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, John Taylor
SF 49ers all-time great John Taylor (Getty Images) /

. WR. San Francisco 49ers. John Taylor. 26. player. 42

Greatest 49ers of all time: No. 26 – John Taylor

Career Stats with 49ers: 347 receptions, 5,598 receiving yards, 43 receiving TDs, six carries, 31 rushing yards, 10.2 yards per punt return, two punt return touchdowns

John Taylor is one of those guys who often gets overlooked. Why? Because he was essentially Robin to Jerry Rice’s Batman, which isn’t an easy role to play no matter who you are.

Still, Taylor played the role with gusto, doing little more than torch opposing secondaries when given the opportunity. Especially with teams focused on slowing Rice, it gave the 49ers’ No. 2 receiver a chance to make his distinctive mark on the game.

Taylor also offered added value as a returner, and there was plenty of it. In 1988, he led the league in yards per punt return, earning one of his two Pro Bowl trips. The other Pro Bowl trip would come as a receiver a year later, after an impressive 1,000-yard season punctuated by ten receiving touchdowns.

Was Taylor a star for the 49ers? Not entirely. However, the presence of Rice made life both easier and more difficult for him in different regards. Still, he was a prominent playmaker for three of the 49ers’ Super Bowl teams, earning him a spot on this list.