Niner Noise
FanSided

Greatest all-time San Francisco 49ers

By Gil Alcaraz IV

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 15: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on October 15, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the 49ers 18-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 15: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on October 15, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the 49ers 18-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Greatest 49ers, Y.A. Tittle
SF 49ers all-time great Y.A. Tittle (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

Y.A. Tittle. 16. player. 42. . QB. San Francisco 49ers

Greatest 49ers of all time: No. 16 – Y.A. Tittle

Career Stats with 49ers: 16,016 passing yards, 108 passing touchdowns, 134 interceptions, 55.9 completion percentage, 70 passer rating, 196 carries, 637 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns

It’s true that all of Y.A. Tittle’s time with the 49ers wasn’t great. Often splitting starts with other quarterbacks, the eventual Hall of Famer certainly had his struggles in San Francisco.

Then again, Tittle also enjoyed plenty of success in the Bay Area as well. As you can tell by the above stats, the gunslinger wasn’t afraid to toss around the pigskin. Many of his franchise records had stood for a long time before some of the 49ers’ eventual superstars arrived.

The knock I would put on Tittle is much of his best football came after he left San Francisco. During his days with the New York Giants, he was a bona fide star. I believe it was his overwhelming success in the Big Apple that led to his enshrinement in Canton.

Still, it all started with the ten years he spent with the 49ers. If it wasn’t for those many years of quality quarterbacking, he might have never had the opportunity to shine with the Giants.