1951 San Francisco 49ers

The 1951 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's second season in the NFL, and were coming off a 3-9-0 record in 1950. Due to the collapse of the first Baltimore franchise the Niners were able to draft quarterback Y. A. Tittle.

The 49ers would win their first ever NFL road game on October 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after losing their first 7 since joining the league. The Niners would be in playoff contention all year long, finishing 7-4-1, just a half game out of first place in the National Conference. Their biggest win of the season was a 44-17 victory over their Californian rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.

Top Players
Frank Albert and Y.A. Tittle would split time at quarterback, with Albert throwing for 1,116 yards, while Tittle would lead the club with 8 TD's and completing 55.3% of his passes. Joe Perry would once again lead the team in rushing, with 677 yards, and add 3 TD's, and wide receiver Gordy Soltau would lead the club with 59 completions, for 826 yards and 7 TD's.

Week 1: vs Cleveland
Sunday, September 30 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * Cle - Dub Jones 81 yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)
 * SF - Billy Wilson 24 yard pass from Frank Albert (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 42 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Joe Perry 6 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Cle - Lou Groza 40 yard field goal
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Joe Perry 6 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 2: at Philadelphia
Saturday, October 6 at Connie Mack Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Verl Lillywhite 60 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Phi - Jim Parmer 4 yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * Phi - Clyde Scott 49 yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Phi - Clyde Scott 28 yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)
 * SF - Verl Lillywhite 11 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 3: at Pittsburgh
Sunday, October 14 at Forbes Field


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Jim Cason 65 yard interception return (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * Pit - Elbie Nichel 77 yard pass from Joe Geri (Joe Geri kick)
 * Pit - Joe Geri 16 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Jim Monachino 7 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Joe Perry 4 yard pass from Frank Albert (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Pete Schabarum 8 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * Pit - Lynn Chandnois 8 yard pass from Ray Mathews (Joe Geri kick)
 * Pit - Elbie Nichel 22 yard pass from Ray Mathews (Joe Geri kick)

Week 4: at Chicago Bears
Sunday, October 21 at Wrigley Field


 * First Quarter
 * Chi - John Dottley 77 yard pass from Johnny Lujack (kick Failed)
 * Third Quarter
 * Chi - Johnny Lujack 1 yard rush (Johnny Lujack kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 41 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 5: vs Los Angeles
Sunday, October 28 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 23 yard field goal
 * LA - Bob Waterfield 26 yard field goal
 * SF - Joe Arenas 2 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 10 yard pass from Frank Albert (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * LA - Elroy Hirsch 79 yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick)
 * SF - Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Leo Nomellini 20 yard blocked punt return (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 13 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * LA - Dick Hoerner 12 yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 48 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (kick failed)

Week 6: at Los Angeles
Sunday, November 4 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum


 * First Quarter
 * LA - Bob Waterfield 39 yard field goal
 * LA - Bob Waterfield 1 yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Joe Perry 58 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * LA - Bob Waterfield 20 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Frank Albert 7 yard rush (kick failed)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 11 yard field goal
 * LA - Elroy Hirsch 78 yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick)
 * LA - Bob Waterfield 38 yard field goal

Week 7: vs New York Yanks
Sunday, November 11 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 5 yard pass from Frank Albert (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * NY - Buddy Young 1 yard rush (Harvey Johnson kick)
 * NY - Dan Edwards 20 yard pass from Bob Celeri (Harvey Johnson kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 19 yard field goal
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Safety, Bob Celeri tackled in end zone by Hamp Tanner
 * SF - Billy Wilson 7 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 8: vs Chicago Cardinals
Sunday, November 18 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * Chi - Charlie Trippi 8 yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)
 * SF - Frank Albert 4 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * Chi - Elmer Angsman 80 yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Cliff Patton kick)
 * Chi - Don R. Paul 4 yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)
 * Chi - Cliff Patton 16 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Frank Albert 10 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Chi - Cliff Patton 24 yard field goal
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Pete Schabarum 14 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 9: at New York Yanks
Sunday, November 25 at Polo Grounds


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Johnny Strzykalski 8 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Second Quarter
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 21 yard field goal
 * Fourth Quarter
 * NY - Sherman Howard 11 yard rush (Harvey Johnson kick)
 * NY - Harvey Johnson 23 yard field goal

Week 10: at Detroit
Sunday, December 2 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * SF - Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard rush (kick failed)
 * Second Quarter
 * Det - Doak Walker 23 yard field goal
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Bill Jessup 23 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Det - Dorne Dibble 30 yard pass from Bobby Layne (Doak Walker kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Joe Arenas 12 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)

Week 11: vs Green Bay
Sunday, December 9 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * GB - Fred Cone 20 yard field goal
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 23 yard field goal
 * Second Quarter
 * GB - Fred Cone 37 yard field goal
 * SF - Joe Arenas 7 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * GB - Ray Palfrey 3 yard pass from Tobin Rote (Fred Cone kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * SF - Joe Arenas 1 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * GB - Carl Elliott 11 yard pass from Tobin Rote (kick failed)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Jim Monachino 3 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 9 yard pass from Frank Albert (Gail Bruce pass from Frank Albert)

Week 12: vs Detroit
Sunday, December 16 at Kezar Stadium


 * First Quarter
 * Det - Pat Harder 13 yard field goal
 * Second Quarter
 * Det - Pat Harder 1 yard rush (Doak Walker kick)
 * SF - Billy Wilson 31 yard pass from Joe Perry (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * SF - Gordy Soltau 27 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick)
 * Third Quarter
 * Det - Leon Hart 28 yard pass from Bobby Layne (Doak Walker kick)
 * Fourth Quarter
 * SF - Y. A. Tittle 1 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick)

Pro Bowl
San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl: