality of Niners defenses at their prime. Both were key elements during their respective tenures and deserve to start too.

Meanwhile, defensive end Cedric Hardman was one of the 49ers’ premier edge defenders in the 1970s, giving way to Dwaine Board during the 1980s, whose 45 sacks during his Niners tenure sure were impressive.

And who doesn’t love Dana Stubblefield? Come on, man.