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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 30
Next
Greatest 49ers, Vernon Davis
SF 49ers all-time great Vernon Davis (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

. TE. San Francisco 49ers. Vernon Davis. 28. player. 42

Greatest 49ers of all time: No. 28 – Vernon Davis

Career Stats with 49ers: 441 receptions, 5,640 receiving yards, 55 receiving TDs, six carries, 15 rushing yards

When Vernon Davis entered the league in 2006, he was seen as one of a new breed of uber-athletic tight ends capable of victimizing defenses. While I’m not entirely sure he fully lived up to the hype, Davis could certainly make a case as one of the best tight ends of the past decade.

For Davis, it was all about his overwhelming strength and athleticism. Not only was he powerful enough to excel as a blocker, but he could put linebackers and safeties to shame with his skills as a receiver. Just look at his 2009 campaign, when he nearly broke the 1,000-yard mark and scored a whopping 13 receiving touchdowns.

All of that work earned him two Pro Bowl appearances and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2013. The production and awards don’t necessarily reflect what you’d expect from a tight end picked No. 6 overall, but Davis truly was an elite talent at times for the 49ers.

Davis’ time in San Francisco ended ugly, as age quickly took a toll on his effectiveness. He was eventually traded away to the Denver Broncos, but remained a reliable option at tight end with the physical gifts to be a weapon in the passing game until his retirement in 2020.