49ers' all-2000s team: Hard-nosed defenders drove NFC title teams

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Steve Mariucci displayed a clock at 49ers headquarters reading “NOW ... NOW ... NOW” instead of the usual intervals of “1 ... 2 ... 3 ... etc.” This emphasized the urgency required in the NFL.

He was the 49ers’ coach when I came aboard as a beat writer in 2000. Back then, we had greater media access — to practices, players, coaches — and that taught us valued insight we passed onto you.

Picking this All-49ers team after Y2K (Year 2000) proved an exercise in fun nostalgia and surprising debate, with no Lombardi Trophy to boost anyone’s case.

Here are the best of the best, from then to NOW:

Quarterback

— First team: Brock Purdy

— Second team: Jeff Garcia

— Honorable mention: Jimmy Garoppolo, Colin Kaepernick, Alex Smith

— Analysis: This was the hardest selection, essentially having to weigh Garcia’s gritty tenure against Purdy’s better playoff showings and 2023 stats on a blockbuster team. Garcia was a local boy (Gilroy, San Jose State) who eventually emerged from Steve Young’s shadow to reach three Pro Bowls, deliver two playoff berths and set 49ers passing records. Purdy surpassed Garcia’s single-season passing record (4,280 yards) a year ago, and his four career playoff wins give him big-time clout, even if he’s just 13-12 in his past 25 regular-season starts. Also posting 4-2 records in the playoffs were the feels-great-baby Garoppolo and the dual-threat Kaepernick, while Smith’s lone win (January 2012 over the Saints) revitalized the franchise.

Running back

— First team: Frank Gore

— Second team: Christian McCaffrey

— Honorable mention: Garrison Hearst, Raheem Mostert

— Analysis: Gore arrived as a 2005 third-round pick with surgically repaired knees, then spent 10 seasons setting the franchise record for most rushing yards, including eight 1,000-yard campaigns. McCaffrey has only played one full season since arriving in October 2022 and winning 2023 AP NFL Offensive Player honors (league-best 19 touchdowns, 2,302 scrimmage yards). Hearst won 2021 Comeback Player of the Year after a two-year recovery from a lower-leg injury. Mostert unforgettably ran for four touchdowns and 220 yards in the 2019 team’s NFC championship game win over Green Bay.

Wide receiver

— First team: Terrell Owens, Deebo Samuel

— Second team: Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin

— Honorable mention: Brandon Aiyuk, Marquise Goodwin, Torrey Smith, Brandon Lloyd

— Analysis: Owens morphed into a physically dominant Hall of Fame receiver with dramatic effect. Samuel’s career may have crested in 2021 but his versatility and playoff panache gave him the first-team nod over Crabtree and Boldin, the latter of whom played with Hall of Fame-worthy intensity and leadership even as the 49ers’ championship window closed.

Tight end

— First team: George Kittle

— Second team: Vernon Davis

— Honorable mention: Delanie Walker, Garrett Celek

— Analysis: Kittle is not only the most proficient tight end in 49ers history, he passed Dwight Clark this season for the third-most receptions and receiving yards behind Jerry Rice and Owens. Kittle is 33 yards from his fourth 1,000-yard season, and no other tight end in 49ers history has one. Davis ranks sixth in catches (441) and seventh in yards (717).

Left tackle

— First team: Joe Staley

— Second team: Trent Williams

— Honorable mention: Derrick Deese

— Analysis: Staley does not have the multiple first-team All-Pro accolades as his successor, Williams, but from 2007-19, the 49ers relied so heavily on Staley to protect quarterbacks’ blindsides, block for their all-time leading rusher (Gore) and serve as a spokesman in good times and bad en route to 181 games and two Super Bowl appearances.

Left guard

— First team: Mike Iupati

— Second team: Larry Allen

— Honorable mention: Laken Tomlinson, David Baas, Aaron Banks

— Analysis: Allen wrapped up his Hall of Fame career on the 49ers’ 2006-07 losing teams, and while he’s easily their most talented guard the past 25 years, the top spot in this exercise goes to Iupati (three Pro Bowls, 2012 All-Pro).

Center

— First team: Jeremy Newberry

— Second team: Jonathan Goodwin

— Honorable mention: Alex Mack, Daniel Kilgore, Eric Heitmann, Jake Brendel

— Analysis: Newberry is another local-boy-makes-good story as the Antioch native and Cal product anchored the center spot from 2000-05. He made two Pro Bowls — and even the cover of the 49ers’ media guide. Goodwin started every game in the 2011-13 seasons, each of which reached at least the conference title game.

Right guard

— First team: Alex Boone

— Second team: Daniel Brunskill

— Honorable mention: Ron Stone, Dave Fiore, Justin Smiley

— Analysis: Boone blossomed and enjoyed longevity (2010-15) at a position that turned over more starters than any other spot in the past 25 years. Brunskill’s uncanny brilliance against Aaron Donald was a fun watch. Fiore and Stone were strong starters at the turn of the century.

Right tackle

— First team: Mike McGlinchey

— Second team: Anthony Davis

— Honorable mention: Scott Gragg

— Analysis: Close call across the board among these interchangeable right tackles. McGlinchey’s run blocking was elite and got him paid by Denver in 2023. Davis started every game his first four seasons (2010-13) as the 49ers returned to playoff relevance. Gragg paid off as a sturdy free-agent acquisition (2000-04).

Defensive end

— First team: Nick Bosa, Aldon Smith

— Second team: Andre Carter, Julian Peterson

— Honorable mention: Ray McDonald, Manny Lawson, Dee Ford

— Analysis: Bosa won AP NFL Rookie of the Year (2019) and NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2022) honors en route to the NFL’s richest non-quarterback contract. Smith’s troubled tenure (2011-14) opened with 14 1/2 sacks as a rookie and a team-record 19 1/2 for 2019 All-Pro honors en route to the Super Bowl.

Defensive tackle

— First team: Bryant Young, Justin Smith

— Second team: Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner

— Honorable mention: Isaac Sopoaga, Anthony Adams, Ian Williams, Earl Mitchell, Quinton Dial

— Analysis: Young spent all 14 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the 49ers (1994-2007) and won their Len Eshmont Award a record eight times. Smith was a two-time Eshmont winner who earned All-Pro honors at both defensive tackle and defensive end in 2011 and ’12. Armstead and Buckner were first-round forces out of Oregon who just nudged out Sopoaga.

Linebacker

— First team: Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Fred Warner

— Second team: Derek Smith, Jeff Ulbrich, Ahmad Brooks

— Honorable mention: Takeo Spikes, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Michael Wilhoite

— Analysis: Willis went from 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year to a Hall of Famer, needing only 7 1/2 seasons to do so thanks to his amazing force, speed and instincts. Bowman was headed down the same path before his knee injury in the 2013 season’s NFC title game. Warner is a three-time All-Pro who’s played through a fractured leg this season. This is the deepest unit post-Y2K, and Greenlaw merits a second-team nod if only he’d stayed healthier.

Cornerback

— First team: Richard Sherman, Carlos Rogers

— Second team: Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer

— Honorable mention: Terrell Brown, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Dontae Johnson, Ahmed Plummer

— Analysis: Not a lot of gusto here but Sherman and Rogers proved crucial free-agent acquisitions on the 49ers’ returns to playoff contention. Ward and Lenoir have been a solid combination, and it’s Lenoir who the 49ers are banking on leading them for years to come.

Safety

— First team: Dashon Goldson, Tony Parrish

— Second team: Donte Whitner, Antoine Bethea

— Honorable mention: Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward, Zach Bronson, Talanoa Hufanga

— Analysis: Goldson developed into a two-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro and franchise-tagged safety over his 2007-12 tenure. It’s debatable whether the hard-hitting Whitner’s three seasons trumped the five-year tenure of Parrish, who racked up 22 interceptions, including nine in his 2003 All-Pro year.

Kicker

— First team: Robbie Gould

— Second team: Joe Nedney

— Honorable mention: Phil Dawson, David Akers

— Analysis: Gould’s steady foot produced the fourth-most points in 49ers history (704 points) from 2017-22 and the best in field-goal accuracy (87.5%), just ahead of Nedney (86.6%).

Punter

— First team: Andy Lee

— Second team: Mitch Wishnowsky

— Honorable mention: Bradley Pinion

— Analysis: A 2004 sixth-round draft pick produced Lee, their all-time leading punter (11 seasons, 176 games, 941 punts, 43,468 yards).

Kick returner

— First team: Lamichael James

— Second team: Allen Rossum

— Honorable mention: Bruce Ellington

— Analysis: James’ second-round status paid off best with a 62-yard kick return in the 2012 team’s upset at New England.

Punt returner

— First team: Ted Ginn Jr.

— Second team: Jimmy Williams

— Honorable mention: Allen Rossum

— Analysis: The 49ers have not returned a punt for a touchdown since Ginn did so in the 2011 season opener, right after he scored on a 102-yard kick return.

Long snapper

— First team: Brian Jennings

— Second team: Taybor Pepper

— Honorable mention: Kyle Nelson

— Analysis: Jennings enjoyed a 13-year career (2000-12) and made two Pro Bowls.

Head coach

— First team: Kyle Shanahan

— Second team: Jim Harbaugh

— Honorable mention: Steve Mariucci

— Analysis: None have cured the 49ers’ 30-year Lombardi Trophy drought. Don’t minimize Shanahan’s eight seasons, four of which reached the NFC championship game and two regrettable Super Bowl defeats.

Offensive coordinator

— First team: Greg Roman

— Second team: Greg Knapp

— Honorable mention: Mike McDaniel

— Analysis: Roman was at the offensive controls under Harbaugh during the 49ers’ 2011-14 renaissance. Knapp was a 49ers assistant from 1995-2003 and remains beloved in the NFL community after his 2021 death.

Defensive coordinator

— First team: Vic Fangio

— Second team: Robert Saleh

— Honorable mention: Jim Mora, DeMeco Ryans

— Analysis: The witty Fangio lorded over the 49ers’ defense from 2011-14, while that coordinator post was a stepping stone to head coaching jobs for Mora (Falcons), Saleh (Jets), and Ryans (Texans).