san francisco 49ers: an illustrated timeline

Not many NFL teams can match the San Francisco 49ers for success. The first team to win five Super Bowls has a roster that boasts some of the greatest to ever play the game. Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Terrell Owens, Frank Gore. Fans were treated to a dynasty in the 1980s that set a standard for brilliance in the Bay Area. That standard has been met in a new golden era as the Niners returned to the Super Bowl in 2024 in their quest for a sixth championship. In this illustrated timeline, authors Mark Purdy and Jeff Suess guide fans through nearly eight decades of memorable players and legendary catches, captured in dynamic photographs and unforgettable stories. Learn how Tony Morabito brought professional football to San Francisco. Return to Sunday afternoons at Kezar Stadium watching dazzling plays by the Million Dollar Backfield, or Roger Craig at Candlestick Park, or Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey at Levi’s Stadium. Relive the thrilling victories and heart-breaking losses that have captivated the 49er Faithful for generations.

Mark Purdy reported on the NFL for 43 years, including coverage of the San Francisco 49ers for 31 years as a columnist at the San Jose Mercury News before retiring in 2017. He was honored by both the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal for writing one of America’s top 10 sports columns. He and Dr. Fitzgerald Hill wrote Crackback!, analyzing the challenges faced by Black college football coaches. Jeff Suess is a history columnist at the Cincinnati Enquirer and the author of several history books, including The Cincinnati Bengals: An Illustrated Timeline with Rick Pender.