1948 San Francisco 49ers season



The 1948 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's third season in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The 49ers, hoped to improve upon their 8–4–2 output from the previous season. They began the season 10–0, and finished 12–2, both losses coming to eventual season champions, the Cleveland Browns.

The 49ers' offense was historically prolific: they scored 495 points in 1948 (averaging over 35 points per game), which was more than 100 points more than the next best output (389 points by the Browns). Despite their 12–2 record, the 49ers did not qualify for the playoffs, due to the Browns 14–0 record.

The 1948 49ers had a record-setting rushing attack: the team rushed for a staggering 3,653 yards in only fourteen games, a professional football record that still stands.

The team's statistical leaders included Frankie Albert with 1,990 passing yards, Johnny Strzykalski with 915 rushing yards, and Alyn Beals with 591 receiving yards and 84 points scored.

Roster
San Francisco's in-season roster included the following players.

Centers


 * 21 Dutch Elston
 * 22 Joel Williams
 * 23 Bill Johnson

Guards


 * 31 Don Clark
 * 32 Jim Cox
 * 33 Bruno Banducci
 * 34 Visco Grgich
 * 37 Riley Matheson
 * 38 Walt McCormick

Tackles


 * 41 John Woudenberg
 * 42 Bob Bryant
 * 46 Hal Puddy
 * 47 Bob Mike
 * 48 Floyd Collier

Ends


 * 52 Hal Shoener
 * 53 Alyn Beals
 * 54 Gail Bruce
 * 56 Clarence Howell
 * 58 Nick Susoeff
 * 59 Ned Maloney

Quarterbacks


 * 63 Frankie Albert
 * 64 Bev Wallace
 * 93 Jim Cason

Fullbacks


 * 71 Verl Lillywhite
 * 72 Norm Standlee

Halfbacks

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 * 81 Len Eshmont
 * 82 Joe Vetrano
 * 83 Joe "The Jet" Perry
 * 85 Eddie Carr
 * 88 Forrest Hall
 * 91 Johnny Strzykalski
 * 92 Paul Crowe
 * 94 Bob Sullivan