Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 defensive pairings of all time

By Peter Panacy

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #89 Marcedes Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by #52 Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #89 Marcedes Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled by #52 Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 15: Safety Tim McDonald #46 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his 4-yards interception return for a touchdown during the 1993 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park on January 15, 1994 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 44-3. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 15: Safety Tim McDonald #46 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his 4-yards interception return for a touchdown during the 1993 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park on January 15, 1994 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 44-3. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Safeties Merton Hanks and Tim McDonald

Yes, the 49ers have been blessed with some awfully good safety tandems over their history. And during the late 1990s, the Niners had quite the duo between Merton Hanks and Tim McDonald.

Hanks might be the better-remembered one of the two, having spent eight years in San Francisco after being asked to essentially fill the void left by Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott beginning in 1991.

And Hanks did that, eventually going on to record 33 interceptions en route to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1994 through 1997.

While Hanks patrolled the free safety spot, McDonald played underneath at strong safety, starting his 49ers career in 1993 after two straight Pro Bowl years with the Philadelphia Eagles. And McDonald would go on to have two more with the Niners in 1994 and 1995.

Both were instrumental pieces in San Francisco winning its fifth Super Bowl title in 1995, too.

McDonald actually ended up recording more interceptions over his full career, which included 20 with the 49ers.

It’s hard to find a safety duo as good as the one split between Hanks and McDonald.