Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 best running backs of all time

By Douglas Totten

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SAN FRANCISCO – NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) 49ers Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle, Joe Perry stand next to Bob St. Clair who speaks to the fans during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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: (L-R) 49ers Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle, Joe Perry stand next to Bob St. Clair who speaks to the fans during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on November 18, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 31-7. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Joe “The Jet” Perry

The only player on this list with a nickname iconic enough to get it inserted in his name could also make a case for being first on this list. The 14-year member of the 49ers in two separate stints (1948-60,1963) was with the 49ers for two seasons in the AAFL before they joined the NFL in 1950. After gaining 1,345 yards in two seasons in the AAFL, Perry amassed 8,378 yards in 12 seasons with the 49ers and two with the Baltimore Colts.

Perry’s backfield work with Hugh McElhenny began early, at Compton Junior College, where the future Pro Football Hall of Fame members joined forces for two straight national titles (1946, 1947) before he joined the 49ers. These members of the”Million Dollar Backfield” alongside John Henry Johnson and Y.A. Tittle, make up the only full-house backfield with all four members in the Hall of Fame.

“The Jet” will live long in the memories of 49ers fans everywhere, despite his sad passing in 2011.