1951 San Francisco 49ers season

1951 San Francisco 49ers season
Owner	Tony Morabito
General manager	John Blackinger
Head coach	Buck Shaw
Home field	Kezar Stadium
Results
Record	7–4–1
Division place	T–2nd NFL National
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

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

Main article: 1951 NFL draft

1951 San Francisco 49ers draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	3	Y. A. Tittle * ^†	Quarterback	LSU	Former Baltimore Colts player
2	17	Pete Schabarum	Halfback	California
3	28	Bill Mixon	Halfback	Georgia	began play with 49ers in 1953.
5	53	Dick Steere	Guard	Drake
5	54	Al Carapella *	Tackle	Miami (FL)
6	64	Bishop Strickland	Halfback	South Carolina
7	75	Dick Forbes	End	St. Ambrose
8	89	Joe Arenas	Halfback	Omaha
9	100	Bruce Van Alstyne	End	Stanford
10	112	Nick Feher	Guard	Georgia
11	126	Bill Jessup	End	USC
12	137	Jim Monachino	Halfback	Stanford
13	148	Dick Harvin	End	Georgia Tech
14	162	Rex Berry	Defensive back	BYU
15	173	Dave Sparks	Guard	South Carolina
16	184	Bob White	Halfback	Stanford
17	198	Art Michalik	Guard	St. Ambrose
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	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
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Source:^[1] |}

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	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	W 24–7	2–1	Archbold Stadium	18,000
4	September 12	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	10,000

^[2]

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	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

Week 1: Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	7	0	3	0	10
49ers	7	3	7	7	24

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, September 30
• Game attendance: 48,263
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	0	0	7	14
Eagles	7	0	7	7	21

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia

• Date: Sunday, October 7
• Game attendance: 23,827
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 3: San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	0	21	0	28
Steelers	0	10	0	14	24

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh

• Date: Sunday, October 14
• Game attendance: 27,124
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	7	7
Bears	6	0	7	0	13

at Wrigley Field, Chicago

• Date: Sunday, October 21
• Game attendance: 42,296
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 5: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	3	7	7	0	17
49ers	10	28	0	6	44

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, October 28
• Game attendance: 49,538
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	7	6	3	16
Rams	10	3	0	10	23

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

• Date: Sunday, November 4
• Game attendance: 54,346
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 7: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Yanks	0	14	0	0	14
49ers	7	0	3	9	19

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, November 11
• Game attendance: 36,571
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 8: Chicago Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	7	17	3	0	27
49ers	7	0	7	7	21

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, November 18
• Game attendance: 19,658
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	3	0	0	10
Yanks	0	0	0	10	10

at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York City

• Date: Sunday, November 25
• Game attendance: 10,184
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information
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

Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	6	0	7	7	20
Lions	0	3	7	0	10

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit

• Date: Sunday, December 2
• Game attendance: 46,467
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	3	10	6	0	19
49ers	3	7	7	14	31

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, December 9
• Game attendance: 15,121
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

Week 12: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	3	7	7	0	17
49ers	0	14	0	7	21

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco

• Date: Sunday, December 16
• Game attendance: 27,276
• Pro-Football-Reference.com ^[3]

Game information

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

NFL National Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams	8	4	0	.667	7–2	392	261	W1
San Francisco 49ers	7	4	1	.636	5–2–1	255	205	W3
Detroit Lions	7	4	1	.636	5–4–1	336	259	L1
Chicago Bears	7	5	0	.583	6–2	286	282	L1
Green Bay Packers	3	9	0	.250	1–8	254	375	L7
New York Yanks	1	9	2	.100	1–7–2	241	382	L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Pro Bowl

San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl:

Player	Position
Jim Cason	Defensive back
Ray Collins	Defensive line
Leo Nomellini	Defensive line
Gordie Soltau	Wide receiver

References

1. "1951 San Francisco 49ers Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
2. "1951 San Francisco 49ers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
3. San Francisco 49ers 2008 Media Guide. San Francisco 49ers. p. 269.

External links

• 1951 49ers on Pro Football Reference
• SHRP Sports