Building the greatest 49ers all-time offense in franchise history
All-time best 49ers wide receivers
This positional group has got to be, by far, the strongest squad on the offense. The amount of total touchdowns all-time and 1,000-yard seasons here is obscene.
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is the “Mount Everest” of wide receivers.
He leads in just about every career category and owns multiple regular and postseason records as well. And, you guessed it, he owns Super Bowl records that probably won’t fall anytime soon (if ever). He played 15 years for San Francisco, 20 in total, and posted 11 straight thousand-yard seasons.
He capped off his amazing run for the 49ers by being carried off the field following his last game and ended his legendary career enshrined in Canton.
Stat line: 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards, 197 rec TDs, 207 total TDs
Terrell Owens
Everything about Terrell Owens’ 15-year career was larger than life. His style of play, his ability and his confidence. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro and the receiving half of “The Catch II.”
Owens started out as a small-town kid with big NFL dreams. Despite some team drama that probably should’ve been left out of the equation, he became a legend. He is fifth all-time in touchdowns, but his career could’ve been even more productive had he learned team unity.
Nonetheless, Owens is a star and belongs in the Hall of Fame for his productivity and accomplishments. Too bad for him, others who matter on the subject, feel differently.
Stat line: 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards, 153 rec TDs, 156 total TDs
John Taylor
John Taylor had a brilliant nine-year career, all of which he celebrated in San Francisco.
It’s not easy being a second option on the field, especially when the undeniable No. 1 is Rice, but Taylor made it work. He had two 1,000-yard seasons, 43 receiving touchdowns, but 46 scores overall. Taylor was also an accomplished punt returner, and his beautiful open-field running provided him with two more scores.
The best thing about Taylor is that he played like the first option, but never had a problem being the second one.
Stat line: 347 receptions for 5,598 yards, 43 rec TDs, 47 total TDs
Randy Moss
Randy Moss only spent one season in the hot California sun, but he came out of retirement to do. So, that alone speaks volumes.
He wasn’t the same player for the 49ers that he was prior to calling it quits, but his efforts were enough to help his team get back to the Super Bowl. In his career, Moss caught 10 or more touchdown passes in nine seasons, had 10 1,000-yard seasons, made the Pro Bowl six times and is a member of the All-Decade team for the 2000s.
His elite career produced 982 receptions for 15,292 and 156 touchdowns. If only he would’ve made it to the Bay Area sooner, the Niners may be on a quest for something higher than a sixth championship.
Unfortunately, the sports world will never know.
Stat line: 982 receptions for 15,292 yards, 156 TDs
Dwight Clark
Dwight Clark is the poster child for value. He was a 10th-round selection in the NFL Draft, but in hindsight, you’d never know it.
He, too, spent his entire nine-year career in San Francisco where caught 506 receptions and 48 receiving touchdowns, one of which was the most important touchdown in franchise history.
“The Catch,” was a 6-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana in the final minutes of play in the 1982 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys, and it capped off a 14-play, 83-yard drive, resulting in the team’s first Super Bowl appearance.
The 49ers went on to hoist four championship trophies in eight years and were named the all-decade team following that defining moment.
If not for that leaping grab at the end of that game, the franchise wouldn’t have celebrated quite the way it did. The franchise owes quite a bit of gratitude to that moment.
Stat line: 506 receptions for 6,750 yards, 48 TDs
Anquan Boldin
Anquan Boldin was a long-time No. 2 option behind receiving great, Larry Fitzgerald, back when both were with the Arizona Cardinals. Shortly after, Boldin became a first option and a Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens.
49ers fans are still reeling from that loss.
However, when he came to San Francisco, his presence was felt in a hurry. He along with quarterback Colin Kaepernick put the team on their backs in their Week 1 victory against the Green Bay Packers. Boldin caught 13 passes for 208 yards and a score. Furthermore, he proved that he was San Francisco’s No. 1 receiver in his first game with the franchise.
Boldin played three seasons for the 49ers and accrued just over 3,000 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.
He was a tough, physical receiver who fought for the ball every play. He’ll forever be etched in Niners history as one of the greats.
Stat line: 1,076 receptions for 13,779 yards, 82 rec TDs, 83 total TDs
Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel is not only one of the most explosive players in the game, but he’s also a lot of fun to watch.
The self-proclaimed “wide back” has already solidified himself as one of the franchise greats in just four short seasons. He’s a dual-threat player who can make defenders miss, and find the open lane for a touchdown.
To say that he’s been productive, would be an understatement. To put it plainly, Samuel can do it all, and pairing him with running back Christian McCaffrey is a bad day for every defense in the league.
Samuel knows his worth, and subjectively speaking, is worth every penny.
Stat line: 223 receptions for 3,230 yards, 12 rec TDs, 123 rushes for 782 yards, 14 rushing TDs
Collectively over the years, the 49ers have truly had some of the greats at wide receiver, and they’ve even had some of these juggernauts on the field at the same time.
But seeing these names together truly puts into perspective just how dominant San Francisco has been over the years at the position.