Niner Noise
FanSided

Assembling the San Franciso 49ers all-time NFL playoff team

By Timothy L. Miller

Joe Montana and Steve Young, of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
Joe Montana and Steve Young, of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers all-time playoff team
Randy Cross #51 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

Offensive guard

1.  Randy Cross 1976-1988 (3x Pro Bowler, 10 postseason victories, 3x Super Bowl champion)

Randy Cross was drafted by the 49ers in 1976 and remained a member of the team until he retired in 1988. The leader of San Francisco’s offensive line through his three championship seasons, Cross was a gritty and versatile offensive lineman.

2.  Guy McIntyre 1984-1993 (5x Pro Bowler, 12 postseason victories, 3x Super Bowl champion)

Guy McIntyre was the prototype offensive guard for head coach Bill Walsh’s offense. The offensive lineman was a good pass protector and excellent when pulling into space. McIntyre was so athletic Walsh began using him in his “Angus” goal-line package on the offensive side of the ball. McIntyre was the inspiration behind Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka‘s use of William “Refrigerator” Perry as a running back at the goal line.

3.  John Ayers 1977-1986 (seven postseason victories, 2x Super Bowl champion)

The durable mainstay on the early 1980s championship teams, offensive lineman John Ayers was versatile, as the lineman occasionally played left tackle. Ayers was an important cog in the 49ers’ pass protection schemes that kept a young Joe Montana off his back.

4.  Mike Iupati 2010-2014 (3x Pro Bowler, five postseason victories)

A huge 331-pound mauler, guard Mike Iupati graded the road for running back Frank Gore from 2012 to 2014, as the team went to three straight NFC Championship Games. Iupati left via free agency after the 2014 season, and the Niners are still looking for a comparable replacement.