Assembling the San Franciso 49ers all-time NFL playoff team
Offensive tackle
1. Harris Barton 1987-1996 (1993 Pro Bowler, 13 postseason victories, 3x Super Bowl champion)
Harris Barton was drafted by the Niners in 1987. He proceeded to start nine games that year and became an anchor at right tackle for a fluid 49ers offensive line for the next nine seasons. In 1988 — Barton’s first full season in the starting lineup — running back Roger Craig ran for 1,502 rushing yards, with was a franchise-best number at the time.
Barton played right guard in 1990 on a team that was a fumble away from making its third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. After moving back to his traditional right tackle spot, Barton found himself playing the most important position on the line, protecting new left-handed starting quarterback Steve Young’s blind side.
Versatility, longevity and Super Bowl titles put Harris Barton on the top of the list.
2. Steve Wallace 1986-1996 (1992 Pro Bowler, 13 postseason victories, 3x Super Bowl champion)
Drafted in 1986, Steve Wallace didn’t become the 49ers’ full-time left tackle until 1988. He suffered a gruesome ankle injury on the third play of Super Bowl XXIII and missed virtually the entire 1989 season. Wallace came back for the 1990 season and proceeded to start at least 15 games every season for the remainder of his career in San Francisco.
As Montana’s blind side protector, Wallace earned a reputation for being able to contain the likes of New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent in one-on-one situations.
3. Keith Fahnhorst 1974-1987 (1984 Pro Bowler, seven postseason victories, 2x Super Bowl champion)
Bill Walsh took over as head coach of the 49ers in 1979 and began to completely overhaul the entire roster with few exceptions. Keith Fahnhorst, a pre-Walsh holdover, made the cut and became the team’s starting right tackle for the next eight years.
Undersized by any measure, Fahnhorst outpunched his 273-pound frame game-in and game-out. He helped pave the way for running backs like Ricky Patton and Earl Cooper, maximizing their abilities en route to the team’s first championship.
4. Joe Staley 2007-present (6x Pro Bowler, five postseason victories)
One of the most consistent offensive linemen in team history, left tackle Joe Staley would be higher on this list if he had more postseason opportunities.
A former college tight end and high school track star, Staley fits the Bill Walsh mold of athletic, quick-footed offensive linemen. On the way to his lone Super Bowl appearance after the 2012 regular season, the 49ers averaged 218 rushing yards through three postseason games.