The 49ers aren’t necessarily known for having quality cornerbacks, but they still have a number of familiar names in franchise history.
The San Francisco 49ers are known for having some great players on the offensive end, primarily at wide receiver and quarterback.
When we think of the defensive side of the ball, elite defensive linemen and linebackers come to mind.
That being said, there are plenty of top-tier cornerbacks who made it to the Niners in one way or another, and some of them you don’t need to look up the stats or accolades to remember just how good they truly were.
Of course, some of the cornerbacks on this top 10 list were household names long before they joined San Francisco, but these players also had enough success in the Bay Area to establish themselves as some of the best of all time.
The list takes into account each player’s statistics with the 49ers, their time with the team, individual accolades and other factors that set them apart.
Here are the 10 best cornerbacks to ever call themselves Niners.
10th place: Ahmed Plummer (2000-2005)
Some may argue that Ahmed Plummer, a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2000, never really became the linchpin of San Francisco’s defense, but his first four years were still extremely noteworthy.
In 2001, Plummer recorded a whopping seven interceptions while stopping 18 passes, suggesting that he would be a key member of the 49ers for years to come. In fact, his 2002 and 2003 seasons were similar, with Plummer regularly stopping passes and recording five or more interceptions during those periods.
Unfortunately, Plummer’s exploits were plagued by injuries after 2004, and he only appeared in nine games over his final two years in the NFL before retiring in 2006.
9th place: Charvarius Ward (As of 2022)
Charvarius Ward, who recently joined the list of the Niners’ best cornerbacks in history, was a high-profile free agent acquired with the intent of solving one of the team’s glaring needs in 2021 and beyond.
Ward did not disappoint, recording 87 tackles while anchoring his own side of the field and anchoring the San Francisco defense.
But Ward emerged as a bona fide star in 2022, recording five touchdowns and an NFL-leading 23 interceptions while earning his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro selection.
8. Don Griffin (1986-1993)
Ward has been great during his time with the 49ers, but he hasn’t been with the team as long as Don Griffin, whose tenure began when he was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft and became a full-time starter in his first year, recording three interceptions as a rookie and playing well on special teams as a returner.
Griffin remained in that role for the most part until 1993, winning two Super Bowls and being part of some legendary defenses, including the 1989 squad that many consider to be the best Niners team of all time.
But 1987 may have been Griffin’s best year, as despite missing four games, he set a career-high with five interceptions on a defense that ranked first in passing yards allowed (2,484).
In 1994, San Francisco opted to acquire Deion Sanders as an upgrade at the position, forcing Griffin to leave for the Cleveland Browns to finish his professional career after recording 22 picks in a Red and Gold uniform.
7th place: Richard Sherman (2018-2020)
Richard Sherman has been a torment for the 49ers for many years as a member of their hated rival team, the Seattle Seahawks.
Though Sherman was already a superstar when he opted to leave the NFC West in 2018, many fans were cautious about his move, especially since a torn ACL effectively ended his tenure in Seattle.
But Sherman transformed the Niners defense into a powerhouse a year later and played a key role in leading San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
Sherman was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro in 2019, and his mentorship of many of the younger members of San Francisco’s defense as “Uncle Sherman” continued through the years.
6. Eric Davis (1990-1995)
In 1990, Eric Wright was preparing to leave and a newcomer named Eric Davis joined the fray.
The 49ers didn’t lose much there.
Though Davis had to wait until 1992 to truly make a name for himself, he became a staple for those perennial playoff-caliber 49ers teams of the early 1990s and set an NFL record for the most consecutive postseason games with at least one interception (five).
In the 1995 NFC Championship Game, Davis returned one interception for a touchdown to set the tone against the Dallas Cowboys and end what had become an annual source of frustration for San Francisco in the penultimate game of the year.
Davis recorded 12 interceptions and six forced fumbles in his 49ers career before signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 1996.
5. Deon Sanders (1994)
If we were to measure the best seasons by a cornerback in 49ers history, Sanders would undoubtedly rank at No. 1. He ranks fifth on this list mostly based on the fact that he only spent one season with the 49ers after being acquired as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons after solidifying himself as a future Hall of Famer.
Sanders, a Super Bowl champion, had one of his best performances ever with San Francisco during that magical 1994 season, recording six interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and 303 intercepted yards — all NFL bests that year.
A Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro selection, Sanders was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 and played a key role in helping the 49ers win the Super Bowl for the fifth time in franchise history.
He finished third in the league MVP voting that year.
Unfortunately, Sanders opted not to stay in the Bay Area the following offseason, instead signing with the Cowboys to continue his legacy there, much to the displeasure of Niners fans everywhere.
4. Bruce Taylor (1970-1977)
If you had to choose between Sanders and Bruce Taylor for just one season, Sanders would be the pick 10 times out of 10.
But based solely on length of time in San Francisco, Taylor surpasses Sanders on this list, and he was a great cornerback in his own right.
Drafted in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Taylor became known primarily for his prowess as a special teams returner but was equally effective on defense, recording three interceptions and leading the league with 516 yards returning punts in his freshman year on his way to winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
A year later, Taylor played in his first and only Pro Bowl.
Taylor started 101 of 109 total games in his professional career, all with the 49ers, and while he’s overshadowed by some of the other players on this list, he still established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in 49ers history.
3. Kermit Alexander (1963-1969)
Prior to Taylor’s arrival, San Francisco boasted one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL, thanks in large part to the stellar play of Kermit Alexander, who was acquired in the first round of the 1963 draft out of UCLA.
Alexander recorded at least five interceptions in five of his seven years with the 49ers, including nine in 1968, helping him earn his first and only Pro Bowl selection. He also led the NFL with five and eight fumble recoveries in 1964 and 1965, respectively.
Alexander also excelled on special teams, and in 1965 led the league in kick return yards with 741.
Looking at Alexander’s career as a whole, his 36 interceptions currently rank third-most in franchise history.
2. Eric Wright (1981-1990)
Wright may not have been the interception machine that Alexander or Sanders were, but the 1981 second-round draft pick of the Niners will still be remembered not just as a cornerback, but as one of the franchise’s best defenders.
Wright became a full-time starter in his rookie season and then made a game-saving tackle against the Dallas Cowboys just minutes after “The Catch” gave San Francisco the lead in the legendary 1982 NFC Championship Game.
In 1983, he set a career-best with seven interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns, but he had to wait until 1984 and 1985 to be selected to the Pro Bowl, although he was also nominated for All-Pro honors both those seasons.
Many feel that the 1984 defense was the best in 49ers history, and Wright played a key role in creating that argument.
He finished his 10-year career with 18 interceptions, good for 15th-most in franchise history.
1. Jimmie Johnson (1961-1976)
While Sherman will eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the only current Niners cornerbacks who can claim that honor are Sanders and No. 1 on this list, Jimmy Johnson.
Not only is Johnson arguably the best cornerback in Niners history, he should also be viewed as one of the best players of all time at his position.
Johnson was drafted sixth overall in the 1961 NFL Draft and started well with five interceptions and 116 yards in the process. He was also named to the All-Pro second team in 1965 and 1966.
But Johnson’s career really took off in 1969, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl every year and was named to the All-Pro first team three times.
Few cornerbacks are as good at man-to-man coverage as Johnson, and it was unwise for the quarterback to challenge him during the game.
Johnson, a 1994 Hall of Fame inductee in Canton, ranks second in San Francisco history with 47 interceptions over his illustrious career, trailing only Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott (51) in interceptions.
