San Francisco 49ers: 15 most beloved fan favorites in franchise history

Most beloved San Francisco 49ers in franchise history: 13. Jesse Sapolu

There are certainly a few 49ers offensive linemen who stand out as favorites, and you’re going to find a couple on this list.

Rising out of a lot of the favorites, though, is Jesse Sapolu, who spent his entire 13-year NFL career in San Francisco — a span which included two Pro Bowl appearances and Sapolu anchoring the Niners’ offensive line through the dynasty years and into the latter half of the 1990s.

If anything, aside from being a standout lineman, Sapolu was a constant and earned adoration from the 49ers Faithful everywhere.

Seriously, you can’t find anything bad said about the guy.

But what should endear Sapolu even more to the fanbase is the fact he played with a heart disease, which could have killed him any moment.

Thankfully, it didn’t.

After his career was over, Sapolu wrote a book named I Gave My Heart to San Francisco, chronicling both his career and love for the city. Additionally, he remains heavily involved in both the community and Niners alumni.

And the fans certainly love him back for it.