Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the San Francisco 49ers GOATs at each position.

By James Jones

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: Former San Francisco 49ers player Jerry Rice is seen during a ceremony honoring the 1981-82 team at halftime of the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: Former San Francisco 49ers player Jerry Rice is seen during a ceremony honoring the 1981-82 team at halftime of the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/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) /

Free Safety: Ronnie Lott

There was little doubt as to which player was going to take home the greatest free safety in 49ers history.

Ronnie Lott was not only the best at his position but also one of best at cornerback, the position he manned for the first five years of his career. He is also one of the gutsiest men to ever step onto the gridiron.

Lott had his finger smashed in 1985 against the Dallas Cowboys as he was attempting to tackle running back Tim Newsome. The resulting injury had taken off part of his digit. The warrior that he was, Lott finished playing the game, taped up finger and all. After that season he opted to have the top portion his pinky amputated so that he would not miss any time the following year.

The former first-round pick went on to have a Hall of Fame career and played in San Francisco from 1981 to 1990. On top of being a four-time Super Bowl champion, Lott went to 10 Pro Bowls, garnered eight first-team All-Pro nods, led the league in interceptions twice and his number has been retired by the 49ers.

A true leader on the field and in the locker room, Lott exemplified the “warrior” mentality a select few players from that era possessed. He might have been the hardest-hitting defensive back in NFL history based on some of his opponents’ recollections.

Honorable mentions: Dwight Hicks, Merton Hanks