49ers best all-time defensive players from Northern California

Many great defensive players from Northern California have played in the NFL over the years. Who are the best of those players to have played for the 49ers?

In our last installment, the best offensive players from Northern California to have donned the San Francisco 49ers uniform were covered. Names like Jeff Garcia, John Brodie and Bob St. Clair were covered.

Now we turn to the best defensive players to hail from Northern California and play in the red and gold.

There have been many great defensive players in NFL history that came from Northern California.

Defensive end Jared Allen who played on a number of teams in his career, namely the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, played out his high school football career at Live Oak in Morgan Hill, CA.

Allen was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro defensive juggernaut, who in his best season recorded 22 sacks.

Likely one of the better defensive players to come out of the Bay Area.

Another prominent name to come out of Northern California is linebacker Tedy Bruschi. He was a three-time Super Bowl champ as a starter for the New England Patriots. Bruschi played his high school career at Roseville High School in Roseville, California, just outside of Sacramento.

Of the current flock of NFL talent, there are some great players to come out of Northern California as well.

Cornerback Marcus Peters, who has been a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection in just six seasons in the league is from Oakland, California, and played at McClymonds High School.

Of this plethora of defensive talent hailing from the Golden State, though, not many of the big names played for San Francisco over the years.

Although we don’t have a full defense-only roster to build out with this group, let’s take a look at some of the best defensive players from Northern California who played for the Niners.