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The San Francisco 49ers kick off the 2015 NFL regular season on Monday Night Football, on September 14. That game. means San Francisco is now a mere 89 days away from kicking off its 2015 regular season. In the spirit of that approaching date, I thought I would steal this idea from our Oakland Raiders site.
Who wore it best: WR Gene Washington (1969-1977)
Plenty of people would love to see the "who wore it best" honor go to quarterback Elvis Grbac. His first notable opportunity came in 1995, when he started four games in place of an injured Steve Young. Grbac's most notable game that year was 38-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. I still remember that game, and how exciting it was to watch. After a limited 1994 season, Grbac would start nine games for the 49ers over the next two years before departing for Kansas City.
Grbac was solid in limited action, but there really should be no doubt about this pick. Wide receiver Gene Washington spent his first nine seasons with the 49ers after the team selected him ninth overall in the 1969 NFL Draft. He came out of the gates on fire, earning four All Pro selections and Pro Bowl nods in his first four seasons. In nine seasons with the 49ers, he finished with 6,664 yards and 59 touchdowns. He ranks eighth in franchise history in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and third in receiving touchdowns.
Who wears it now: WR DeAndrew White (2015-present)
This year, the 49ers signed several undrafted rookie wide receivers to the roster. One of the standouts has been the new bearer of No. 18, DeAndrew White. The Alabama product played in Amari Cooper's shadow, but Cooper and head coach Nick Saban have both had plenty of praise for him. He stood out in minicamp, and built on it early in training camp. He has gotten work as a kick returner, but has been relatively quiet as a receiver in the two preseason games. The suspension of Jerome Simpson opens some doors, but we'll see if he's done enough to claim a spot on the 53-man roster.