San Francisco 49ers' All-Time First-Team Offense

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. Bill Walsh reshaped offensive schemes across the NFL forever with his new West Coast Offense he brought to the 49ers that made them so successful.

Some historic franchises, like the Pittsburgh Steelers, reached glory on the back of the their defense. That isn't to say their offense wasn't good, but when I think about the Pittsburgh Steelers, a mental image of Jack Lambert comes to mind, not Lynn Swann.

Conversely, it was the 49ers' offense that allowed them to bring in five Super Bowl rings. Ronnie Lott is going to get his recognition in the second piece of this article.

Before we get started, let me say that this list is not based on what each individual player brought to the 49ers. Even if they were with the franchise for a short period time and vacated the team on bad terms, they may be eligible for recognition here.

Here is the first team offense for the 49ers in the history of the franchise.

WR 1: Jerry Rice

This is a no-brainer. Jerry Rice is arguably the best player of all time. He blows everyone else away in nearly every major statistical category.

Thirteen Pro Bowls, 11 All-Pro selections and three Super Bowl rings are just some of his accolades. His 208 receiving touchdowns are an NFL record, as are his 1,549 receptions and 22,895 yards.

Critics will say his absurd numbers could be a product of Joe Montana and Steve Young, but it was his YAC yards that helped make him so lethal.

He had unparallelled work ethic that translated to the field. Impossible to cover, the ultimate competitor, Rice easily locks up this spot.

WR 2: Terrell Owens

Sorry, everyone. You might not like what T.O. stands for, but it is impossible to deny him as the second-best receiver to ever put on a 49er uniform. He's had very public character problems that could eventually lead to him being held out of the Hall of Fame.

He rubs people the wrong way to say the least. He never met a quarterback he liked, except maybe Tony Romo for one brief press conference.

Even so, he's second all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns behind only Jerry Rice. Statistically speaking, he's the second-best receiver ever.

R.C. Owens, Gene Washington and Dwight Clark are just some of the wide receivers who could be in consideration for this spot. None of them put out even close to the production Owens has.

Many felt that he was not worth the headache when he left the team. He remains the last player in a 49er uniform to gain 1,000 yards receiving.

LT: Bob St. Clair

Bob St. Clair is the team's only offensive lineman in the Hall of Fame. His hard-nosed playing style helped clear a path for the Million Dollar Backfield.

St. Clair once lost five of his teeth while blocking a punt as special teams contributor. St. Clair still eats his steak raw and took no prisoners during his playing days.

He's the perfect player to kick off the 49ers' all-time offensive line.

LG: Randy Cross

Randy Cross could make a case for being on this list as a center as well. He was a three-time All-Pro selection.

Cross racked up three Super Bowl rings during his career and would start at any position along the interior line on this list. He missed only eight games in his lengthy 13-year career, which speaks to his durability and toughness.

Cross is in the College Football Hall of Fame and continues to work as an analyst for CBS Sports. He's No. 51 in the video.

C: Jesse Sapolu

Jesse Sapolu was a powerful interior lineman who the 49ers can call completely their own, as he played every game in his illustrious career in a 49er uniform.

He brought home four Super Bowl rings with the Niners, playing both guard and center while on the team. Sapolu may be a better guard than a center, but he is also the best center in 49er history.

The battle between he and Forrest Blue would be a close one. Both were All-Pro players, and an argument could be made for either here. Sapolu wasn't bad for an 11th-round pick.

RG: Guy McIntyre

George Rose/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 14: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass under the protection of offensive tackle Bubba Paris #77 and guard Guy McIntyre #62 during the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams at Can

Guy McIntyre may go down in history as the original "Fridge," as he was utilized in short-yardage situations as a lead back prior to the way William Perry was used in Chicago. That is unfortunate, because McIntyre's contributions at guard should get far more recognition.

He was a three-time Super Bowl champion and a three-time All-Pro selection. McIntyre helped define what it meant to be a lineman in Bill Walsh's intricate West Coast Offense.

RT: Leo Nomellini

George Rose/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 18: 49ers Hall of Famer Leo Nomellini attends the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 18, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 31-7. (Photo by George Ros

Leo Nomellini is also a Hall of Famer, but went in for his accomplishments on the defensive side of the ball.

He was a two-way starter and made the All-Pro team on both sides of the ball. His accomplishments on the defensive side of the ball may overshadow what he was able to do as a tackle, but he enjoyed a spectacular career on offense as well.

Bookend Hall of Famers. Not bad.

TE: Vernon Davis

Vernon Davis could be the best tight end in the game today. He has built upon the trail blazed by Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Kellen Winslow Sr. and other athletic tight ends utilized in the passing game.

He's too big for a safety to cover and far too fast for any linebacker to handle. He has breakaway speed, runs crisp routes, has great hands and sells out every time he is asked to block.

He has learned to harness his aggression and intensity, which helped him to tie the all-time single-season touchdown mark amongst tight ends with 13.

It's fun to speculate how Steve Young or Joe Montana may have been able to utilize Davis in the passing game, but it's downright exciting to see what plans Jim Harbaugh has for him.

FB: Tom Rathman

Apologies to the players who made up the Million Dollar Backfield and the great running backs from other eras who are being omitted from this list. It wouldn't be fair not to at least acknowledge the Hall of Famers and legends who didn't make it on here.

Tom Rathman revolutionized the position of fullback. He was the ultimate team guy and perhaps the best all-around fullback ever.

He could block, catch, run, and he was a leader. Rathman was one of those players who relished contact, especially with the ball in his hands. He was a safety outlet in the passing game when the 49ers needed him to be and lead blocker for Roger Craig when asked to be so.

He is the 49ers' running backs coach and one of the few members of the Mike Singletary staff who survived the hiring of coach Jim Harbaugh.

RB: Frank Gore

This could have been a number of different players, but Frank Gore is a player who could have played in any era. He makes one cut and is a threat to take any run to the house.

He can catch and knows what to do with the ball in his hands. He is the only running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.

What is most impressive about Gore is that he is able to excel even in a mundane and predictable offense. During the majority his career, he has endured an onslaught of poor offenses led by lackluster quarterback play, a shortage of weapons and a porous offensive line.

Unlike other 49er greats who could have been a candidate for this spot, Gore was not surrounded by any sort of talent for most of his career and produced great numbers on his own accord. Bogged down by injuries, Gore has had every excuse to fail throughout his career and still manages to succeed.

QB: Joe Montana

Steve Young or Joe Montana? This is certainly a better quarterback controversy than Alex Smith, Shaun Hill or J.T. O'Sullivan.

Joe Montana is the most clutch quarterback of all time. There have been times in his career where nobody knew how he was going to win, but everyone was certain he would pull it off.

A prime example of such an event was in the 49ers' game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII. Skip to 2:14 of the video, and let hilarity ensue.

He was Joe Cool, and there is no other quarterback who comes close when everything is on the line. Young was extremely talented and one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. He isn't Joe Montana, but neither is anyone else.