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Solomon Thomas, 5 other 49ers who left in free agency for Raiders

By Safa Shooshtry

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas (94) Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas (94) Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Roger Craig, Los Angeles Raiders
Roger Craig #22 of the Los Angeles Raiders (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Running Back Roger Craig

Running back Roger Craig was a crucial part of the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s. Craig was selected in the second round (49th overall) by San Francisco in the 1983 NFL Draft.

In his second season, he would help the Niners to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. In his third season, Craig would achieve a feat that had never been done before. He would earn 1,000-plus-yards receiving and 1,000-plus-yards rushing.

To this day it has only been replicated two more times.

Craig would then be a part of back-to-back Super Bowl teams with San Francisco in 1988 and 1989. In the 1988 season, he would earn a Pro Bowl selection, an All-Pro selection and win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award for gaining 2,036 yards from scrimmage.

The 1990 season would end in heartbreak for Craig as the 49ers looked to have a threepeat and wound up losing to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game 15-13.

The following season, Craig would sign with the Raiders, only staying there one season before heading off to the Minnesota Vikings for his final two NFL seasons. Craig finished his career with four Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro selection, all of them coming from his time with the 49ers.