Football History

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The San Francisco 49ers are one of those franchises that have had success and incredible talent on its roster throughout generations. Here is a list of the Niners Playmakers that have had the most starts for the franchise.

Jerry Rice 224 Starts at WR (1986 - 2000)
John Brodie 158 starts at QB (1957-73)
Joe Montana 139 starts at SF QB (1979-92)
Steve Young, 124 games started at SF QB (1987-99)

Born January 3, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, was Hank Stram. He was an American football coach who is best known for his 15-year tenure with the Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL and National Football League.

He played college football at Purdue University, where he was a two-way player. After graduating from Purdue, Stram served in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, Stram began his coaching career as an assistant at Purdue. He then served as an assistant at Notre Dame and Miami (Florida) before being hired as the head coach of the Dallas Texans in 1960.

Step into a time machine where cleat meets mud, pigskins soar, and legends are born. The Football Video Archive is your portal to the golden age of pro football, where every snap crackles with history, and every play unfolds like a cinematic masterpiece.

Founder and host Andrew Brown's website is more than just an archive; this community of fans is curators of passion, chroniclers of gridiron greatness, and storytellers who bring the past to life through the magic of celluloid. Here, you'll find a treasure trove of vintage film footage:

Born August 14, 1935, in Menlo Park, California, was John Brodie who was a quarterback that played for Stanford University. The passer's great play there earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Brodie went on to play professionally for 17 seasons at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers. There were multiple years where he led the NFL in both passing and touchdown throws and he played in two Pro Bowls and was the 1970 NFL MVP. This talented fella even had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer and was a television broadcaster for both sports.

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Two-Minute Warning - When does the NFL Clock Stop

Legendary journalist and former NFL columnist for the New York Daily
News and Dallas Morning News. He was a long-time member of the cast of HBO's Inside The NFL as one of the original NFL insiders and the YES Network's This Week in Football.

Born June 8, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a Pro Football Hall of Fame Defensive Back for the Green Bay Packers. Herb ended his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Prior to being picked by the Packers in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft as an offensive halfback, Adderly had played collegiately for Michigan State. In his rookie season facing the fact that the Pack already had two great backs in Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, the Green Bay coaches flipped him over to the defensive side of the ball as an emergency fill in for an injured corner Hank Gremminger and Adderly thrived as a cornerback.

Adderly accounted for 48 interceptions in his career and did some damage returning them as he averaged 21.8 yards per pick for a total of 1046 yards. Herb played in five NFL title games, and four Super Bowls! One of his biggest moments as a pro was a 60 yard pick six in Super Bowl II. The ball-hawking back also made it into five Pro Bowl games, as he was also an All-Pro in five different seasons. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Herb Adderly in 1980 to their Canton, Ohio museum.

Born May 22, 1940, in Lexington, Nebraska, was Mick Tingelhoff is an NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Center who played for the Minnesota Vikings for 17 seasons.

He was selected in the Hall of Fame in the 2015 class. Mick played his college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and did not become the starter there until his senior season.

The Hall of Famer also went undrafted and signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 1962 and became the starter as a rookie! His hard work earned him the right to play in six consecutive Pro Bowls in the late 1960s. After the 1969 season, Mr. Tingelhoff was voted as the NFL's Top Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Born August 14, 1916, in Rochester, New York, was Wellington Mara Pro Football Hall of Fame was the famed owner of the New York Giants, who along with his brother, Jack, inherited the team from his father Tim in 1930 due to the latter's connection with Professional Boxing.

When he was young and watched his father's Giants practice and play from the sidelines, the New York players called him with a nickname "the Duke" because of the royal position in Great Britain, the Duke of Wellington. The NFL admired the innovations of Wellington so much that in 1941, they nicknamed the version of the Wilson Game ball " 'the Duke" in his honor.

Under Wellington's leadership the G-men won 6 NFL Titles, which included two Super Bowl wins.

Lynn Swann played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was Super Bowl MVP wearing Number 88. and Part of the success of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Swann's legacy transcends the gridiron. He wasn't just a gifted wide receiver; he was a ballet dancer in cleats, a symbol of elegance amidst the ferocious Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.

Swann's journey began at USC, where his athleticism and leaping ability shone brightly. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1973, he joined the legendary "Steel Curtain" defense, adding an unexpected aerial dimension to their dominant force.

Partnered with the "Blonde Bomber" Terry Bradshaw, Swann became a maestro of acrobatic catches. His leaping touchdown in Super Bowl IX, leaping over Cowboys defenders like a gazelle, remains an iconic image etched in football history. His grace and precision defied the brutality of the sport, earning him the nickname "Swan."

Beyond highlights, Swann's impact was profound. He formed a near-telepathic connection with Bradshaw, reading blitzes and anticipating throws with uncanny intuition. He helped the Steelers secure four Super Bowl victories in six years, his calm presence and unflappable demeanor a key component of their dynasty.

Tragically, Swann's career was cut short by injuries in 1983. But his influence extended beyond the field. He pursued a successful broadcasting career, his eloquent insights and analytical mind finding a new audience. He also actively promoted literacy and education, proving his brilliance extended far beyond the football field.