San Francisco 49ers Quarterbacks Quiz

Answer: Jim Druckenmiller

Druckenmiller did very well at Virginia Tech, helping the Hokies to two Big East Championships and winning a Sugar Bowl. He was a big QB, with a strong arm and great overall strength, but seemed a mismatch for the 49ers from the beginning. He played in only 6 games in his two seasons there, earning a quarterback rating of just 29. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins, but was soon released and his NFL playing career was over.

Answer: John Brodie

Brodie took over the 49ers quarterbacking duties from Y.A. Tittle when the latter was traded to the New York Giants. He held that position from 1961 until the early 1970s, gaining Pro Bowl honors twice and league Most Valuable Player in 1970. From 1981 until 1998 he competed on the Senior PGA Tour. During that time he finished in the top 10 in 12 tournaments, winning the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic.

Answer: Frankie Albert

Frankie Albert first played for the 49ers when they were in the All-America Football Conference and continued as their starting QB when the AAFC merged with the NFL in 1950. He played with the 49ers until 1952, then returned as their coach from 1954 to 1956.

He was a scrambling quarterback and one of the greatest left-handers to have played QB. Albert is credited as the originator of the bootleg play, which he developed in 1940 while playing at Stanford University.

Answer: 4

Montana, regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, was the starting QB for San Francisco for four of its five Super Bowl victories; Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV. In three of those Super Bowls, he was the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. He was also the NFL Most Valuable Player overall in 1989 and 1990. His jersey number 16 has been retired by the 49ers.

Answer: Shaun Hill

Seemingly always underestimated, Hill was not vied for by colleges and spent his first two years in a community college before transferring to the University of Maryland. As a senior at Maryland, Hill led the Terrapins to an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and an Orange Bowl victory. Coming out of college, he was again not sought out and went undrafted by the NFL.

He signed with the Vikings as a free agent and spent four seasons with virtually no playing time. He joined the 49ers in 2006 as a backup.

In 2007 and 2008, he was called upon to lead the team when the starting QBs were having problems performing, and he produced winning records for his games both seasons. He entered the 2009 as the starter but was replaced by Alex Smith in the seventh week of the season, continuing his up and down history with the team.

Answer: Steve Young

Although many people think of Joe Montana-to-Jerry Rice when they think of 49ers quarterback/wide receiver duos, Steve Young and Jerry Rice actually teamed up for more touchdowns. Young-to-Rice resulted in 85 TDs, and Montana-to-Rice for 68 TDs. Together, Montana and Young accounted for 153 of Rice's 176 TD receptions for the 49ers.

Answer: Y.A. Tittle

Yelberton Abraham Tittle, known as Y.A. Tittle, is another Hall of Fame quarterback from the 49ers. He played for San Francisco for 10 seasons but was eventually traded to the New York Giants (and in fact was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Giant, not a 49er).

In his 17 total years in pro football, he passed for more than 33,000 yards and threw for 242 touchdowns. Tittle was NFL Most Valuable Player twice. His Hall of Fame induction was in 1971. Despite his success, he is perhaps equally famous for being the subject of an iconic sports photo.

The photographer captured Tittle kneeling on the ground, having been thrown down by a defender. His helmet had been knocked off and he was bloody. He had a concussion and a broken sternum, and the pass he had thrown was intercepted.

It was among the first "agony of defeat" style photos and is displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Answer: Steve Young

It was the fifth Super Bowl victory for the 49ers. At the time, it made the 49ers the only team with five Lombardi trophies (the Super Bowl trophy). Even with that win under his belt, Young was still compared to Montana, of course, but the scrutiny was much less harsh and he emerged as a legitimate hero in San Francisco.

By the time Steve Young retired from the 49ers, he held 10 NFL records, had been an All-Pro four times and selected for seven Pro Bowls, was named NFL league MVP twice, and was a Super Bowl MVP.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year eligible.

Answer: Jeff Garcia

If Steve Young thought Joe Montana was a tough act to follow, imagine having to follow both of them. Taking over in the 1999 season after Steve Young was injured (and who then retired from football), but really solidifying his starting spot in the 2000 season, Garcia's tenure as QB was marked by relatively good team success, excellent personal stats, and a stormy relationship with wide receiver Terrell Owens. Garcia went to three Pro Bowls as a 49er (and a fourth after he left the 49ers), and led the team to one playoff appearance. Surprisingly, on a team that had Montana, Young, Tittle, and other notable QBs, Garcia set the team season record for passing yards with 4278 yards in 2000.

Answer: Joe Montana

Drafted out of Notre Dame in 1979, Montana went on to have one of the most successful quarterbacking careers of all-time, with many observers considering him either the greatest or one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks in history. He was not known for strength of arm or imposing physical gifts, but his poise under pressure and his intelligent decision making more than made up.

He led the 49ers to their first four Super Bowl wins (and doing it in four attempts). Along with 49ers coach Bill Walsh, he raised the San Francisco franchise out of mediocrity.

He was the first player to win three Super Bowl MVP awards.