The twenty-first century hasn’t been kind to the San Francisco 49ers. Two Super Bowl appearances, which ended in defeat, and not a whole lot else. Six playoff appearances in twenty seasons isn’t what San Francisco fans of my age group are accustomed to.

When I was growing up, the 49ers were a constant presence at the top of the NFL. They dominated the 1980s, winning four Super Bowls during the decade. They “only” won one Super Bowl during the 1990s, but were still a top contender in the NFC up until Steve Young’s retirement early in the 1999 season. Bengals fans slightly older than I am still haven’t forgiven Joe Montana for ripping two championships from Cincinnati. Fortunately, my bitter memories don’t extend that far, so I can rank this set of quarterbacks without throwing up in my mouth a little bit.

5. Jeff Garcia

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia (5) reacts after throwing a pass for the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter as the 49ers defeated the Carolina Panthers 25-22 in overtime at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Nov. 18, 2001. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

Garcia went undrafted by NFL teams in 1994 because he was seen as being too small. Like others facing similar biases, Garcia took his talents to the CFL & joined the Calgary Stampeders. Garcia ended a five year run in Calgary by leading the Stampeders to a Grey Cup, and San Francisco took notice. Garcia had grown up in the Bay Area, and now had the opportunity to lead his hometown team after Steve Young’s retirement. He would later admit that the pressure of following in Young’s & Montana’s footsteps got to him, as did dealing with his top receiver Terrell Owens.

Garcia still had a good run though, and even if TO was a pain in the butt off of the field, he was very helpful to Garcia’s cause on the field. Garcia went to three straight Pro Bowls, setting a 49ers single season record with 4,278 passing yards in 2000. He led the 49ers to the playoffs in 2001 & 02, including a victory over the Giants in the 02 playoffs where the 49ers came back from a 38-14 deficit. Things between Garcia & Owens went south after that season, and San Fran’s coaching change from Steve Mariucci to Dennis Erickson didn’t help matters. Garcia’s time in San Francisco could have been better, but it was a heck of a job by him just to get there.

4. Y.A. Tittle

Tittle arrived in San Francisco in 1951, after the original Baltimore Colts folded and their players were dispersed in a draft. He became part of the Million Dollar Backfield, which included Tittle, fullback Joe Perry & halfbacks Hugh McElhenny & John Henry Johnson. While the 49ers didn’t win any championships with this group, all four members were still inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Tittle was selected to four Pro Bowls during his time with the 49ers. However, the last few years of Tittle’s time in San Francisco saw him sharing time with Earl Morrall & John Brodie. The 49ers traded him to New York, which would give Tittle a chance to elevate his game even further.

3. John Brodie

Brodie was the third overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, and spent his first several seasons backing up Y.A. Tittle. He showed enough for the 49ers to trade Tittle in 1961, and was the 49ers starting quarterback for most of the next decade. It wasn’t the most competitive decade for the 49ers, but Brodie was one of the best passers. He led the NFL in passing yards three times & touchdowns twice. He was selected to two Pro Bowls and was named MVP in 1970, leading the 49ers to their first ten-win season since 1948. (In fairness, there were fourteen games in a season back then, so it was a little tougher in those days.)

1970 & 71 saw the 49ers make the NFC Championship Game two seasons in a row, losing to the Dallas Cowboys each time. Brodie retired in 1973, at the time he ranked third overall in passing yards & eighth in touchdown passes. He’s still considered one of the best quarterbacks to not be elected to the Hall of Fame.

2. Steve Young

There was a period of time in the late 1980s & early 1990s where some believed the 49ers had the two best quarterbacks in football on their roster. Of course, Joe Montana was the superstar of the league, but Steve Young was gaining some attention as well. His stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a disaster, but 49ers coach Bill Walsh believed that was due to the franchise’s ineptitude. Young saw limited time his first four seasons, getting an occasional start when Montana was banged up.

Montana missed the entire 1991 season after getting injured in the 1990 NFC Championship Game, but Young’s season in relief came as a mild disappointment. 1992 saw Young step his game up as Montana remained on the shelf. He led the 49ers to a 14-2 record & led the league in touchdowns & passer rating. Young won his first MVP award, went to his first Pro Bowl and put to rest any doubts about who the 49ers QB of the future was. Young went on to lead the NFL in completion percentage five times, touchdown passes four times, QB rating six times, and won another MVP award during the 1994 season, which ended with the 49ers’ fifth Super Bowl championship.

Young was a dominant passer, and could get it done on the ground as well. He’s second all-time in QB rushing touchdowns, and fifth in rushing yards. There wasn’t much he couldn’t do.

Honorable Mention: Frankie Albert

Albert led the 49ers during their early years in the All-America Football Conference, where they finished second to the Cleveland Browns four seasons in a row. Albert was named co-MVP with Otto Graham in 1948, led the AAFC in touchdown passes twice, and made the Pro Bowl in his first NFL season. His touchdown/interception rate of 115/98 definitely stands out in the time period. He’s considered the best left-handed quarterback of his generation & is credited for inventing the bootleg.

1. Joe Montana

Up until Tom Brady existed, Joe Cool was the prototypical quarterback that had the most legendary career & created the most memories for fans. He went to Notre Dame & won a championship in 1977, while leading the team to a number of dramatic come from behind victories. It was a skill that carried over to the NFL, as Montana became known as “The Comeback Kid” for his ability to grab victory from the jaws of defeat. Bengals fans old enough to remember Super Bowl XXIII still gripe about it. Cowboys fans old enough to remember the 1982 NFC Championship Game still gripe about it. I think most fans of other teams during Montana’s era have at least one thing to gripe about with Joe.

Montana won four Super Bowls with the 49ers (3 game MVPs), earned two regular season MVP awards, was selected to seven Pro Bowls and led the league in completion percentage five times. Pretty much any ranking of “clutch athletes” includes him somewhere. He missed some time due to multiple injuries considered career-ending, but came back each time to re-establish himself at the top of the heap. He still leads the 49ers in most passing statistics, with a slight edge over Steve Young.

Honestly, if a franchise ever has somebody like this guy throwing the ball to somebody like Jerry Rice at some point, I can’t feel bad for any misery they might go through in the future.

Thanks for reading! Join us next time when we look at the Seattle Seahawks!