San Francisco 49ers: The 5 Most Hated Opponents in 49ers History

The San Francisco 49ers have had some of the greatest players in NFL history.

The franchise has been blessed with superstars like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Ronnie Lott and Hugh McElhenny.

There are several opponents that have given some of these stars problems because of their ability, their attitude or the timing of their greatest games against the 49ers. 

Who are the five most hated opponents in San Francisco 49ers history?

Let's take a look.

Dishonorable Mention

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

11 Nov 1990: Linebacker Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants moves down the field during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Giants won the game, 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Instead of an Honorable Mention category, I will go with a Dishonorable Mention category, because these are players that the San Francisco 49ers and their fans hated.

These players didn't quite make our top five list, but they will go down as among the most hated players in 49er lore. They are Lawrence Taylor, Aeneas Williams, Michael Irvin, Duane Thomas, Troy Aikman and Alvin Harper.

In addition, there are four players that made our list even though they played for the 49ers at some point in time. Charles Haley, Terrell Owens, Deion Sanders and Lawrence Phillips.

5. Gale Sayers

Doug Benc/Getty Images

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - DECEMBER 06: Former NFL great Gale Sayers shares a laugh during the taping of the NFL Players Week 10th Anniversary on Wheel Of Fortune on December 6, 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images for PLAYERS I

It was December 12, 1965. It was a cloudy, wet day and the turf at Wrigley Field was sloppy and muddy.

What would happen that day would go down as perhaps the greatest individual performance in NFL history.

Unfortunately, the butt of the joke was the San Francisco 49ers.

Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet, was unstoppable.

The 49ers defense ran and chased him all over the field. However, the lightning quick running back finished with 336 all purpose yards. He rushed for five touchdowns and scored another on a punt return.

Gale Sayers had a record-setting day at the expense of the 49ers, as he touched the ball 16 times and scored six touchdowns. Looking at old film clips of the amazing day, the Niners defense looked totally inept. 

It was like men among boys. Slow boys. Gale Sayers made the 49ers the laughing stock of the league.

4. Roman Gabriel

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

3 Dec 2000: A view of the St. Louis Rams helmet after the game against the Carolina Panthers at the Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Rams 16-3.Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allsport

Roman Gabriel played quarterback for 16 years in the NFL, from 1962 to 1977.

His first 11 seasons were with the Los Angeles Rams and he finished out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

While playing for the Rams, the 49ers simply could not beat him. Even in the early 70s, when the Niners won division titles, they had trouble beating the Rams.

I can still see Gabriel throwing to wide receiver Jack Snow, or over the middle to Billy Truax for key first downs.

During the 60s, the Rams were the 49ers' primary nemesis and Roman Gabriel was the one who made them go.

If one team ever had another teams' number, it was the Rams over the 49ers. As a young boy, but a big 49ers fan, I hated Roman Gabriel.

3. Warren Sapp

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 8: Warren Sapp #99 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers smiles during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 8, 2003 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Eagles 17-0 in the

Warren Sapp played on the defensive line for 13 years.

The first nine of those years was with Tampa Bay, before Sapp finished his career with four years in Oakland.

Sapp was well known for his rough and tumble style. He often crossed the line into downright dirty play.

Early in the 1997 season, Sapp made one play that would forever make him a despised player in the eyes of 49ers fans.

The play was an end-around to future Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Sapp got penetration into the 49ers backfield, but was not going to be able to stop Rice from running around him for a big gain.

Instead, he reached up and snared Rice's facemask.

He proceeded to spin Rice around by his facemask, as if he was corkscrewing Rice's head right off his shoulders.

Unfortunately for Jerry Rice, his foot was planted and his knee was completely torn up.

From that moment, the rest of Jerry Rice's season was lost, all because of Sapp's illegal play.

The play by Warren Sapp was extremely dirty and resulted in a career-threatening injury to Rice. Only Jerry Rice's incredible dedication and work ethic enabled him to return to the game and continue to play at an extremely high level.

2. Brett Favre

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after throwing a 12 yard touchdown recption during the third quarter of the NFC championship game against the New York Giants on January 20, 2008 at Lambeau Field

During his days with the Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre was a major thorn in the side of the 49ers.

He played like a gunslinger and would somehow find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against them, again and again.

Brett Favre engineered fourth quarter drives that knocked the 49ers out of the playoffs on more than one occasion.

Vanquished were former 49ers greats Steve Young and Jeff Garcia.

Many fans think of Favre and his wishy washy retirement stances, which were more annoying than anything else. However, the bottom line is that Brett Favre was an outstanding competitor that found a way to beat you.

1. Roger Staubach

Getty Images/Getty Images

1979: Quarterback Roger Staubach #12 of the Dallas Cowboys rolls out of the pocket during a Cowboys game in the 1979 season. Mandatory Credit: Allsport/ALLSPORT

Roger Staubach played his entire 11-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.

He was the all American boy, coming from Navy and winning the Heisman Trophy. 

So how could Roger Staubach be the 49ers' most hated player?

The Dallas Cowboys were self-proclaimed as America's Team. Their pompous attitude was hard to live with and the 49ers wanted to beat them bad.

However, for the longest time, the 49ers couldn't.

When they made the playoffs in 1970, '71 and '72, it was Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys that would knock them out.

Staubach played with a precision and confidence that the 49ers simply could not overcome. It is partially out of respect and partially out of dismay over the continual beatings that Staubach and the Cowboys gave the 49ers that I place him at the top of this list.