49ers: 3 former players you forgot played for San Francisco, Part 2

3 of 4

Brandon Jacobs #45 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2 Running Back Brandon Jacobs

Former NFL running back Brandon Jacobs will be remembered by most NFL fans as a member of the New York Giants and their two Super Bowl-winning teams of recent years.

Jacobs began his career with the Giants as a fourth-round (110th overall) selection in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Southern Illinois. Jacobs initially was a backup to Pro Bowl running back Tiki Barber.

Barber retired though at the completion of the 2006 season, and Jacobs became the lead back to begin 2007. He went on to carry the ball 202 times for 1,009 yards rushing and four touchdowns. The Giants would go onto win Super Bowl XLII that year.

Jacobs would also be a part of the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI championship squad to wrap up the 2011 season. After winning his second Super Bowl ring he would sign a one-year deal with the 49ers to begin the 2012 season.

Signing Jacobs, a larger power runner, was seen as a move that could greatly benefit the 49ers as they need some red-zone help. The prior season they had settled for more field goals than they would’ve liked from within 20 yards. But with Jacobs possibly playing the part of a goal-line back maybe their fortunes would be different.

The 49ers actually seemed to be just fine without the services of Jacobs though. And he was relegated to a reserve role. He only appeared in two games rushing five times for seven yards total and no touchdowns.

It got to a point where the 49ers actually suspended Jacobs for the final three games of the season for criticizing the team on social media due to his lack of playing time.

The team unsurprisingly did not bring him back the following season. He ended up going back to the Giants on a one-year deal. After providing a very limited back-up role in the backfield he announced his retirement after the conclusion of the 2013 season.