San Francisco 49ers: 15 best free-agent acquisitions of all time
By Peter Panacy
Greatest free agent acquistions in San Francisco 49ers history: 11. Tony Parrish
49ers Tenure: 2002 – 2006
It’s a shame the 49ers weren’t particularly good for most of safety Tony Parrish’s time with the team. But for the first two years of his five-year deal signed in 2002, Parrish was one of San Francisco’s best defenders. Those two years probably would have been enough to merit placement on this list, albeit a few spots lower.
Between 2002 and 2003, as the Niners were transitioning from a playoff team to a laughingstock, Parrish had a combined 16 interceptions, including leading the league with nine the latter of those two years. He also led the Niners defense with 18 passes defended that year.
Yet, for whatever the reasons, Parrish didn’t make the Pro Bowl in either season.
Parrish’s numbers started to take a hit in 2004, as the 49ers began to go through the initial stages of a tumultuous period. And in 2005, the veteran safety ended up suffering a broken ankle that limited him to just nine games.
Still, between 2001 and 2005, Parrish led the entire league with 25 interceptions during that time frame.
If that’s not enough to garner placement on this list, what is?