1951 San Francisco 49ers season

American football team season November 2013 March 2026 1951-san-francisco-49ers-teamphoto.jpg San Francisco 49ers 1951 7–4–1 T–2nd NFL National Tony Morabito John Blackinger Buck Shaw Kezar Stadium Did not qualify 49ers seasons The 1951 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Football League and their 6th overall. The team was coming off a 3–9 record in 1950. The 49ers won their first ever NFL road game on October 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after losing their first 7 in the league. The Niners were 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 California rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. Frankie Albert and Y. A. Tittle split time at quarterback, with Albert throwing for 1,116 yards, while Tittle led the club with 8 TDs and completed 55.3% of his passes. Joe Perry once again led the team in rushing with 677 yards and 3 TDs, and wide receiver Gordie Soltau led the club with 59 catches for 826 yards and 7 TDs. Offseason NFL draft 1951 NFL draft 1951 San Francisco 49ers 1 3 Y. A. Tittle Quarterback LSU yes yes yes Former Baltimore Colts player 2 17 Pete Schabarum Halfback California yes 3 28 Billy Mixon Halfback Georgia began play with 49ers in 1953. 5 53 Dick Steere Guard Drake 5 54 Al Carapella Tackle Miami (FL) yes yes 6 64 Bishop Strickland Halfback South Carolina yes 7 75 Dick Forbes End St. Ambrose 8 89 Joe Arenas Halfback Omaha yes 9 100 Bruce Van Alstyne End Stanford 10 112 Nick Feher Guard Georgia yes 11 126 Bill Jessup End USC yes 12 137 Jim Monachino Halfback Stanford yes 13 148 Dick Harvin End Georgia Tech 14 162 Rex Berry Defensive back BYU yes 15 173 Dave Sparks Guard South Carolina yes 16 184 Bob White Halfback Stanford yes 17 198 Art Michalik Guard St. Ambrose yes 18 209 Jim Murphy Tackle Xavier 19 220 John Phillips Halfback Southern Miss 20 234 Al Tate Tackle Illinois 21 245 Hardy Brown Back Tulsa yes yes previously played for the Washington Redskins 22 256 Dwight Winslow Back Boise J.C. 23 270 Wally Brunswald Back Gustavus Adolphus 24 281 Tom Kingsford Quarterback Montana 25 292 Mike Peterson End Denver 26 306 Keith Carpenter Tackle San Jose State 27 317 Ray Lung Guard Oregon 28 328 Jack Rohan Back Loras 29 342 S. P. Garnett Tackle Kansas 30 353 Jerry Faske Back Iowa Source:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1951_draft.htm 1951 San Francisco 49ers Draftees Pro Football Reference February 18, 2024 Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 19 Washington Redskins W 45–14 1–0 Kezar Stadium 27,280 2 August 26 Chicago Bears L 7–24 1–1 Kezar Stadium 38,836 3 September 7, 1951 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–7 2–1 Archbold Stadium 18,000 4 September 12, 1951 vs. Green Bay Packers W 20–0 3–1 Parade Stadium 19,021 5 September 23 vs. Chicago Cardinals W 37–17 4–1 Creighton Stadium 10,000https://www.profootballarchives.com/1951nflsf.html 1951 San Francisco 49ers (NFL) Pro Football Archives December 19, 2023 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 30 Cleveland Browns W 24–10 1–0 Kezar Stadium 48,263 Recap 2 October 6, 1951 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–21 1–1 Shibe Park 23,827 Recap 3 October 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 28–24 2–1 Forbes Field 27,124 Recap 4 October 21 at Chicago Bears L 7–13 2–2 Wrigley Field 42,296 Recap 5 October 28 Los Angeles Rams W 44–17 3–2 Kezar Stadium 49,538 Recap 6 November 4 at Los Angeles Rams L 16–23 3–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 54,346 Recap 7 November 11 New York Yanks W 19–14 4–3 Kezar Stadium 25,538 Recap 8 November 18 Chicago Cardinals L 21–27 4–4 Kezar Stadium 19,658 Recap 9 November 25 at New York Yanks T 10–10 4–4–1 Yankee Stadium 10,184 Recap 10 December 2 at Detroit Lions W 20–10 5–4–1 Briggs Stadium 46,467 Recap 11 December 9 Green Bay Packers W 31–19 6–4–1 Kezar Stadium 15,121 Recap 12 December 16 Detroit Lions W 21–17 7–4–1 Kezar Stadium 27,276 Recap Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, September 30 Browns 7 0 3 0 49ers 7 3 7 7 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 48,263 Pro-Football-Reference.com San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide San Francisco 49ers 269 First quarter CLE – Dub Jones 79 yard pass from Otto Graham, Lou Groza kick (CLE 7–0) SF – Billy Wilson 25 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 7–7) Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 42 yard field goal (SF 10–7) Third quarter SF – Joe Perry 6 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–7) CLE – Lou Groza 40 yard field goal (SF 17–10) Fourth quarter SF – Joe Perry 6 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24–10) Top passers CLE – SF – Top rushers CLE – SF – Verl Lillywhite 17 Car, 145 Yds Top receivers CLE – Dub Jones 5 Rec, 143 Yds, 1 TD SF – Top tacklers CLE – SF – Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary Sunday, October 7 49ers 7 0 0 7 Eagles 7 0 7 7 Shibe Park, Philadelphia 23,827 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Verl Lillywhite 60 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) PHI – Jim Parmer 60 yard run, Bobby Walston kick (TIE 7–7) Second quarter No scoring Third quarter PHI – Clyde Scott 49 yard pass from Adrian Burk, Bobby Walston kick (PHI 14–7) Fourth quarter PHI – Clyde Scott 28 yard pass from Adrian Burk, Bobby Walston kick (PHI 21–7) SF – Verl Lillywhite 11 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (PHI 21–14) Top passers SF – PHI – Top rushers SF – PHI – Top receivers SF – PHI – Top tacklers SF – PHI – Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 3: San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary Sunday, October 14 49ers 7 0 21 0 Steelers 0 10 0 14 Forbes Field, Pittsburgh 27,124 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Jim Cason 65 yard interception return, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) Second quarter PIT – Elbie Nickel 77 yard pass from Joe Geri, Joe Geri kick (TIE 7–7) PIT – Joe Geri 16 yard field goal (PIT 10–7) Third quarter SF – Jim Monachino 7 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14–10) SF – Joe Perry 4 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21–10) SF – Pete Schabarum 8 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 28–10) Fourth quarter PIT – Lynn Chandnois 8 yard pass from Ray Mathews, Joe Geri kick (SF 28–17) PIT – Elbie Nickel 22 yard pass from Ray Mathews, Joe Geri kick (SF 28–24) Top passers SF – PIT – Top rushers SF – PIT – Top receivers SF – Gordie Soltau 6 Rec, 120 Yds PIT – Top tacklers SF – PIT – Week 4: at Chicago Bears San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary Sunday, October 21 49ers 0 0 0 7 Bears 6 0 7 0 Wrigley Field, Chicago 42,296 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter LA – John Dottley 77 yard pass from Johnny Lujack, kick failed (CHI 6–0) Second quarter No scoring Third quarter CHI – Johnny Lujack 1 yard run, Johnny Lujack kick (CHI 13–0) Fourth quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 41 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (CHI 13–7) Top passers SF – CHI – Top rushers SF – CHI – John Dottley 16 Car, 112 Yds Top receivers SF – Gordie Soltau 8 Rec, 109 Yds, 1 TD CHI – Top tacklers SF – CHI – Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 5: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, October 28 Rams 3 7 7 0 49ers 10 28 0 6 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 49,538 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 23 yard field goal (SF 3–0) LA – Bob Waterfield 26 yard field goal (TIE 3–3) SF – Joe Arenas 2 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 10–3) Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 10 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–3) LA – Elroy Hirsch 79 yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield kick (SF 17–10) SF – Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24–10) SF – Leo Nomellini 20 yard blocked punt return, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 31–10) SF – Gordie Soltau 13 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 38–10) Third quarter LA – Dick Hoerner 12 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (SF 38–17) Fourth quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 48 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, kick failed (SF 44–17) Top passers LA – SF – Top rushers LA – SF – Top receivers LA – Elroy Hirsch 7 Rec, 163 Yds, 1 TD SF – Gordie Soltau 6 Rec, 132 Yds, 3 TDs Top tacklers LA – SF – Week 6: at Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary Sunday, November 4 49ers 0 7 6 3 Rams 10 3 0 10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 54,346 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter LA – Bob Waterfield 39 yard field goal (LA 3–0) LA – Bob Waterfield 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 10–0) Second quarter SF – Joe Perry 58 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (LA 10–7) LA – Bob Waterfield 20 yard field goal (LA 13–7) Third quarter SF – Frankie Albert 7 yard run, kick failed (TIE 13–13) Fourth quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 11 yard field goal (SF 16–13) LA – Elroy Hirsch 79 yard pass from Bob Waterfield, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 20–16) LA – Bob Waterfield 39 yard field goal (LA 23–16) Top passers SF – LA – Top rushers SF – Joe Perry 12 Car, 115 Yds, 1 TD LA – Top receivers SF – LA – Elroy Hirsch 4 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD Top tacklers SF – LA – Week 7: vs. New York Yanks San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 7: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, November 11 Yanks 0 14 0 0 49ers 7 0 3 9 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 36,571 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 5 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) Second quarter NYY – Buddy Young 1 yard run, Harvey Johnson kick (TIE 7–7) NYY – Dan Edwards 20 yard pass from Bob Celeri, Harvey Johnson kick (NYY 14–7) Third quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 19 yard field goal (NYY 14–10) Fourth quarter SF – Safety, Hamp Tanner tackled Bob Celeri in end zone (NYY 14–12) SF – Billy Wilson 7 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 19–14) Top passers NYY – SF – Top rushers NYY – SF – Top receivers NYY – SF – Top tacklers NYY – SF – Week 8: vs. Chicago Cardinals San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 8: Chicago Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, November 18 Cardinals 7 17 3 0 49ers 7 0 7 7 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 19,658 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter CHC – Charley Trippi 8 yard run, Cliff Patton kick (CHC 7–0) SF – Frankie Albert 4 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 7–7) Second quarter CHC – Elmer Angsman 80 yard pass from Charley Trippi, Cliff Patton kick (CHC 14–7) CHC – Don Paul 4 yard run, Cliff Patton kick (CHC 21–7) CHC – Cliff Patton 16 yard field goal (CHC 24–7) Third quarter SF – Frankie Albert 10 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (CHC 24–14) CHC – Cliff Patton 24 yard field goal (CHC 27–14) Fourth quarter SF – Pete Schabarum 14 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (CHC 27–21) Top passers CHC – SF – Top rushers CHC – SF – Top receivers CHC – SF – Gordie Soltau 8 Rec, 110 Yds Top tacklers CHC – SF – Week 9: at New York Yanks San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary Sunday, November 25 49ers 7 3 0 0 Yanks 0 0 0 10 Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York City 10,184 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Johnny Strzykalski 8 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 21 yard field goal (SF 10–0) Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter NYY – Sherman Howard 8 yard run, Harvey Johnson kick (SF 10–7) NYY – Harvey Johnson 23 yard field goal (TIE 10–10) Top passers SF – NYY – Top rushers SF – NYY – Top receivers SF – NYY – Top tacklers SF – NYY – Week 10: at Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary Sunday, December 2 49ers 6 0 7 7 Lions 0 3 7 0 Briggs Stadium, Detroit 46,467 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter SF – Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard run, kick failed (SF 6–0) Second quarter DET – Doak Walker 23 yard field goal (SF 6–3) Third quarter SF – Bill Jessup 23 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 13–3) DET – Dorne Dibble 30 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (SF 13–10) Fourth quarter SF – Joe Arenas 12 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 20–10) Top passers SF – DET – Top rushers SF – Joe Perry 22 Car, 126 Yds DET – Top receivers SF – DET – Top tacklers SF – DET – Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 11: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, December 9 Packers 3 10 6 0 49ers 3 7 7 14 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 15,121 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter GB – Fred Cone 20 yard field goal (GB 3–0) SF – Gordie Soltau 23 yard field goal (TIE 3–3) Second quarter GB – Fred Cone 37 yard field goal (GB 6–3) SF – Joe Arenas 7 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 10–6) GB – Ray Pelfrey 3 yard pass from Tobin Rote, Fred Cone kick (GB 13–10) Third quarter SF – Joe Arenas 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17–13) GB – Carl Elliott 11 yard pass from Tobin Rote, kick failed (GB 19–17) Fourth quarter SF – Jim Monachino 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24–19) SF – Gordie Soltau 9 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gail Bruce pass from Frankie Albert (SF 31–19) Top passers DET – SF – Top rushers DET – SF – Top receivers DET – SF – Top tacklers DET – SF – Week 12: vs. Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers 1951 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 12: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary Sunday, December 16 Lions 3 7 7 0 49ers 0 14 0 7 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco 27,276 Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter DET – Pat Harder 13 yard field goal (DET 3–0) Second quarter DET – Pat Harder 1 yard run, Doak Walker kick (DET 10–0) SF – Billy Wilson 31 yard pass from Joe Perry, Gordie Soltau kick (DET 10–7) SF – Gordie Soltau 27 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14–10) Third quarter DET – Leon Hart 28 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (DET 17–14) Fourth quarter SF – Y. A. Tittle 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21–17) Top passers DET – SF – Top rushers DET – SF – Top receivers DET – SF – Top tacklers DET – SF – Standings Roster 1951 San Francisco 49ers final roster Quarterbacks 63 Frankie Albert P 64 Y. A. Tittle Running backs 82 Joe Arenas y 81 Verl Lillywhite P/OLB 99 Jim Monachino y 74 Joe Perry American football 88 Pete Schabarum 75 Bishop Strickland y 91 Johnny Strzykalski Receivers 53 Alyn Beals DE 55 Bill Jessup y 51 Gordy Soltau K 58 Billy Wilson wide receiver y Linemen 33 Bruno Banducci G/MG 54 Gail Bruce DE 45 Al Carapella y DT 43 Ray Collins American football DT 37 Nick Feher y G 34 Visco Grgich MG/G 47 Ed Henke DE 23 Bill Johnson center C 42 Leo Nomellini T/DT 39 Dave Sparks y G 46 Hamp Tanner y T/DT Linebackers 73 Hardy Brown MLB 38 Don Burke American football OLB/G 62 Jim Powers American football OLB/CB 72 Norm Standlee OLB/FB 22 Pete Wismann OLB/C Defensive backs 83 Rex Berry y CB 93 Jim Cason S 92 Lowell Wagner CB 85 Bob White halfback y CB/RB Reserve list -- Howie Livingston CB (Military) 59 Alex Lloyd WR (IR) 7px -- Clay Matthews Sr. T (Military) 52 Hal Shoener DE/WR (IR) 7px rookies in italics Pro Bowl San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl: Player PositionJim Cason Defensive backRay Collins Defensive lineLeo Nomellini Defensive lineGordie Soltau Wide receiver References External links 1951 49ers on Pro Football Reference SHRP Sports San Francisco 49ers Category:San Francisco 49ers seasons Category:1951 in sports in California Category:1950s in San Francisco