Trade History: An abundance of deal lead to the 49ers success in the 1980s

The San Francisco 49ers were original members of the All-America Football Conference and were one of three teams that were merged into the NFL after the AAFC in 1949. Although San Francisco reached the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back years in the early 1970s, the franchise had its best years in the following decade. Spurred by the drafting of quarterback Joe Montana, as well as several players from trades on this list, the 49ers won four Super Bowls in the 1980s and added another title after the 1994 season 

Not included in this list was the 2007 trade that gave San Francisco a first-round pick that was used to select Kentwan Balmer, a former North Carolina defensive lineman who had just 19 sacks in 27 games with the 49ers before he was traded to the Seahawks in 2010. Balmer eventually signed with Washington, where he played three games in 2011, then basically disappeared. The Redskins released Balmer in 2014, and he is now a coach with Point University in Georgia.

Here are the 10 most influential deals in San Francisco 49ers history.

1. August 1950:

49ers acquired: WR Gordy Soltau

Browns acquired: A fourth-round pick in the 1951 NFL Draft

Prior to becoming a star at the University of Minnesota, Soltau served in the Navy during World War II and was among the first wave of frogmen (now known as the Navy Seals). Soltau was a receiver and kicker who was drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 1950 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Browns early in training camp and Cleveland general manager and coach Paul Brown sent him on to the 49ers so he could have an opportunity to start. Soltau spent his entire nine-year career with San Francisco, and he was on the team for its first season after moving from the All-America Football Conference to the NFL. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1952, when he had 774 yards and seven touchdowns receiving to go along with a league-leading 94 points. Soltau posted a career-high 114 points the following year, and he finished his career with 644 points, which is fifth in franchise history. His receiving totals of 249 catches, 3,487 yards, and 54 touchdowns still rank among the top 20 on the team’s all-time lists. After his career ended in 1959, Soltau became an advocate for players’ rights and spent more than 40 years working in the printing industry. He passed away in 2014 at age 89.

Cleveland used the pick to select Bob Oristaglio, a Penn defensive end, and receiver. Oristaglio played with four teams over the course of his career. He started his career with the old Buffalo Bills of the All-America Football Conference in 1949 and, since he signed with the Baltimore Colts before the AAFC folded, he was allowed to play with the team after they were absorbed into the NFL (This was the “original” Colts that folded after the 1950 season, not the modern version, which began as the Dallas Texans in 1952). He played one season with the Browns after they drafted him and ended his career after playing with the Eagles in 1952.

Assessment: Although San Francisco was not a good team during its early NFL years, Soltau was a standout who held team records for receptions and yards when he retired. Oristaglio played just 40 games in four professional seasons, although his only reception with Cleveland went for a touchdown. 49ERS

2. August 18, 1961:

49ers acquired: OL/DL Lou Cordileone

Giants acquired: QB Y. A. Tittle

Cordileone was an offensive and defensive lineman from Clemson. He played one year each as a reserve with the Giants and 49ers and split the 1962 season between the Rams and Steelers. Cordileone started all 14 games with Pittsburgh in 1963, then missed the next three years. He came back and played with the Saints during their first two seasons before retiring in 1968. Cordileone was a cast member on Forever Young, a 2013 TV Land series that featured 10 people trying to bridge a generation gap.

Tittle converted from running back to the quarterback at LSU, but he played in an era in which two-way players were common. His most famous collegiate moment occurred in 1947 when, as a member of LSU, he intercepted future Giants teammate Charlie Conerly and had an open field in front of him. However, his belt was torn off on an attempted tackle during the play, and when Tittle tried to switch the ball to the other hand to stiff-arm a defender, but his pants fell and he was tackled at the 20. Conerly and Mississippi went on to win, 20-18.

Tittle played three years with the Baltimore Colts, including two while they were still in the All-America Football Conference. He spent the majority of his career with the 49ers, earning four Pro Bowl selections in 10 years with San Francisco and being named an All-Pro in 1957. After the trade, he took over the starting spot from Conerly in New York and led the Giants to three straight NFL Championship Games. Tittle earned three Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections with New York and led the NFL in touchdowns twice. He was named NFL MVP after passing for 3,145 yards and a then-record 36 touchdowns. Tittle retired the following season, holding the NFL’s career passing yards (29,339) and touchdown (212) records at the time. He was also the league’s all-time leader in games played with 176, which earned him the nickname “Old Reliable.” During his career, Tittle worked as an insurance agent in the offseason and he started his own company after he retired. The 1971 Pro Football Hall of Famer suffered from dementia later in his life and died in 2017.

Assessment: Even though Tittle was on the downside of his career, he led New York to three NFL title games and put together an MVP season as a 42-year-old. Cordileone played just one season with San Francisco. GIANTS

3. March 24, 1978:

49ers acquired: RB O. J. Simpson

Bills acquired: Second- and third-round picks in the 1978 NFL Draft, a first-round pick in 1979, and second-and fourth-rounders in 1980

Simpson was one of the most talented players in the NFL during his nine seasons with Buffalo. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. Simpson had five straight 1,000-yard seasons, led the league four times, and set a record with 2,003 yards in just 14 games in 1973. He ranks second in Bills team history with 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns, and he also led the NFL in scores twice. With his hometown 49ers, Simpson totaled 1,053 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons. His Hall of Fame career has since been overshadowed by his legal troubles.

The two picks from the 1978 Draft turned into Florida defensive end Scott Hutchinson and Nebraska wide receiver Danny Fulton. Hutchinson played 53 games with Buffalo and 16 more with Tampa Bay before retiring in 1983. Fulton had 34 yards in his only season with Buffalo in 1979 and 47 moreover two seasons after signing with Cleveland. The Bills also received two picks in the 1979 Draft, including the top overall selection. Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau was a hot commodity, but he never played for Buffalo after salary negotiations went awry. He was eventually traded away, a move which led to the Bills drafting Jim Kelly. The fourth-rounder was Knoxville College defensive end Ken Johnson, who had 5½ sacks in six seasons with Buffalo and played two games with the Chiefs in 1987 before retiring. The final pick the Bills received in this trade, Auburn running back Joe Cribbs, was the best of the bunch. Cribbs, a second-round selection in 1980, had three 1,000-yard seasons and ran for 4,445 yards and 21 touchdowns in five years with the Bills. After missing the 1984 season due to a contract dispute, the three-time Pro Bowler played one more year in Buffalo, then spent two in San Francisco (more on that later) and retired after splitting the 1988 season between Indianapolis and Miami.

Assessment: Although Cousineau was a major bust as the top overall pick in 1979, Cribbs was selected to three Pro Bowls while Simpson’s career faded in San Francisco. BILLS

4. April 30, 1985:

49ers acquired: First- and third-round picks in 1985

Patriots acquired: First-, second-and third-round picks in the 1985 NFL Draft

Wide receiver was a strong position in the 1985 Draft, with future Pro Bowlers Al Toon and Eddie Brown being selected early. However, the 49ers found an All-Time great in Jerry Rice, a two-time Division I-AA All-American at Mississippi Valley State. His accolades and accomplishments would take up an entire chapter in a book about NFL history: 13 Pro Bowls; 10 All-Pro selections; two-time Offensive Player of the Year; three-time champion; MVP of Super Bowl XXIII after posting 11 receptions and a game-record 215 yards against the Bengals; league leader in yards and touchdowns six times each and receptions twice, holds NFL records with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, 197 receiving touchdowns, 23,546 all-purpose yards, and 208 total scores; a league-record 1,848 yards in 1995 (passed by Calvin Johnson in 2012); member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams, as well as the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams; played 303 games, a record for non-kickers; and was a member of the 1985 All-Rookie Team. After 16 seasons with San Francisco, Rice signed across the bay with Oakland and scored a touchdown in the Raiders’ loss to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He was traded to the Seahawks during the 2004 season and signed with the Broncos the following year, but he retired after failing to make Denver’s final roster. After his career ended, the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Famer co-authored several books, appeared on Dancing with the Stars, and was a two-time Pro Bowl alumni captain.

The third-round pick, Alabama running back Ricky Moore, was cut by the 49ers. He played one season each with the Bills, Oilers, and Cardinals, totaling 126 rushing yards, 220 receiving yards, and one total touchdown before he retired in 1988.

The 1985 Draft had some fireworks at the top. The Bills selected Bruce Smith first overall, then made a trade with the Browns after Bernie Kosar decided to opt-out of the regular draft and into the supplemental draft (which really angered the Vikings and Oilers). Although picks 2-4 were traded, the most influential deal involved the Patriots acquiring an extra second-rounder but dropped 12 spots. New England used the three picks on Trevor Matich, Ben Thomas, and Audray McMillian. Matich was a center on BYU’s National Championship team in 1984, but injured his ankle in his first professional game and missed the rest of the season. He played 148 games in 12 NFL seasons with five teams, mostly as a long snapper. After his retirement in 1996, Matich went into broadcasting and currently works on ESPN’s college football coverage. Thomas was a former Auburn defensive lineman who played just 19 games with the Patriots and 54 overall in six seasons before he retired in 1991. He had a sack as a reserve in the Super Bowl XX loss to the Bears. McMillian was a University of Houston cornerback who was cut by the Patriots in training camp and signed with the Oilers. He also played with the Vikings and had his best season in 1985. That year, McMillian earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections after posting a league-leading eight interceptions. He retired after the 1993 season.

Assessment: There are very few players who are as recognizable as Rice, and his contributions to the NFL are unmatched. The Patriots blew their chance to create one of the most formidable starting receiver tandems in league history in Rice and Irving Fryar. 49ERS

5. Revamping the roster in 1986

San Francisco made five trades involving picks in the 1985 NFL Draft and another during training camp in 1986 that helped stock a roster that would eventually dominate the NFL. I will look at each trade individually and also give an overall assessment. 

(Part One) August 2, 1985:

49ers acquired: A sixth-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft

Jets acquired: T Billy Shields

The 49ers used the sixth-round pick in Don Griffin, a cornerback from Middle Tennessee State. Griffin played his first eight seasons with San Francisco, winning two titles and earning All-Rookie Team honors in 1986 with three interceptions and a career-high 72 tackles. He also appeared in three other NFC Championship Games, with San Francisco playing in five title games in a six-year span from (1988-93). Overall, Griffin played 114 games with the 49ers, totaling 22 interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, and 338 tackles. He joined the Browns in 1994 and played two seasons with Cleveland and one with Philadelphia before retiring in 1996.

Shields was a starting left tackle for quarterback Dan Fouts and San Diego’s “Air Coryell” offense in the late 1970s and early ’80s. He played 127 games in nine seasons and appeared in two AFC Championship Games with the Chargers. Shields spent one season as a reserve with San Francisco and won a title when the 49ers defeated the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. Shields played just three games with the Jets after the trade before being released. He finished the 1985 season with Kansas City and then retired.

Assessment: Although Griffin was a sixth-round pick, he was a starter in two straight Super Bowl victories, while Shields played just three games in New York. 49ERS

(Part Two) April 29, 1986:

49ers acquired: Second- and third-round picks in the 1986 NFL Draft

Bills acquired: A first-round pick in 1986 and a 10th-round selection in 1987

While the 49ers traded away the second-round pick (more on that in a minute), San Francisco used the third-rounder to select Tom Rathman, a Nebraska product whose primary goal was to block for fellow Cornhusker Roger Craig. Rathman won two titles, totaling 1,902 yards and 26 touchdowns rushing, as well as 294 catches, 2,490 yards, and eight scores receiving. He retired after spending one season with the Raiders in 1994. Rathman became a running backs coach in the NFL and spent 14 years with the 49ers in two stints. He currently holds the same position with the Colts.  

The Bills used their acquired pick on Will Wolford, a tackle from Vanderbilt. Wolford earned two Pro Bowl selections in seven seasons with Buffalo and played in the first three of the Bills’ four straight Super Bowl appearances. The stalwart left tackle signed with the Colts in 1993 and was selected to another Pro Bowl in 1995. Wolford played three years each with Indianapolis and Pittsburgh before retiring in 1998. He was an owner of the Louisville Fire in the Arena Football 2 league and also was a high school coach at his alma mater in Kentucky from 2013 until his retirement in 2017. The 1987 pick was traded to the Raiders for a pick that was used on Bruce Mesner, a Maryland nose tackle who played 11 games as a rookie in what was his only NFL season.

Assessment: Rathman was a hard-nosed fullback who excelled at blocking rushing and receiving while Wolford was a solid protector of Jim Kelly’s blindside. San Francisco won two straight Super Bowls while Buffalo played in three in a row with Wolford on the team. PUSH

(Part Three) April 29, 1986:

49ers acquired: Second- and third-round picks in the 1986 NFL Draft

Lions acquired: A second-round pick in 1986

San Francisco selected Larry Roberts, a former Alabama defensive end, in the second round. Roberts totaled 28 sacks in eight seasons with San Francisco. The two-time champion also appeared in 12 playoff games and had a sack in the 55-10 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. The other pick was sent to the Rams in a deal which will be explored later on in this list.  

Detroit used this trade to move up 10 spots and select Garry James, a running back from LSU. James played just three years in the NFL, all with Detroit, where he joined with former Florida fullback James Jones to form the “James Gang.” James finished with 1,510 yards rushing, 816 receiving, and 14 total touchdowns (12 on the ground) before retiring after the 1988 season.

Assessment: Even if you don’t include the players that were later acquired from the Rams, Roberts was a solid pass-rushing defensive end who thrived in a reserve role. He not only produced during the regular season, but he had arguably his best game in a San Francisco victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. James may have the lead in cool nicknames, but he only had a three-year NFL career. 49ERS

(Part Four) April 29, 1986:

49ers acquired: A third-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft and a second-round selection in 1987

Eagles acquired: QB Matt Cavanaugh

The 1986 third-round pick became Tim McKyer, a cornerback from the University of Texas at Arlington. McKyer made the All-Rookie Team after posting six interceptions and 52 tackles in 1986. He totaled 16 interceptions, 138 stops, and two titles in four years with San Francisco. McKyer became a journeyman after leaving the 49ers, spending the next eight seasons with seven teams. He ended his career in 1997, retiring after he recovered a fumble in the Broncos’ 31-24 victory over the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. San Francisco used the 1987 second-rounder on Jeff Bregel, a two-time All-American guard at USC. Bregel won two championships with the 49ers, but he played just 21 games in three seasons before retiring in 1989.

Cavanaugh began his career as a part-time starter with Steve Grogan in New England beginning in 1979. He spent three years as Joe Montana’s backup in San Francisco, throwing just 113 passes in that span, but also winning a title with the 49ers. After the trade, Cavanaugh was expected to battle for the starting spot in Philadelphia after future Hall of Famer Ron Jaworski retired, but he was outplayed by Randall Cunningham. Cavanaugh appeared in just 27 games in four seasons with the Eagles, while Cunningham earned three Pro Bowl selections and was named Bert Bell Player of the Year twice. Cavanaugh finished his career by playing two seasons with the Giants. He was a third-stringer behind Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler, but he won a second championship when the Giants defeated the Bills in Super Bowl XXV. He retired in 1991 and has spent the past 28 years as a coach. Cavanaugh joined the Redskins in 2015 and has been the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator before moving to his current position, senior offensive assistant.

Assessment: Cavanaugh and McKyer were both NFL journeymen who won multiple titles. However, McKyer was a ballhawk who started for most of his tenure in San Francisco, while Cavanaugh started just 19 of 112 career games. 49ERS

(Part Five) April 29, 1986:

49ers acquired: QB Jeff Kemp, plus two fourth-round picks in the 1986 NFL Draft

Rams acquired: A third-round pick in 1986

The trade brought the 49ers the rights to Jeff Kemp, as well as picks that became Steve Wallace and Charles Haley. Kemp was a former Dartmouth quarterback who was the son of Jack Kemp, a former AFL star with the Bills and a longtime politician in New York. Jeff Kemp spent his first five years with the Rams and started during the team’s 1984 playoff season. He split starts with an injured Joe Montana in 1986, his only season with the 49ers. Kemp spent the next five years with the Seahawks before ending his career with the Eagles in 1991. Wallace was a tackle at Auburn who blocked for Heisman Trophy winner and future two-sport star Bo Jackson. In the NFL, Wallace spent 11 seasons with the 49ers, winning three titles, playing in 166 games, and making the Pro Bowl in 1992. He ended his career as a reserve with the Chiefs in 1997.

Haley was a Division I-AA All-American linebacker at James Madison, who became a star edge rusher in the NFL. He played his first six years with San Francisco, making the All-Rookie Team with 12 sacks in 1986. Haley earned three Pro Bowl selections and amassed 66½ sacks, including a career-high 16 in 1990, when he made his only All-Pro team with San Francisco. After two titles with the 49ers, Haley’s temper got him traded to the Cowboys in 1992. He went on to win three more Super Bowls with Dallas, while also being selected to a pair of Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors again in 1994. Haley seemed to be at his best in the biggest games, totaling 11 sacks in 21 playoff games and posting four tackles and two sacks in a 49ers victory over the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. He took two full seasons off due to back injuries and his daughter being diagnosed with leukemia, but he signed with San Francisco for the 1998 playoffs and played one more year with his original club. The 2015 Pro Football Hall of Famer was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but he has also dedicated his life to working with local charities.

The Rams used their pick on Hugh Millen, a quarterback from the University of Washington. Millen was supposed to battle with veteran Steve Bartkowski and fellow rookie Jim Everett for the starting spot, but he fractured his ankle and missed the entire season. By the time Millen returned, Everett became the starter and Los Angeles waived Millen after just one pass attempt. He showed enough potential in three years as a backup with the Falcons that the Patriots signed him to be their starter in 1991. Although he took over a team that was coming off a 1-15 season, he went just 5-15 and suffered a separated shoulder. He signed with Dallas in 1993, but he was released after the team signed former Browns legend Bernie Kosar. After finishing the season with the Dolphins, Millen spent the next two years behind John Elway in Denver. He retired after a failed tryout with the Saints in 1996. Millen now works as a radio and television football analyst in Seattle. He also has two sons who are quarterbacks in the state of Washington.

Assessment: While Kemp was a non-factor, San Francisco found two diamonds with the fourth-round picks. Wallace was Joe Montana’s blindside protector for more than a decade, and Haley was a pass rusher who had more than 100 career sacks and won five titles. Millen lost his rookie season due to injury and became a journeyman quarterback on some bad teams. 49ERS

(Part Six) August 19, 1986:

49ers acquired: RB/KR Joe Cribbs

Bills acquired: A third-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft and a fifth-rounder in 1987

Cribbs was an Auburn product, and he formed a powerful backfield combination with future NFL running backs, William Andrew and James Brooks. Cribbs was taken by Buffalo in the second round in 1980. He was a member of the All-Rookie Team after setting career-highs with 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns. In five years with the Bills, Cribbs totaled 4,445 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing, and 1,783 yards and 15 scores receiving. After a third 1,000-yard rushing season and a third Pro Bowl selection in 1983, Cribbs signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the upstart United States Football League. The Bills challenged the contract, but the courts ruled in favor of Cribbs. However, his time in the USFL did not last long. Future Cowboys star Herschel Walker signed the largest deal in the league’s history and Cribbs walked away from the Stallions after the team refused to raise his salary. He returned to the Bills in 1985 but was traded the following year. Cribbs played just two years in San Francisco, finishing with 890 yards and six touchdowns. He played for the Dolphins and Colts in 1988 and retired after the season. He was slated to lead two new leagues in the early 2000s (the All American Football League and the United National Gridiron League), but both folded before ever playing a game.

In 1987, the Bills selected Jamie Mueller, a two-time NAIA All-American at Benedictine College in Kansas. Mueller split carries with Ronnie Harmon as a rookie and was a special teams regular, but he lost playing time when Buffalo drafted Thurman Thomas. Mueller finished his four-year career with just 901 yards and four touchdowns, but he appeared in Super Bowl XXV, in which the Bills lost to the Giants. He was forced to retire after a neck injury, and the former powerlifter helped develop devices to aid in training and conditioning. Buffalo used the 1988 pick on Kirk Roach, a kicker from Western Carolina who never played in the NFL.

Assessment: Cribbs spent two years with San Francisco after the trade, but he never regained his Pro Bowl form after coming back from his time in the USFL. Mueller was a backup running back and a special teams performer who had his career shortened by injury. PUSH

Overall Assessment: Aside from the Cribbs deal, every trade San Francisco made produced a player who was a contributor on at least two championship teams. Griffin played in five NFC Championship Games, Rathman was a multi-talented fullback, Roberts provided solid defensive line production off the bench, McKyer seemed to always have a knack for being around the football in the secondary, Wallace was a stalwart who played against some of the best defensive players in the NFL and Haley was a Hall of Famer who was an elite pass rusher for a decade. With the exception of Wolford, the rest of the players and picks San Francisco sent away in those moves either never met their potential or were on the downside of their careers. 49ERS

6. April 24, 1987:

49ers acquired: QB Steve Young

Buccaneers acquired: Second- and fourth-round picks in the 1987 NFL Draft

One year after stocking their roster, the 49ers found a backup to All-Pro quarterback Joe Montana. Steve Young was a two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year, as well as an All-American and the Heisman Trophy runner up in 1983 (to Nebraska running back and future Oilers star, Mike Rozier). Young was slated to be the top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft but, instead of going to the Bengals, he entered the United States Football League draft and signed a then-record 10-year, $40 million contracts after the Los Angeles Express took him 11th overall (Rozier was taken first by the Pittsburgh Maulers). However, the team’s owners were found to have misrepresented their wealth, forcing the USFL to step in and make sure the team remained in operation. Young demanded the league find a new owner for the Express or he would buy out his contract and go to the NFL. The league suspended team operations and Young went through on his promise, signing with the Buccaneers, who had selected him first in a supplemental draft of CFL and USFL players in 1984.

Young went from a financially bankrupt organization to a franchise that had no idea how to win. The Buccaneers won just four games in his two seasons. He had a 3-16 record, along with 11 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in Tampa Bay. Young became expendable after the Buccaneers took University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde with the first pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. After the trade, he filled in sparingly for Montana over the next four years, compiling a 7-3 record and winning two titles with the 49ers. Young took over after Montana suffered an elbow injury in 1991, and he became the full-time starter the following year. He went to the Pro Bowl every year from 1992-98, was named to three All-Pro Teams, and earned NFL MVP awards in 1992 and ’94 (he was also Offensive Player of the Year in ’92). Young led the league in completion percentage five times and touchdowns four times. He also led San Francisco to a title in Super Bowl XXIX and won game MVP honors with his 325-yard, six-touchdown performance.

Overall, Young ranks second in team history with 221 touchdown passes and third with 29.907 yards. He also is tied for fifth on the franchise list with 37 rushing scores and ninth with 3,581 yards. Young and the 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs by Brett Favre and the Packers in each of the three years following the Super Bowl win. The quarterback was plagued by concussions later in his career and retired after the 1999 season. Young became the first left-handed quarterback in the Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 2005. He has been involved with ESPN’s NFL coverage since 2001.

Tampa Bay selected Winston Moss late in the second round. Moss was a University of Miami linebacker who had 10½ sacks in four seasons with the Buccaneers. He signed with the Raiders in 1991 and, after four seasons in Los Angeles, he played his final three seasons in Seattle, ending his career in 1997 with 20½ sacks. Young went into coaching, with his longest tenure being a five-year stint as linebackers coach with the Saints from 2001-05. He was the head coach and general manager of the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats in 2020.

With the fourth-round pick, the Buccaneers drafted Bruce Hill, a wide receiver from Arizona State. Hill spent his entire five-year career in Tampa Bay, totaling 2,942 yards and 23 touchdowns. He posted career-highs with 58 catches, 1,040 yards, and nine scores in 1988 while forming a solid receiving duo with Mark Carrier.

Assessment: While Hill had three decent seasons, Tampa Bay went nowhere as a team. Young learned from Montana and became a star in his own right once he took over the starting spot. The dual-threat quarterback won two MVP awards, led San Francisco to a championship, and earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 49ERS

7. April 21, 1993:

49ers acquired: A first-round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft

Chiefs acquired: QB Joe Montana, S David Whitmore, and a third-round pick in 1994

San Francisco made two trades after this one, turning one pick into defensive linemen Dana Stubblefield (1993 first round), Artie Smith (1993 fifth round), and Bryant Young (1994 first round). Stubblefield was a former Kansas defensive tackle who was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after registering 10½ sacks in 1993. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the next two years and had a sack in the Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Chargers. Stubblefield ended his 49ers tenure after posting a career-high 15 sacks in 1997, a season that ended with him earning Pro Bowl, All-Pr, and Defensive Player of the Year honors. His numbers dropped significantly during his three seasons with the Redskins, and returned to the 49ers for two years before finishing his career with the Raiders in 2003. Stubblefield had issues off the field, including a drug arrest involving the BALCO lab in 2008 and a 15-year prison sentence for assaulting a woman in October 2020.

Smith was a Louisiana Tech product who played just 18 games with the 49ers before he was released. He had his best stint in Cincinnati, starting 28 games in 2 ½ seasons. After sitting out in 1997, Smith signed with New England, then Dallas, where he played all 16 games. He retired after a failed tryout with the Chiefs in 1999. Young was an All-American at Notre Dame who joined Stubblefield to form one of the most solid defensive tackle tandems in the NFL. Young spent his entire 14-year career with the 49ers and he is the team’s all-time leader with 89½ sacks. He also started 208 games, and he amassed 12 forced fumbles (third in franchise history) and 627 tackles (sixth). The four-time Pro Bowler was a member of the All-Rookie Team and won a title with San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX at the end of the 2014 season. He also was named an All-Pro in 1996, when he set a career-high with 11½ sacks and added 11 more in 1999, when he won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. After he retired in 2007, Young became a coach, most recently serving as a defensive line coach with the Falcons from 2017-19.

Montana is one of the most decorated players in NFL history. He was a member of Notre Dame’s National Championship season in 1977, and San Francisco selected him in the third round in 1979. In 13 seasons, Montana led the 49ers to the playoffs 10 times. San Francisco was trailing Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game before Montana found a leaping Dwight Clark with a pass in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left. “The Catch” propelled the 49ers to a 28-27 win and a trip to their first Super Bowl. Montana led San Francisco to four Super Bowl titles, and he was the MVP in three of those games. The seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro won back-to-back NFL MVP awards in 1989-90. He also was the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 1986 and the Offensive Player of the Year in 1989.

Montana suffered a torn tendon in his elbow that cost him nearly two years and allowed Steve Young to show he could lead the 49ers’ offense. San Francisco sent “Joe Cool” to Kansas City, and Montana left as the team’s all-time leader with 35,124 yards, 244 touchdowns, and 100 regular-season victories. He was selected to his eighth Pro Bowl and led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in his first season before the Bills won to go to their fourth straight Super Bowl. Montana played one more year, retiring after leading Kansas City to the playoffs in 1994. He was selected to the 1980s All-Decade Team as well as the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Montana was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2000.

Whitmore was a product of Stephen F. Austin State who won a title with the Giants as a rookie in 1990 (which included a win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game). He had 183 tackles and his only two career interceptions in two seasons with San Francisco. After the trade, he played two seasons with Kansas City and one with Philadelphia before retiring in 1995. The Chiefs used the third-round pick on Lake Dawson, a wide receiver from Notre Dame. Dawson spent his entire four-year career with Kansas City, totaling 103 catches, 1,406 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Dawson went to the Colts in 1997, but never played due to knee issues and retired in 1997. He was the Vice President of Football Operations for the Titans from 2011-15, and he is currently the Assistant Director of College Scouting with the Bills.

Assessment: Montana is in the argument for the greatest player in NFL history, but despite two playoff seasons with Kansas City, he is an icon with his original team. San Francisco turned one pick into Stubblefield and Young, two defensive anchors who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl victory. 49ERS

8. Three-team deal on March 16, 2004:

49ers acquired: DT Brandon Whiting

Eagles acquired: WR Terrell Owens

Ravens acquired: Two 2004 second-round picks (one each from 49ers and Eagles)

Before this trade, Whiting had played the previous six years as a defensive end in Philadelphia, amassing 16½ sacks and 10 fumble recoveries. He played just five games with San Francisco before tearing his ACL and retiring after the 2004 season.

Owens’ exploits included posing on the star at midfield in Dallas, doing pushups in his driveway as a free agent while agent Drew Rosenhaus extolled his accolades to the press and refusing to attend his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2018, instead of holding an event at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. One of the stranger moments of his career came in March 2004. Owens signed a seven-year contract with the 49ers in 2000, and one of the terms of the deal was an opt-out clause after four years that would allow him to become a free agent. However, his agent at the time, David Joseph, failed to meet the opt-out deadline, and his contract remained in San Francisco’s possession. Owens filed a grievance against the league but in the meantime, the 49ers traded him to the Ravens for a second round pick. However, the receiver won his grievance, making him a free agent, and the cash-strapped Ravens sent him to the Eagles less than two weeks later as part of a three-team deal. Owens signed a seven-year, $49 million contract that had most of the money pushed to the later years of the agreement.

Owens’ tenure in Philadelphia lasted 21 games. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2004, but sustained a fractured fibula and severely sprained ankle late in the regular season. Owens went against medical advice and played in Super Bowl XXXIX, totaling nine receptions for 122 yards, but the Eagles fell to the Patriots, 24-21. His stardom was almost overshadowed by his ego, with a much-publicized feud with quarterback Donovan McNabb being the prime example. The Eagles suspended Owens, deactivated him for the final nine games in 2005, and released him after the season. He spent the next three years with Dallas, then one each with Buffalo and Cincinnati. Despite several tryouts in the U. S. (Seahawks and the Indoor Football League’s Allen Wranglers) and Canada (Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders), Owens officially retired in 2011.

In the trade, Baltimore got back the second-round pick sent to the 49ers in the original move and selected Oregon State defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, who had two sacks in 53 games over five seasons with the Ravens. The pick from the Eagles became Arkansas safety Tony Bua, who was traded in order for Baltimore to move up in the fifth round and take Roderick Green, a linebacker from Central Missouri State. Green had two sacks in two seasons with the Ravens and 10 more in three years with the 49ers after signing with them in 2006.

Assessment: This trade is a difficult one to break down. Edwards and Green had minimal impact in Baltimore and Whiting suffered a career-ending injury after just five games in San Francisco. Owens helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl, but his antics led to the team cutting him after just two seasons. While I’m tempted to make this trade a push, Philadelphia’s playoff success tips the scales. EAGLES

9. April 23, 2010:

49ers acquired: Third- and sixth-round picks in the 2010 NFL Draft and a fourth-rounder in 2011

Chargers acquired: A third-round pick in 2010

San Francisco dropped 12 spots in the 2010 NFL Draft and not only acquired two extra picks, but also got the better player in the third round. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman was a member of Penn State’s Big Ten Championship team as a sophomore in 2008. He thrived in the 49ers’ 3-4 defensive set, earning three Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections. Bowman registered at least 100 tackles in five of his six full seasons and led the NFL with 154 in 2015. He also played in three straight NFC Championship Games and registered 14 stops in each of San Francisco’s two defeats (2011 to the Giants and 2013 against the Seahawks), and he also registered nine tackles in a loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. In that loss to Seattle, Bowman suffered a brutal injury that resulted in tears to four ligaments (the ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus) and caused him to miss the entire 2014 season. However, the play in which his injury occurred also resulted in an NFL rule change. Bowman had stripped Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse of the ball and had appeared to recover the fumble. The referees gave Seattle possession, and the play was not reviewable at the time. The high-profile situation caused the league to change the replay rules to allow loose ball recovery to become part of the instant replay system, which would later be called the “NaVorro Bowman Rule.” He missed 12 games in 2016 after tearing his Achilles tendon and was released by the 49ers after they were unable to meet his request for a trade. Bowman signed across the Bay with the Raiders and retired in 2019 after a year away from football. In eight seasons with San Francisco, Bowman totaled 12½ sacks and 671 tackles, which ranks third in franchise history behind Patrick Willis and Ronnie Lott.

The 49ers used the sixth-round pick on former Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon, who had 458 yards and eight touchdowns in four seasons as Frank Gore’s backup. Dixon scored a touchdown in a loss to the Seahawks in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, but he was let go by San Francisco after the game and signed with Buffalo. He finished second on the Bills with 432 yards the following year, but he retired after he was cut after the 2015 season. San Francisco took another running back with the 2011 fourth-round pick, selecting Kendall Hunter, who was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State. He amassed 1,202 yards and seven touchdowns, but he suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon in 2012 and missed the entire 2014 season with a torn ACL. Hunter played two games with the Saints and had a tryout with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts before retiring prior to the 2017 season.

San Diego moved up and selected Donald Butler, a linebacker from the University of Washington. Butler missed his rookie season after tearing his Achilles tendon but posted a career-high 96 tackles in 2011.  He amassed 374 stops, seven sacks, and three interceptions in five seasons with the Chargers. Butler signed with the Cardinals in 2016, but moved on to the Dolphins after he was cut in training camp. He retired after one season in Miami.

Assessment: Dixon and Hunter were reserve running backs and Bowman lost a season due to injury, but his individual accolades and three straight NFC Championship Game appearances give San Francisco the edge in this trade. 49ERS

10. (Part One) March 12, 2013:

49ers acquired: A second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and a condition pick in 2014

Chiefs acquired: QB Alex Smith

The 49ers traded away both of the picks, sending the 2013 second-round selection to the Titans (Justin Hunter) and the 2014 choice (a second-rounder after San Francisco won 12 games the previous year) to Denver. Two other trades were made involving the acquired picks, and San Francisco ended up with Cornelius “Tank” Carradine, Corey Lemonier, Carlos Hyde, Chris Borland, and Mike Davis. Carradine was a Florida State linebacker who had 5½ sacks and 76 tackles in four seasons as a reserve with San Francisco. He played one game each with the Raiders in 2018 and the Dolphins last season, but he is currently a free agent. Lemonier was a linebacker who was a member of Auburn’s National Championship team in 2011. He played 42 sacks in three seasons with the 49ers and split 2016 between the Browns and Jets. Lemonier has not played since New York released him before the 2017 season. Borland was a linebacker who earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-American honors in 2013, and he was a member of three conference championship teams at Ohio State. He was a member of the NFL’s All-Rookie Team after posting 108 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack in 2014, but he abruptly retired after the season, citing concern over head trauma.

Hyde and Davis are both running backs who are still on NFL rosters. Hyde started off as a backup to Frank Gore before taking over the starting role full-time in 2016. After two seasons where he nearly ran for 1,000 yards, he signed with the Browns, but lasted just six games before being traded to the Jaguars. Hyde ran for a career-high 1,070 yards with the Texans in 2019, but he was not brought back and is currently with the Seahawks and nursing a hamstring injury. Davis was a South Carolina product who spent his first two seasons behind Hyde on the depth chart in San Francisco. He saw his carries increase over the next two years in Seattle and split 2019 between Chicago and Carolina. Davis has been the Panthers’ leading rusher in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey this season.

Smith was an All-American quarterback at Utah, and he was taken by the 49ers with the first pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. With San Francisco, Smith had one 3,000-yard season and led the team to a 13-3 mark in 2011, which ended with a loss to the Giants to the NFC Championship Game. He also missed all of 2008 with a broken bone in his shoulder. After the trade, Smith was selected to three Pro Bowls with Kansas City and mentored Patrick Mahomes, who won the 2018 NFL MVP Award and led the Chiefs to their first title in 50 years. Smith was traded to the Redskins in 2018, but he suffered a gruesome broken leg that resulted in him missing the final six games that season and all of 2019. He is currently starting in Washington for the injured Kyle Allen and the ineffective Dwayne Haskins.

(Part Two) March 12, 2013:

49ers acquired: WR Anquan Boldin

Ravens acquired: A sixth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft

The Smith trade was considered a blockbuster, but San Francisco made another deal that was not as publicized but might have been more effective. Boldin had his best years in Arizona after the Cardinals drafted him in the second round in 2003. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after posting 101 receptions, 1,377 yards, and eight touchdowns. Boldin was also a three-time Pro Bowler, had five 1,000-yard seasons, and registered eight receptions for 84 yards in a Super Bowl XLIII loss to the Steelers. He ended his seven-year stay in Arizona with 586 catches (second in team history), 7,570 yards (fourth), and 44 touchdowns (fifth).

After three seasons with the Ravens, including a Super Bowl XLVII performance in which he had six catches for 104 yards and a score, Boldin joined San Francisco, the team Baltimore beat for the title, and had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Following three years with the 49ers, which included a trip to the NFC Championship Game, he signed with the Lions in 2016, Boldin went to the Bills the following year, but the 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner retired before the season to focus on humanitarian work. 

The Ravens packaged the pick from the 49ers with two others to move up and select Arthur Brown, a linebacker from Kansas State, in the second round in 2013. Brown was the 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who was also named an All-American in both high school and college. He was supposed to replace the recently retired future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Instead, he played 34 games and had just 17 tackles in three years with Baltimore. Brown split 2016 between the Jaguars and Jets, and he was released by the Seahawks during training camp the following year. He also had a failed tryout with the San Antonio Commanders with the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

Assessment: Most of the picks in the Kansas City trade did not amount to much with San Francisco, although Borland could have been a star if he hadn’t retired so soon. Brown was a disappointment for Baltimore as well, which sets up a Boldin vs. Smith scenario. Boldin had two 1,000-yard campaigns, helped San Francisco reach the NFC Championship Game in 2013, and was named NFL Man of the Year in 2015. Smith went to three Pro Bowls, led Kansas City to four playoff appearances, and was a mentor to the quarterback who led the team to a title in Super Bowl LIV. PUSH

All NFL statistics and awards courtesy of profootballreference.com

Writer

Next: Seattle Seahawks

-By: Kevin Rakas