Y.A. Tittle

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Tittle was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1948 and joined the 49ers via a dispersal draft after the Baltimore Colts folded. He shared time at quarterback with Frankie Albert in 1951 and 1952. In 1953, his first full season as the 49ers' starter, he passed for 2,121 yards and 20 touchdowns, was invited to his first Pro Bowl, and San Francisco finished with a 9–3 regular season record, second in the Western Conference and leading the league in points scored. In 1954, the 49ers compiled their Million Dollar Backfield, composed of four future Hall of Famers: Tittle; fullbacks John Henry Johnson and Joe Perry; and halfback Hugh McElhenny. Tittle later said, "It made quarterbacking so easy because I just get in the huddle and call anything and you have three Hall of Fame running backs ready to carry the ball." Injuries, including McElhenny's separated shoulder in the sixth game, ended championship hopes and the 49ers finished third in the Western Division. Tittle starred in his second straight Pro Bowl, throwing two touchdown passes. Otto Graham was the first NFL player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in October 1954; Tittle later appeared on the cover of the November 22, 1954 issue, wearing his 49ers uniform and helmet with an acrylic face mask. The cover was the first of four Sports Illustrated covers he graced during his career. In 1957, Tittle and receiver R. C. Owens devised a pass play where Tittle tossed the ball high into the air and the 6 ft 3 in Owens leapt to retrieve it. Tittle dubbed the play the "alley-oop"—the first usage of the term in sports. The 49ers finished the regular season with an 8–4 record and hosted the Detroit Lions in the Western Conference playoff. Against the Lions, Tittle passed for 248 yards and tossed three touchdown passes—one each to Owens, McElhenny, and Billy Wilson—but Detroit overcame a 20-point third quarter deficit to win 31–27.

In Their Own Story

The 1957 Western Conference playoff against the Detroit Lions was the biggest game of Tittle's 49ers career. San Francisco had finished the regular season 8–4, and Tittle had been named NFL Player of the Year by the United Press. In the playoff, he passed for 248 yards and threw three touchdown passes—one to R.C. Owens, one to Hugh McElhenny, and one to Billy Wilson. The 49ers built a 20-point lead in the third quarter. But Detroit stormed back, erasing the deficit to win 31–27. The loss ended San Francisco's season and kept Tittle from reaching the NFL Championship game with the 49ers. He would be traded to the Giants following the 1960 season.

Reader's Guide

Tittle's decade with the 49ers (1951–1960) saw him lead the league in touchdown passes in 1955 with 17, though he also led the league with 28 interceptions thrown that year. In 1956, after the 49ers hired Frankie Albert as head coach, the team lost four of its first five games, and Albert replaced Tittle with rookie Earl Morrall. After a loss to the Los Angeles Rams brought San Francisco's record to 1–6, Tittle regained the starting role and the team finished undefeated with one tie through the season's final five games. Tittle was part of the 49ers' famed Million Dollar Backfield in 1954, alongside future Hall of Famers John Henry Johnson, Joe Perry, and Hugh McElhenny. He also developed the "alley-oop" play with receiver R.C. Owens in 1957, a high-arcing pass that Owens would leap to catch. Tittle appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on November 22, 1954, the first professional football player to do so. He was named the NFL Player of the Year by the United Press in 1957. After the 1960 season, considered washed-up at age 34, Tittle was traded to the New York Giants.

Did You Know?

• Tittle was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1948 and joined the 49ers via a dispersal draft after the Baltimore Colts folded.
• Otto Graham was the first NFL player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, appearing in October 1954; Tittle later appeared on the November 22, 1954 issue.
• Tittle is credited with having coined 'alley-oop' as a sports term, naming the high-arcing pass he threw to receiver R.C. Owens in 1957.
• In 1953, his first full season as the 49ers' starter, Tittle passed for 2,121 yards and 20 touchdowns and led the team to a 9–3 record, second in the Western Conference.
• Tittle was part of the 49ers' Million Dollar Backfield in 1954, alongside three other future Hall of Famers: John Henry Johnson, Joe Perry, and Hugh McElhenny.