Assembling the San Franciso 49ers all-time NFL playoff team
Safety
1. Ronnie Lott 1981-1990 (9x Pro Bowler, 14 postseason victories, 4x Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2000)
The greatest defensive player in San Francisco 49ers history, and one of the greatest defenders in NFL history, Ronnie Lott was instrumental in every one of the team’s Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Beginning his career as an All-Pro cornerback, Lott could cover anyone. In his sixth season, he moved to free safety and gained All-Pro honors as the hardest hitter in the league.
Lott was the unquestioned leader of the Niners’ defense during the 1980s, and the defensive back made too many key postseason plays to list them all. After his career ended, Lott received a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Fame induction.
2. Dwight Hicks 1979-1985 (4x Pro Bowler, seven postseason victories, 2x Super Bowl champion)
Safety Dwight Hicks was another member of Walsh’s defensive youth movement. Hicks’ career was like a Mike Tyson uppercut: short but impactful. A key interception in Super Bowl XVI helped the 49ers overcome quarterback Ken Anderson and a potent Cincinnati Bengals passing attack.
3. Tim McDonald 1993-1999 (3x Pro Bowler, seven postseason victories, Super Bowl XXIX champion)
Signed as a free agent, Tim McDonald came in and immediately shored up a shaky secondary for the San Francisco 49ers. His strength was playing closer to the line of scrimmage, as McDonald filled the defensive leadership and intimidation vacuum created by the departure of safety Ronnie Lott. McDonald was a sure tackler and stabilizing force for the 49ers in their playoff games in the 1990s.
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4. Merton Hanks 1991-1998 (4x Pro Bowler, eight postseason victories, Super Bowl XXIX champion)
A cornerback who moved to free safety, defensive back Merton Hanks was a ball hawk in every sense of the word. If he didn’t intercept the pass, he rarely attempted a tackle without taking a few swipes at the ball. Hanks was a pure turnover machine, and a player today’s San Francisco 49ers could learn from.
At 185 pounds, what Hanks lacked in size, he made up for with tenacity.