San Francisco's Amazing Niners Multiple Choice Quiz | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year were the Niners admitted into the NFL?

Answer: 1950

The 49ers were one of only three teams from the AAFL to survive the 1950 merger with the NFL. Although one of the top contenders in the AAFL (All American Football League), in their first season in the NFL they went 3-9. The AAFL was a rival league for the NFL that lasted four seasons, established in 1946.

2. What was the first year the 49ers played in an NFL playoff game?

Answer: 1957

The first time the Niners played in a playoff game was ironically the season where their original owner, Tony Morabito, passed away. They lost to Detroit 31-27, and would have to wait 24 more years to gain a title.

3. Who was the 49ers first quarterback in the NFL?

Answer: Frankie Albert

Later named coach of the Niners in 1956, Frankie Albert was the first quarterback for the Niners in the NFL. He retired in 1952 because of a strained relationship with head coach Buck Shaw.

4. What stadium did the 49ers play in originally?

Answer: Kezar Stadium

In 1970 the Niners moved to new Candlestick Park, called that because it was built on Candlestick Point. That stadium was renamed 3Com Park in 1995 when the high-tech company bought the rights to the grounds, but was turned into San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point in 2002 when the leasing rights to the name ran out.

The new name lasted until 2004 when the stadium was renamed Monster Park, but, in 2008, the original name was finally restored to the stadium.

5. Who was the 49ers legendary quarterback that, in 1992, held the all-time NFC record for most touchdown passes and most passing yards, among numerous other records?

Answer: Joe Montana

Wearing jersey number 16 which was retired in 1997, Joe Montana was drafted in 1979 by new coach Bill Walsh, but did not see much action until 1980. He guided the team to four Super Bowls, but was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. He is probably the most well known of the 49ers' quarterbacks because he led the team and turned it into the dynasty of the '80s.

6. During the 1959-1960 seasons the 49ers fielded which was known as the "Alphabet Backfield". Whom of the following was NOT part of this backfield?

Answer: J.H. Johnson

John Henry Johnson was part of the "Million Dollar Backfield" in 49er history. The "Alphabet Backfield" consisted of Tittle, Roberts, Smith and R.C. Owens. They received this nickname because they were known by their initials and not their first names. Together they brought together the famous Alley-Oop passes and shotgun offense.

7. One of the most prolific plays in San Francisco history - what is known as "The Catch" was between which two 49er players?

Answer: Joe Montana & Dwight Clark

1981. San Francisco against Dallas in the NFC championship game. 49ers trailing by 6 points, and less than a minute an a half left to play. A drive that started on the San Francisco 11-yard line only three minutes before. Third and three from the Dallas 6-yard line. Sprint Right Option, but the intended receiver, Freddie Solomon had slipped coming off of the line of scrimmage.

Montana kept rolling right being chased by Dallas defenders, one of them was "Too-Tall" Jones, an extremely tall linebacker. However, Montana, looking, caught Clark in the back corner of the end zone, the ball looking to go out of bounds, but Clark jumped high over Everson Walls to make the score! His teammates said that they had never seen Dwight Clark jump so high, and he'd never jumped quite so high since.

8. The 49ers shattered the record for most points scored by one team in a Super Bowl, set in 1985 by the Chicago Bears when they beat the New England Patriots 46-10. How many points did the Niners score to break that record?

Answer: 55

In Super Bowl XXIV (1990) San Francisco dominated John Elway and the Denver Broncos to win 55-10. They were up 27-3 at the half. Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana completed 297 yards and had 5 touchdowns! Jerry Rice caught three of those touchdowns and had 148 yards. The Broncos and Elway were the underdogs, but the line was 12 points. Nobody expected the 49ers to win by 45...

9. In 1998 Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos tied the Super Bowl single-game scoring record when he became the fourth player to score 18 points from 3 TDs. Amazingly, all of those other three were 49ers. Which of the following is not one of the three?

Answer: Dwight Clark

Along with Terrell Davis of the Broncos, Rice, Watters (1995) and Craig (1985) have each scored 18 points in a single game. Jerry Rice has actually done it twice (1990 and 1995 - Super Bowl XXIV and XXIX).

10. The 49ers great wide receiver, Jerry Rice, retired in the top-five of almost all of the receiving records in the NFL. Which college did Bill Walsh draft him from?

Answer: Mississippi Valley

Drafted in 1985, Jerry Rice was almost instantly a star. His partnership with Joe Montana was legendary, and it only kept going when Steve Young took the helm. Holding too many records to name, records in a single game, in a career, in Super Bowls, this player is definitely the greatest wide receiver of modern football.

11. In which year did legendary QB Steve Young start his first game instead of QB Joe Montana?

Answer: 1987

Young started playing in the '87 season after he was traded from Tampa Bay while an injury-plagued Joe Montana was sidelined. That season, he played in eight games and started three of them, the first on November 15th against the New Orleans Saints. From then on, the quarterback controversy was wide open.

12. The 49ers are known more for their offense than for defense. But the defense does have its moments. Which 49er is tied for the NFL record of most interceptions in one game, a record set back in 1943 by Sammy Baugh?

Answer: Dave Baker

Dave Baker and Ronnie Lott hold the 49ers team record for most interceptions in a season, at 10, but only Baker has managed to pick off four passes in a single game. DeAngelo Hall, who tied this record in 2010 for the Washington Redskins, was the thirteenth player to achieve this feat. Dave Baker was the third, picking off four passes by the Los Angeles Rams on December 4, 1960.

13. Most of the 49ers wins in their first five Super Bowls were by dominant scores, but the closest Superbowl win by San Francisco was won by only a four-point margin, and was won with only 34 seconds to the end of the game. Who was the losing team?

Answer: Cincinnati

With just over 3 minutes left and down by three points, the 49ers marched 92 yards under the guidance of Joe Montana to score with only 0:34 remaining. This was the closest Super Bowl since the 1982 season when, ironically, San Francisco defeated Cincinnati by a five-point margin.

14. When the Niners retired Bob St. Clair's jersey in the 2001 season, it was the ________ jersey number the 49ers had retired?

Answer: 9th

The nine jerseys that were retired at the time were: 34 Joe Perry, 39 Hugh McElheny, 73 Leo Nomellini, 12 John Brodie, 70 Charlie Krueger, 37 Jimmy Johnson, 87 Dwight Clark, 16 Joe Montana, and 79 Bob St. Clair. In 2003, the Niners retired Ronnie Lott's 42; in 2008, the 8 jersey was retired having been worn by Steve Young; Jerry Rice's 80 jersey was retired in 2010.

15. Jerry Rice, who left the 49ers as their all time leading scorer, had how many touchdowns as a Niner?

Answer: 187

For the 49ers he has 187 touchdowns, 176 receiving, 10 rushing and one more off of a kickoff return. That's 1122 points!

16. The 49ers play in their red and gold uniforms making the team nicknamed, the "gold rush" commemorating the 1849 gold rush of California. What other colour scheme did they use as their main uniform colour prior to this choice?

Answer: Red and Silver

In their second season in the AAFL, San Francisco went to the field with red and gold uniforms. They then switched to red and silver until 1964, when the red and gold became permanent. Those colours have been in use ever since. The red-and-gold is iconic and very noticeable.

17. Joe Montana had never been intercepted in a Super Bowl?

Answer: True

Although playing in four Super Bowls and attempting 122 passes, Montana was never picked off even once. Of those 122 attempts, he completed 83 passes - that's 68%!

18. Every year, San Francisco players vote on who they believe deserves the honor of the 49ers annual award for "inspirational and courageous play". After which original 49er is this award named after?

Answer: Len Eshmont

Len Eshmont played with the 49ers four seasons only in the AAFL. He was nicknamed the "Fordham Flash". He gained 1,181 yards on 232 carries with the Niners, averaging about 5 yards per carry. He died in 1957 at the age of 39 of Hepatitis.

19. Who were the 49ers playing in 1957 when their original owner, Tony Morabito, passed away?

Answer: Chicago Bears

Morabito was warned that the stress of the game put him at risk, but the Niners WERE his life, and he continued to watch the games. At halftime against the Bears in 1957, the team learned that Tony had passed away. They were down 17-7 but rallied to win 21-17 despite a strong game by Chicago.

20. Who was the head coach for the Niners for their first three Superbowl wins in the beginning of the 80s?

Answer: Bill Walsh

Walsh took over in the 1979 season, with great expectations of him, but went 2-14. He was not sacked because he managed to bring the Niner offense from last place in the NFL to Steve DeBerg setting new NFL records. Two seasons later, Walsh coached the 49ers to the first of their 5 record Superbowl wins.

Source: Author LeoDaVinci

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

San Francisco's Amazing Niners Quiz

Undoubtedly the greatest team of the 1980s, the Niners have created many legends. Test your knowledge of this West Coast team.

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