49ers history: Former Niners players born on July 4th

Happy July 4th, 49ers fans! And while there aren’t too many names, let’s look back at some Niners players who were born on the Fourth of July.

It’s never a bad day to celebrate, San Francisco 49ers fans. And from all of us here at Niner Noise, we hope your July 4 celebrations are safe, fun and memorable.

Even for those of you across the pond or ponds.

We could spend all sorts of time telling you about Niners-themed Fourth of July celebration and party ideas. But chances are you’ve already come up with your own themes and ideas already, so we’d probably be a little behind the curve.

Instead, let’s have a little bit of fun and look back at some former San Francisco players who were “born on the Fourth of July,” so to speak and in reference to that movie from way back when. But instead of Hollywood, let’s just go back through some 49ers archives.

Surprisingly, there aren’t too many Niners alum who can claim July 4 as a birth date. Only a handful of players, and it might only be the most knowledgeable of San Francisco fans to recall the days when these players donned the red and gold.

Tight End Steve Bush — 49ers Tenure (2004-2005)

Most 49ers fans probably want to forget the mid 2000s when the team was entering the doldrums of a complete rebuild that would take the better part of the decade.

So that’s why it might be easy to forget tight end Steve Bush, who spent the last two years of his pro career with the Niners after being let go by the Arizona Cardinals after the 2003 season.

Doubling as a fullback and lead blocker, Bush would only catch five passes for 31 yards during his two years in San Francisco but would contribute heavily on special teams before finally calling it a career after 2005.

Running Back Derek Loville — 49ers Tenure (1994-1996)

Unlike Steve Bush, running back Derek Loville enjoyed a successful time during 49ers history that saw him win a Super Bowl after joining the team in 1994 — the first of three rings he’d receive during his eight-year NFL career.

Loville might have been lost in the annals of Niners history if it weren’t for his 1995 campaign that saw him start 16 games at running back where he’d amass 218 rushes for 723 yards along with an impressive 87 catches for 662 yards, totaling a combined 1,385 yards from scrimmage with 13 all-purpose touchdowns.

Not sure why Loville didn’t receive a Pro Bowl nod that year.

Turns out, that was his best season as a pro, but at least he’d get two more Super Bowl wins with the Denver Broncos after leaving San Francisco in 1997.

Defensive Back Rosey Taylor — 49ers Tenure (1969-1971)

The late 13-year defensive back, Rosey Taylor, did manage to make the Pro Bowl twice and was once named a first-team All-Pro, even though his premier days as a player during the 1960s were with the Chicago Bears.

Taylor found his way to the 49ers later in his career, moving from Chicago to the Niners in the middle of the 1969 season to help San Francisco propel one of its first dominant timeframes in the modern football era.

In 1970 and 1971, Taylor was a full-time starter at free safety and recorded a combined six interceptions those two years, helping his defense become a top-10 unit under then-head coach Dick Nolan in 1971.

Taylor would spend 1972 with Washington where he’d appear in the Super Bowl, ultimately falling short to the Miami Dolphins.

Taylor passed away in 2020 at the age of 83 years old.