San Francisco 49ers: 15 most beloved fan favorites in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
QB. (1979-92). Joe Montana. 3. player. 42.
Most beloved San Francisco 49ers in franchise history: 3. Joe Montana
If fans had to pick just one player to forever represent the 49ers, it likely would come down to another guy on this list and Joe Montana.
Montana, who was overlooked by everyone except for Bill Walsh back in the 1979 NFL Draft, helped spark what would become the team’s dynasty years in the 1980s.
And there are those out there, particularly San Francisco fans, who view those teams as the best in NFL history.
Many probably feel Montana, not the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, remains the greatest quarterback of all time.
Montana never tossed a Super Bowl interception, after all.
Regardless of the argument, there’s no doubting Montana paved the way for so many of the great quarterbacks to come.
Brady was a childhood fan of Montana. So was the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
If those two future Pro Football Hall of Famers consider Montana their big influence, how can he be left off this list?
Granted, there may be those questioning why he’s not higher. But there are some pretty good reasons why Montana has the two last players on this list of favorites ahead of him.