There have been a number of famous 49ers who’ve jumped ship and joined the Raiders over the years. Here we take a look at a few of them.
The biggest news in San Francisco 49ers circles in the 2023 offseason might not have been surrounding any of the players the team signed in free agency.
It might’ve revolved around the players the team lost.
Players like safety Jimmie Ward, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and tackle Mike McGlinchey all found new homes in free agency. However, no departing player had as much buzz abound as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Having been with the team since midseason 2017, he had become an extremely polarizing figure with Niners fans. Some loved him because, when healthy, he won a lot of games for San Francisco. In 2019, the only season he started in every game, he led the team to the Super Bowl.
On the flip side, he was oft-injured and had some limitations in his skill set, which had many fans calling to replace him over his last two seasons.
Garoppolo ended up starting in his final season with the 49ers after fellow quarterback Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, and Garoppolo would lead the team to a 7-3 record before his season ended in Week 13 with a broken foot.
That injury to him spelled the end of Jimmy G’s tenure as a member of the Niners.
Once the 2023 offseason began, Garoppolo very quickly signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal.
He becomes one of the latest San Francisco players to jump ship to the Raiders, as many have also made that jump in the past.
Let’s take a look at five other high-profile 49ers who left the red and gold for the silver and black.
No. 5: Former 49ers WR Michael Crabtree
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree was drafted by the 49ers at 10th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
In all honesty, he probably should’ve gone to the Raiders at pick No. 7, but they chose to go with a less-skilled receiver, the speedy Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Crabtree began his career with the Niners with a contract holdout and missed the first five games of his rookie season before finally agreeing to a six-year deal with the team.
Crabtree would have his first (and only) 1,000-plus-yard season with the 49ers in 2012, and in that season, he had 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns while helping the team get to the Super Bowl.
After his rookie contract expired, he tested out free agency and signed with the Raiders ahead of the 2015 season where he would play for the next three years.
No. 4: Former 49ers RB Roger Craig
At No. 4 on the list is one of the greatest running backs to not (yet) be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Roger Craig.
In 1985, his third season, he would become the first player to ever rush for over 1,000 yards and gain over 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
For context, that feat has only been accomplished two times since then.
Craig would help lead the 49ers to three Super Bowls victories during his tenure, including back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989. He would also earn four Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro selection during his time with San Francisco.
His last appearance for the Niners would be against the New York Giants in the 1990 NFC Championship Game, and San Francisco, unfortunately, fell to the G-Men in that game 15-13 losing on a last-second field goal.
Craig’s fumble in that contest would go down in infamy, and it’s a shame that was his last 49ers play.
The next season, Craig would sign with the Raiders where he would spend the next season before joining the Minnesota Vikings for his final two seasons.
No. 3: Former 49ers CB Carlos Rogers
One of the best free-agent signings for the 49ers in 2011 was cornerback Carlos Rogers.
After six mostly lackluster years with Washington, the former first-round pick was signed to the Niners to bolster their defense in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season with the team.
Rogers proved to be a valuable asset, he grabbed six interceptions and also had 106 interception-return yards, and one of those was taken back for a touchdown. His interceptions and return yards were both career highs, and Rogers would earn a Pro Bowl selection for that performance in 2011.
Additionally, Rogers would be around for three trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance with San Francisco.
The 49ers chose to release Rogers ahead of the 2014 season, though, and he ended up signing with the Raiders where he would play his final NFL season.
No. 2: Former 49ers DB Ronnie Lott
Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott began his career with the 49ers in 1981.
Lott played cornerback his rookie year and grabbed seven interceptions and took a whopping three of them back for touchdowns For his rookie-season performance, he earned both Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, and that would set the tone for the rest of his pro football career.
Lott would earn nine Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro selections throughout his time with the Niners, and he would help lead them to four Super Bowl victories, playing both at cornerback and safety.
Read More: 10 best rookie seasons in 49ers franchise history
Lott’s final game as a member of the 49ers also came in the 1990 NFC Championship game, the same bout in which Roger Craig ended his Niners tenure.
In 1991, Lott would sign with the Raiders and played two seasons with them before joining the New York Jets for his final two seasons.
He would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
No. 1: Former 49ers WR Jerry Rice
At No. 1 on this list is arguably the most famous member of the 49ers, the GOAT, wide receiver Jerry Rice.
He was drafted in the first round (16th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft. After just falling short of 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie year with 926, he broke out in his sophomore campaign.
In that season he would have 86 receptions for 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those numbers would earn him both Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.
He would go on to earn 12 Pro Bowl selections,10 All-Pro selections and two Offensive Player of the Year awards with the 49ers en route to winning three Super Bowls with the team.
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However, the 2000 NFL season would be Rice’s last with San Francisco. Prior to the 2001 season, the 49ers released Rice and he would go on to sign with the Raiders.
He would play with them for four more seasons.
He would return to the 49ers to retire with the team ceremonially in 2006. And he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 to cap off a record-breaking career.