The No. 1 safety in 49ers history is pretty easy to figure out, but the other remaining nine are a little tougher.
Some would argue that Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was by far the best safety in NFL history and not just the No. 1 choice for any San Francisco 49ers all-time list at the position.
Granted, Lott played in an era where defenders could lay out punishing hits on opposing players, and that turned into Lott’s trademark despite making serious impacts in other areas of the game during his legendary career.
Still, those who got to watch him play will probably agree that he was one of the two or three best ever, if not the absolute best.
The Niners have had only one Lott-like player in their history dating back to 1946, but there have been plenty of other top-quality safeties over the years, too.
Factoring in a combination of statistics, team tenure, accolades and a few other unique X-factors, Niner Noise looks at the 10 best safeties to have ever worn the red and gold.
San Francisco has had plenty of good safeties over the years, including a few who don’t quite crack the list.
Donte Whitner was part of those elite defenses under head coach Jim Harbaugh between 2011 and 2013, while Eric Reid entered the fray in 2013 as a first-round NFL Draft pick and quickly made the Pro Bowl in year one.
Those two fall out of the top 10, however.
No. 10: Talanoa Hufanga (2021-present)
Starting off our list with a fan-favorite, USC’s Talanoa Hufanga was a day-three pick in the 2021 draft and spent his rookie year primarily contributing on special teams. But his playmaking abilities led to him scoring a vital touchdown on a blocked punt against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs his rookie year that cemented him forever in 49ers lore.
Hufanga was a full-time starter a year later and snagged four interceptions, forced two fumbles, broke up nine passes and had two sacks en route to being both a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro that season.
Unfortunately, Hufanga suffered a torn ACL his third year in the league, but the aforementioned accolades and impact are worthy enough to include him on this list.
No. 9: Jimmie Ward (2014-2022)
One of the longest-tenured players in recent Niners history, Jimmie Ward never quite received the accolades or attention that Hufanga received, but Ward’s presence on defense truly made his supporting cast that much better.
Ward’s career got off to a sluggish start after being San Francisco’s top draft choice in 2014, as he bounced around the secondary before settling into his natural free safety spot in 2017.
Injuries and a general lack of interceptions probably denied him recognition, but those who saw him patrol the last line of defense from 2017 through 2022 felt more than comfortable with his presence.
No. 8: Carlton Williamson (1981-1987)
One could make the argument the 49ers had the best safety tandem in the entire league during the 1980s. While Lott is the primary reason why, fellow safety Carlton Williamson played an integral role, too.
Drafted the same year as Lott, Williamson didn’t have the luxury of recording anywhere near the number of interceptions as his counterpart, but the latter still finished with 17 interceptions over 88 regular-season games played, 80 of them as a starter.
Despite being overshadowed by Lott, Williamson still finished with two Pro Bowls to his name, including one in 1984, which many feel was the best defense in Niners history.
No. 7: Dashon Goldson (2007-2012)
San Francisco had a legendary defense in 2011 and 2022, too, and Dashon Goldson enjoyed career-best years during his 49ers tenure that included that timeframe.
A Round 4 draftee in 2007, Goldson emerged as a starter in 2009 and snagged four interceptions that year before besting that number with six in 2011, a career-best number that helped him secure one of two Pro Bowl nods with the 49ers.
Like Lott, Goldson was more than capable of delivering hard hits that would probably be flagged in today’s NFL, but that intimidation factor certainly helped him reach the No. 7 spot on this list.
In 2012, Goldson backed up an already impressive 2011 campaign with a first-team All-Pro selection with three more interceptions and 12 passes broken up, prompting him to cash in on a big free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following offseason.
No. 6: Mel Phillips (1966-1977)
Since longevity is taken into account, Mel Phillips has to be included on this list, thanks to his 12-year tenure with the Niners that included some awfully good defensive backs alongside him.
Being a strong safety, Phillips was never going to reach the lofty interception totals that a free safety would achieve, but he nevertheless managed to make a sizable impact, finishing his lengthy career that began with San Francisco in 1966 and ended in 1977, registering 12 picks during that timeframe.
Of the 147 games he played in, Phillips started 117 of them, and his defensive touchdown in 1970 was a big highlight of his career.
No. 5: Tony Parrish (2002-2006)
Longevity isn’t necessarily on the side of Tony Parrish, who joined the 49ers as a free agent in 2002 and spent the bulk of his tenure in the Bay Area on some bad Niners teams.
That said, for a good amount of time during those dark years, Parrish was truly a high-impact player and was a second-team All-Pro in 2003 after leading the NFL with nine interceptions.
With some wholesale roster changes taking place in 2006, San Francisco opted to release Parrish halfway through the season but not before he recorded 22 interceptions with the team, tied for eighth most in franchise history.
Additionally, Parrish is a member of the 49ers’ All-2000s team.
No. 4: Dwight Hicks (1979-1985)
People forget that Lott was a cornerback early in his career, and prior to him taking over as a full-time safety, Dwight Hicks was in charge of the final line of the Niners defense.
And he was pretty legendary in that regard.
Hicks joined San Francisco in 1979 and recorded five interceptions that year. From 1981 through 1984, he was a perennial Pro Bowler and secured second-team All-Pro honors after recording nine interceptions in 1981 with a league-leading 239 return yards.
The team captain also had a crucial interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI before eventually being phased out by Lott’s position change in 1985.
Hicks’ 30 interceptions currently sit at No. 6 on the franchise’s all-time list.
No. 3: Tim McDonald (1993-1999)
Tim McDonald was already a star when he came to the 49ers in 1993, previously securing three Pro Bowls with the Phoenix Cardinals.
Playing alongside free safety Merton Hanks for much of the 1990s, McDonald continued his Pro Bowl ways with the Niners, earning three more during his Bay Area tenure and finishing his San Francisco career with 20 interceptions, tied for 12th most in franchise history.
Earning a Super Bowl with the franchise in 1995, McDonald was a 34-year-old starter at the end of his career when he finally opted to call it quits after the 1999 season.
No. 2: Merton Hanks (1991-1998)
In 1991, Lott was on his way out, and Hanks was on his way in.
The 49ers didn’t lose too much there.
From 1991 through 1998, Hanks was one of the best safeties in all of football, earning four Pro Bowl accolades, three second-team All-Pro nods and one first-team All-Pro selection in 1995.
A fifth-round pick in the 1991 draft, Hanks turned into a full-time starter by 1993 and helped the Niners achieve their fifth Super Bowl win after the 1994 season, also viewed as arguably the most talented team San Francisco has ever had.
If it weren’t for the final player on this list, Hanks would be an easy choice for the top spot.
No. 1: Ronnie Lott (1981-1990)
Lott is the only 49ers safety to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If that isn’t reason enough to be the No. 1 player on this list, what is?
There are plenty of other reasons, though, not even including the fact he’d be on most fans’ “Mt. Rushmore” of Niners stars as, perhaps, the best defender to ever don the red and gold.
Lott, the No. 8 overall pick from the 1981 NFL Draft out of USC, quickly made his stamp as a defensive back, finishing his rookie year with seven interceptions and three defensive touchdowns, earning both Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors while being the runner-up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year and even in the league MVP conversation.
That began a run of Hall of Fame-worthy play that included nine Pro Bowls with the franchise, four first-team All-Pro selections and a team-best 51 interceptions, a number that’ll likely never be touched.
Those are the stats. What doesn’t show up there is the number of bone-crushing hits Lott delivered, forever changing the way receivers made their way over the middle of the field.
It’s an easy choice, and you long knew Lott would be No. 1 on this list despite his San Francisco career coming to a close well over 30 years ago.
