The
Uniforms of the San Francisco 49ers!
Titled “Nobody Does Football Better” and licensed by the National Football League, we present the uniforms history of the San Francisco 49ers.
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Here then is the history of the 49ers’ Uniforms …
#1.
1946 & 1948 Football takes flight in the ‘Bay
Area’ – the 49ers join the ‘All-America Football Conference’ in 1946. The AAFC
was a rival league to the NFL, competing for fans and players. In its inaugural
season the had 8 teams: Brooklyn Dodgers; Buffalo Bills; Chicago Rockets;
Cleveland Browns; Los Angeles Dons; Miami Seahawks; New York Yankees; San
Francisco 49ers. It gets a bit confusing because one might assume that at least
3 of these teams (Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and the 49ers) went on to
join the NFL in 1950 when the AAFC and the NFL agreed to a truce, but in fact
the deal was that the NFL would take in the AAFC’s two best teams, the Browns
and the 49ers, plus the lowly Baltimore Colts (who folded after one season in
the NFL). The rest of the AAFC teams simply ceased operations.
The 49ers played their home games
in Kezar Stadium. Anthony J. Morabito, the team’s owner, named the team as such
to reflect the city’s ties to the 1849 California Gold Rush in the Sierra
Nevada mountains east of San Francisco. Under the leadership & tutelage of
coach Lawrence T. Shaw, the 49ers’ AAFC 4-year record would be a very
impressive 39-15-2 – a sign of success to come to this franchise in the next 50
years. These first few years were synonymous with Strzykalski rushes, Beals
receptions and Albert passes.
For the record, the 1946 49ers
went 9-5 but missed the playoffs (only 2 teams qualified – the winner of the 4
team Eastern Division would play the winner of the 4 team West), 8-4-2 in 1947
and again no playoffs; 12-2 in 1948 but once again they finished behind the
remarkable Cleveland Borwns and thus out of the playoffs. In 1949 the AAFC was
down to 7 teams in a single division, with the 1st place team
meeting the 4th place finishers, and second played third.
Predictably, the 49ers finished second behind the Browns, and after both won
their preliminary playoff game, the Browns beat the 49ers 21-7 in the last AAFC
Championship game. (Allow us a quick tribute to the Browns, who lost a total of
only 4 games during their 4 year AAFC reign. From a 49er perspective, there’s
some consolation in that two of four defeats were at the hands of the 49ers.)
With respect to the helmets,
almost all helmets in this era lacked
facial protection and would continue that way well into the 50’s. The only
significant difference in the 1946 and 1948 49ers uniforms was the switch from
white to tan for the pants and helmets.
#2.
1952 The 49ers are now part of the 12 team NFL, playing in the National
Conference. They finished a respectable 7-5, ahead of the Packers and the
Bears.
This is the style of jersey that
was worn by 49er rookie, and soon-to-be legend Hugh McElhenny – drafted from
the University of Washington. The first time halfback McElhenny touched the
ball, he scampered 42 yards for a touchdown! ‘The King’ (as he was nicknamed by
QB Frankie Albert) quickly became known for his shiftiness & elusiveness –
together with Joe Perry, these two would form the 49ers ‘million-dollar
backfield’.
Note that by 1952 the 49ers had
added three white stripes to the jersey, a staple for years to come. Note also
the helmet and the lack of a face mask – it was the player’s choice whether or
not to wear a face protector, and most opted not to wear one until the mid to
late 50’s.
#3.
1959 It’s amazing, but the 1959 San Francisco uniform has undergone very
minor or subtle changes since 1952 – in fact, this could be said for the home
red uniform right up to the early 90’s! The tan/gold pants, the red shirt with
three stripes & white numbers evidenced in this painting were the staples
of 49ers’ home uniforms for another 30+ seasons.
Note that the 1959 uniform
features pants with a zippered front, and numbers on the sleeves, and by this
time most helmets had face guards. The ’59 helmet, however, still had no logo
on it.
In 1959 the NFL is still a 12 team
league, divided into 6 team Eastern and Western Conferences. The 49ers play in
the west, and they finished with a 7-5 record. The 1950’s are a relatively
successful decade for the 49ers, who enjoy 7 seasons of .500 ball or better.
That being said, they advanced to post season play only once, in 1957, losing a
heartbreaker to the Lions 31-27 in the Western Conference Championship game.
Allow us to honor some 49er greats
who played for the team in the 50’s by mentioning their names - Frankie Albert,
Y. A. Tittle, Hugh McElhenny, Joe Perry, Bob St. Clair, Leo Nomellini. All were
great players who contributed to the 49ers legend and fan base.
#4.
1963 There’s a general rule in the NFL that the home team wears a dark
uniform and the visitors a light colored one (unless altered at the request of
the home team). The ’63 uniform depicted here is the 49ers 1963 AWAY uniform.
Notice the striping, which is almost vertical and much higher-up on the
shoulders than earlier editions. Note also the inclusion of the legendary 49ers
logo on the helmet. This logo on an intersecting “S” and “F”, has only gone
through minimal changes right up to the present, much like their home jersey
remained largely the same for so many years.
The 1963 season wasn’t
particularly kind to the 49ers, as they finished with a 4-10 record, last in
the 7 team Western Conference. In fact, for most seasons in the 60’s the 49ers
hover around .500, and fail to make post season play between 1958 and 1969.
#5.
1972 The ’72 jersey has now been modified to a short sleeve, and other
than the addition of red and white pants stripes, it’s quite similar to the
home uniforms of the 50’s and 60’s. By this time the helmet is now the familiar
gold color, and the helmet logo appears almost identical to the present day
logo (although there are minor differences).
By this time the NFL and AFL have
merged, and the NFL is now a 26 team league divided into two conferences, each
with 3 divisions. The ’72 49ers finish with an 8-5-1 record and win the NFC
West. In a thriller of a game, they face the Cowboys at home at Candlestick
Park, but Dallas scores 17 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to
knock off the 49ers 30-28. This was the 49ers 3rd playoff appearance
in a row, but their last until 1981.
#6.
1981 What a ride – after finishing 1978 and 1979 with identical 2-12
records, and 1980 with a 6-10 mark, the 49ers come alive in 1981 with a league
best 13-3 record and roar into the playoffs for the first time since 1972.
And it doesn’t stop there for the
Joe Montana-led 49ers (Montana joined the team in 1979 out of Notre Dame).
After beating the Giants 38-24, they
knock off Dallas 28-27 in one of the most memorable 49ers games (and perhaps
NFL games) ever played. This game was won with “The Catch”, a 6 yard pass from
Joe Montana to an over-extended Dwight Clark that changed the course of 49ers
history.
Then the 49ers met the
surprisingly strong Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. At the Silverdome in
Pontiac, Michigan, in front of 81,270 fans, the 49ers come from behind to beat
the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 to capture their first of 5 Super Bowls in the
next 14 years (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994), and Joe Montana wins his first
Super Bowl MVP award.
The 1981 visitors jersey shown
here should seem quite familiar to 49ers fans of all ages – the present version
is not much changed from this one.
#7.
1984 The Joe Montana – Coach Bill Walsh dynasty continues.
After an off year in the strike
shortened 1982 season, and a disappointing loss to the Redskins in 1983, the
49ers roar back in 1984 with a 15-1 regular season record.
Then in the playoffs they handle
the Giants 21-10 and shut out the Bears 21-0, and go on to meet Dan Marino and
the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. Once again, riding the arm of Joe Montana, who
goes 24 for 35 with no intereceptions, the 49ers roll over the Dolphins 38-16
at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. This is the second of the 49ers 5
Super Bowls over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994), and Joe
Montana wins his second Super Bowl MVP award.
In winning 5 Super Bowl
Championships, the 49ers join Dallas as the only teams to have won 5 Super
Bowls.
#8.
1988 & 1989 The 49ers go 10-6 in 1985, 10-5-1 in
1986, and 13-2 in 1987, but get knocked off in the first round of the playoffs
each time. But the story doesn’t end there. Enter Jerry Rice and Roger Craig.
Like a well oiled machine, the
49ers win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1988 and 1989.
In 1988, a year of great parity in
the NFL, the 49ers finish with a 10-6 record along with the LA Rams and the New
Orleans Saints. In round 1 of the 49ers’ playoffs, they clobber the Vikings 34-9.
Next up were the Chicago Bears, who go down to defeat 28-3. Then it was on to
Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami to face Boomer Esiason and the Cincinnati Bengals
in Super Bowl XXIII. In a game reminiscent of the 1981 Super Bowl game between
the same two teams, the 49ers come from behind to down the Bengals 20-16. This
time out Jerry Rice takes home the hardware, and Joe Montana goes 23 for 36
with no interceptions.
And a quick word has to be said
about coach Bill Walsh who retired from NFL coaching after the 1988 season: in
10 years as the Niners' coach, Walsh had a 102-62-1 record, won six NFC West
titles and three Super Bowls. Yikes!
1989? It’s déjŕ vu all over again.
The 49ers roll through the regular season with a 14-2 mark, then beat the
Vikings 41-13 and the LA Rams 30-3. The next victims were the Denver Broncos in
Super Bowl XXIV at the Superdome in New Orleans. And victims is the right word
as the 49ers crush John Elway and the Broncos 55-10 in one of the most lopsided
Super Bowl games ever played. Once again Montana goes 24 for 32 with no
interceptions and wins his third Super Bowl MVP. This is the fourth of the
49ers 5 Super Bowls over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).
The ’88 & ’89 jerseys shown
here highlight the consistency of the 49ers uniform for the past 30 years. It’s
a simple design with colors you wouldn’t think would work (red, gold and
white), but do.
#9.
1994 Some of the names have changed but the result doesn’t – gone are
Bill Walsh and Joe Montana and Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott and many others, but
Steve Young picks right up where Joe left off.
The 49ers finish the season 13-3,
then beat Chicago 44-15 and in a memorable clash of titans, the Cowboys 38-28.
Thus in Super Bowl XXIX the 49ers faced their in-state rivals, the surprising
San Diego Chargers. This time out Young fires to Rice for 3 TD’s, and the 49ers
roll to a 49-26 win in front of 74,107 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.
Chalk up an MVP award for Mr. Young.
This is the fifth of the 49ers 5
Super Bowls over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).
During this season, the NFL and
its franchises were showcasing ‘throwback’ jerseys, or replicas of older
uniforms – to help commemorate the NFL’s 75th anniversary. The 75th
anniversary was also commemorated by the diamond patch on the upper left part
of the torso.
The 49ers jersey showcased here is
a throwback jersey designed to honor the 1957 49ers uniform, and features a
unique drop shadow effect for the uniform number on the front of the jersey, as
well as white pants with red and black stripes.
One other note about the uniform:
If you look closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn from 1991 on, you’ll note a
small NFL shield patch on the jersey’s neckline. Most NFL uniforms added the
NFL logo patch to the neck, and to the upper left thigh of the pants, beginning
in 1991. The only major exception to this practice was in 1994 when the teams
wore their throwback uniforms – in these cases, as is the case here, the teams
did not wear the NFL shield patch.
#10.
1996 There are some interesting variations to this 1996 home uniform: a
thin, gold trim has been added to the number/drop shadow. The 49ers added their
logo to both sleeves – marking the first time that we’ve seen their logo on
their jersey. The numbers are much higher on the shoulder than previously seen.
Furthermore, the face guard is now
a maroon/red instead of a silver-grey. Interestingly, the 49ers went back to
the ‘white’ pants in 1996 – the pants were white in the ’94 throwback year,
then switched to gold in ’95. Finally, note the special commemorative patch on
the left shoulder – celebrating the 49ers’ 50th anniversary (see the
description of the 1946 jersey above for some history about the 49ers’ first
season in 1946).
In 1996 the 49ers again have a
remarkable regular season, going 12-4. Leaving aside the strike shortened 1982
season, from 1981 to 1998 the 49ers will never lose more than 6 games in a
season, compiling a stratospheric 207-72-1 regular season record in this 18
year period, and a gaudy 22-11 post season record.
Now a quick word about coach
George Seifert: Seifert's record with the 49ers is probably without equal -
between 1989 and 1996, he led San Francisco to a regular-season record of
108-35 and he won Super Bowls XXIV and XXIX. If winning percentages mean
anything, Seifert deserves immense praise.
#11.
2000 After such a long period of dominance, the 49ers have come back to
earth in 1999 and 2000 (records of 4-12 and 6-10). You almost had to expect
this, and the wonderful thing is that seems to be all sorts of cause for
optimism for the Jeff Garcia led 49ers.
A couple points about the 2000
uniform: If you look very closely, you’ll also notice a mini ‘SF’ logo amidst
the striping on the pants – a little nuance that was added beginning in the ’98
season. Also, if you look closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn from 1991 on,
you’ll note a small NFL shield patch on the jersey’s neckline. Most NFL
uniforms added the NFL logo patch to the neck, and to the upper left thigh of
the pants, beginning in 1991. The only major exception to this practice was in
1994 when the teams wore their throwback uniforms. In this case, the 49ers have
the NFL patch on their jersey, but not on their pants – one of the rare
exceptions since 1991.
***************************************
The San Francisco 49ers: “Nobody
Does Football Better”
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