Roger Craig

The San Francisco 49ers selected running back Roger Craig, from the University of Nebraska, in the second round (49th overall) in the 1983 NFL Draft. He played both halfback and fullback in the Cornhuskers’ run-dominated offense and also starred on the track team.

Craig wasted little time proving his worth, becoming a regular in Bill Walsh’s “West Coast” offense as a rookie. He displayed his versatility by rushing for 725 yards and eight touchdowns and also catching 48 passes for 427 yards and four touchdowns. In his second pro season, Craig was a key part of a 49ers team that finished with a 15-1 regular-season record. The team capped the season by winning Super Bowl XIX. In that game, Craig scored three TDs — two receiving, one rushing — as the 49ers downed the Miami Dolphins 38-16. 

The following season, Craig made history when he became the first player in National Football League history to surpass 1,000 yards in both rushing (1,050) and receiving (1,016) in the same season. His career-high 92 receptions that year led the league. 

In 1988, he established a 49ers team record with 1,502 yards rushing as San Francisco turned a 10-6 regular-season record into a playoff run that ended with a 20-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. One season later, Craig became the first running back in team history to rush for 1,000 yards three times. The 49ers captured their second consecutive Super Bowl title with a 55-10 victory over the Denver Broncos as Craig rushed for 69 yards on 20 carries and scored one touchdown. 

At the time of his retirement, Craig’s 8,189 rushing yards ranked 13th all time. He earned Pro Bowl berths four times in five years (1986, 1988-1990), was named a unanimous All-Pro and All-NFC selection in 1988, and was named second team All-Pro or All-NFC in 1985, 1987 and 1989.