5 Snubbed San Francisco 49ers Who Belong in the Hall of Fame

The NFL Hall of Fame is reserved for the best of the best, and there are a handful of snubbed San Francisco 49ers that deserve to have their bust enshrined in Canton.

Unfortunately, it seems as though the Hall of Fame voting process has become rather political. There are dozens upon dozens of worthy players from across the NFL that haven't gotten in. There is the whole debate over whether or not a player is worthy of getting in on his first available try, but either the player deserves to get in or he doesn't.

Inevitably, every year fans from every team rightly protest that their heroes once again were snubbed by the football gods.

John Taylor

John Taylor has always been overshadowed by another 49ers legend, Hall of Famer, Jerry Rice, but Taylor is as deserving as anyone to be enshrined in the Hall alongside his former partner in crime.

On any other team, Taylor would've been the No. 1 option. He ran precise routes, had good speed, was a tremendous punt returner and was extremely dangerous after he got his hands on the ball. He and Rice are the reason why the NFL keeps track of RAC, or "run after the catch."

If my words aren't enough to convince you, just let me compare his career statistics to a player already in the Hall, wide receiver Tom Fears.

• Tom Fears: 400 receptions for 5,397 yards with 38 touchdowns
• John Taylor: 347 receptions for 5,598 yards with 43 touchdowns

Dwight Clark

Dwight Clark's legacy almost never came about. Known for his role as the receiver that made "the catch" against Dallas in the NFC Championship game for the 1981 season, Clark wasn't even on anybody's radar coming out of college.

Legendary head coach Bill Walsh went to Clemson in 1979 to scout a promising young quarterback. While looking for Steve Fuller, Walsh bumped into Clark and asked him to run routes while he evaluated the quarterback. This is how legends are born.

He certainly has the statistics to bolster his case for the Hall of Fame. See how he matches up with current HOF wide receiver Lynn Swann:

• Lynn Swann: 336 receptions for 5,462 yards with 51 touchdowns
• Dwight Clark: 400 receptions for 5,397 yards with 48 touchdowns

Charles Haley

Charles Haley should have been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame a long time ago. There is no logical reason for Haley to be snubbed. The "elephant" position was made famous by Haley, and he revolutionized the way teams pass rush.

He was also certifiably insane. He was downright rude to the media, and he was notorious for acting out in violent, obscene ways. But his personal issues shouldn't keep him out of football heaven.

Charles Haley is the only player in the history of the NFL to have won five Super Bowls. 

His statistics include 100.5 sacks, 28 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. 

Roger Craig

Roger Craig deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. This snubbed 49er great was a player that revolutionized the running back position. 

Craig was the first player in NFL history to both rush for and receive more than 1,000 yards in the same season (1986). He was also the first player in history to score three touchdowns in one Super Bowl.

Craig was one of the best all around running backs to have ever played. He ran hard, charging ahead like a bucking bronco with his knees kicking up high and dealing blows to any would-be defender. 

His career statistics put him in the Hall, too.

He ran for 8,189 rushing yards, and he caught 566 receptions for 4,911 yards for a total of 73 touchdowns (56 rushing and 17 receiving).

Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.

The man that made the San Francisco 49ers into a dynasty deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. made some personal decisions that cost him dearly, but his accomplishments shouldn't be discounted as a result.

There has never been a more beloved owner of any professional sports team than Eddie D. He always went all out for his team, never counting the cost as long as the 49ers were winning. He was responsible for bringing in Bill Walsh, and he always got him the players he needed to win.

Like Charles Haley, DeBartolo, Jr. is on the outside looking in more than likely because of his off-field character defects. The problem is, this is the NFL, not the "high moral society." There is no excuse for his exclusion.