San Francisco 49ers: The best 53-man roster of all time
By Peter Panacy
Offensive Line
Center: Forrest Blue, Jesse Sapolu, Fred Quillan
Guard: Guy McIntyre, Randy Cross, Kevin Gogan
Tackle: Bob St. Clair, Joe Staley, Harris Barton
The 49ers have been graced with a number of stellar offensive linemen during the franchise’s history. One of them, left tackle Joe Staley, remains a pinnacle piece to the team today.
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But Staley isn’t the Niners’ best O-lineman of all time. No, that distinction goes to fellow tackle Bob St. Clair — a 1990 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee who earned five Pro Bowl nods during his entire San Francisco career, spanning from 1953 through 1963.
Meanwhile, center Forrest Blue barely edges out fan-favorite center Jesse Sapolu for the starting job, largely due to Blue’s four Pro Bowl nods during his own Niners tenure in the early 1970s.
Likewise, offensive guard Guy McIntyre spent the majority of his peak years during the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s and early 1990s, earning himself five Pro Bowl nominations in the process. Yet it’s impossible to overlook fellow guard Randy Cross, who was also a major part of that dynasty and spent his entire 13-year career in San Francisco.