Faithful Flashbacks #70: Roger Craig’s Hall of Fame Induction

Roger Craig finally gets his Hall of Fame call after helping shape a 49ers dynasty and setting the standard for versatile running backs.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Jun 2, 2026, 7:42 AM

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In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called “Faithful Flashbacks.”

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Helping change the way the running back position was played, no San Francisco fans who witnessed or were educated on the play of Roger Craig were surprised to hear him inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If anything, it taking place more than three decades after his final NFL game was the more confusing part.

Claiming its place at No. 70 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown is Craig, finally getting his well-deserved place in Canton.

After playing for the University of Nebraska, the 49ers selected the six-foot back in the second round of the 1983 Draft, and he quickly became a fit for the offense that head coach Bill Walsh ran.

His ability to run with power and catch the ball out of the backfield allowed them to be creative and versatile with their schemes. He was a core piece of San Francisco’s dynasty.

Craig won three Super Bowls with the 49ers, making four Pro Bowl appearances, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s. In Super Bowl XIX, he became the first player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl.

He continued to trend upwards from there, as Craig became the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the following season. Since he did that in 1985, only Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey have also reached that mark.

A trendsetter at the running back position and a key cog to an offense that changed the game and began the 49ers dynasty, Craig’s spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame shouldn’t have taken as long as it did, but it was good to see him recognized, no matter.

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

June 9-10, 2026 – Mandatory Minicamps
Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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