San Francisco 49ers: 10 best single-season performances in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Safety Ronnie Lott Picks Off 10 for the 49ers in 1986
Defensive back Ronnie Lott already looked like a Hall of Fame-caliber player entering the 1986 season.
But that year, he cemented his legacy with the best defensive performance ever by a member of the 49ers. Yes, better than Deion Sanders, Charles Haley and Aldon Smith. Yes, better than Patrick Willis.
Because that’s what happens when you record 10 — yes, 10 — interceptions in a single season.
Oh, and don’t forget about Lott’s three forced fumbles that year. Those surely had to be accounted for when he was named a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his illustrious career.
Going back to those 10 picks, though, what solidifies Lott’s 1986 campaign at the No. 4 spot on this list is the fact that number is tied for 28th on the all-time single-season interceptions list along with 49 others who reached that number in a single year.
But to cement it, getting double-digit interceptions has only happened nine times since.
This most-elusive of plateaus puts Lott’s 1986 campaign on this list.