San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 worst trades in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers send away Y.A. Tittle to the Giants in 1961
San Francisco’s first great quarterback was the Hall of Famer, Y.A. Tittle.
By 1960, Tittle had already accumulated four Pro Bowl selections and one first-team All-Pro nod, leading the 49ers to a playoff berth in 1957 and cementing himself as one of the league’s greats before the NFL’s modern era kicked in.
But by 1961, the Niners thought the 34-year-old Tittle was on the decline. They had already started experimenting with another up-and-coming quarterback, John Brodie, and it certainly looked as if Tittle would be sent packing as his career wound down.
Well, Tittle was sent packing. But his career was far from over.
San Francisco moved Tittle to the New York Giants for second-year guard Lou Cordileone. Cordileone would spend only one season with the 49ers before moving on, while Tittle would forever cement his career as a Hall of Famer in New York.
In 1961, Tittle earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod and then secured two more in 1962 and 1963 where he’d also be named a first-team All-Pro again, leading the league in touchdown passes for both seasons.
And while the Niners would do well enough with Brodie under center, it’s safe to say they gave up on Tittle far too soon.