# 1951 San Francisco 49ers season

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 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: |}

## 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 |

## 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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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

| 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
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 :
| viewtalkedit | 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 |