49ers all-time rushing leaders in franchise history

The San Francisco 49ers have had many amazing running backs in franchise history. Here we take look at the five top rushers throughout the years.

The San Francisco 49ers have had some amazing players on their rosters throughout the franchise’s history dating back to 1946. Their top quarterbacks were some of the most well-known players throughout the NFL during their heydays, and there were some pretty prolific wide receivers in the mix, too.

They did however also have some amazing running backs.

Let’s take a look at the top-five leaders in rushing yards for the franchise.

49ers rushing leader No. 5: Garrison Hearst

Coming in at No. 5 is a running back who spent some time in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the team, Garrison Hearst.

He was on the team from 1997 through 2003, and he certainly had some memorable moments, although Hearst’s best season was in 1998 in which he rushed for 1,570 yards and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Hearst would, however, miss the 1999 and 2000 seasons due to injury. He returned in 2001 to earn another Pro Bowl selection along with winning the 2001 Comeback Player of the Year award.

He would finish his Niners tenure with 5,535 rushing yards for the franchise.

49ers rushing leader No. 4: Ken Willard

At the No. 4 rushing spot is a running back from the early days of the Super Bowl era, Ken Willard.

Willard was with San Francisco from 1965 all the way until 1973, during which time he earned four Pro Bowl selections, and the first of those came in his rookie season.

Willard finished his career with the team with 5,930 rushing yards.

49ers rushing leader No. 3: Roger Craig

The great Roger Craig is at No. 3 on the all-time rushing list for the 49ers.

Craig is best known for being on three Niners Super Bowl teams and being the first player in league history to gain 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.

Craig’s tenure with the team lasted from 1983 to 1990, during which time he earned four Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro selection.

Craig ended up rushing for 7,064 yards during his time with the franchise.

49ers rushing leader No. 2: Joe Perry

Fullback Joe “The Jet” Perry, an early pioneer with the team comes in at No. 2 on the list.

Perry was with the team from 1948 to 1960 and returned again for his final season in 1963. During his time with San Francisco, he earned three Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections. In 1954, he won the NFL MVP award.

Read More: Ranking 49ers’ 10 best running backs in franchise history

Perry would retire after the 1963 season after having rushed for 8,689 yards for the 49ers. In 1969 would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

49ers rushing leader No. 1: Frank Gore

Coming in at the No. 1 spot is one of the most prolific running backs not just in franchise history, but in league history.

That man is Frank Gore.

Gore began his career in 2005 as a rookie with the Niners and would remain with the team until 2014.

He gained over 1,000 yards rushing in eight out of his 10 seasons with San Francisco, and he rushed for 11,073 yards total with the 49ers during that span.

That makes him the only member of the 10,000-yard rushing club in franchise history.

Throughout his career, Gore rushed for 16,000 total yards over 16 seasons, putting him at No. 3 on the all-time list of rushers in NFL history.