By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
During the opening weeks of the season, sons of former San Francisco 49ers were instrumental in leading their respective teams to victory. Joe Montana’s son Nick led Oaks Christian to a 35-7 victory over Bakersfield Christian, Tim McDonald’s son Tim J. led Edison to a 69-10 victory over Madera and Jerry Rice’s son Jerry Rice Jr. led Menlo School to a 21-17 win over Hamilton.
These heroics prompted us to consider the remarkable achievements of San Francisco 49er alumni offspring. Here’s a look at our list of the top 10 former 49ers and their athletic progeny.
10. Riki Ellison – Rhett Ellison
Riki Ellison, who was known as Riki Gray early in his career, joined the 49ers in 1983 and played on three Super Bowl teams. He also played on a national championship team at USC, where he was an All-Pac-10 linebacker. His son, Rhett, graduated from Saint Francis of Mountain View in 2007 where he earned all-league honors in the West Catholic Athletic League. He is currently a freshman tight end for the USC Trojans.
9. Brent Jones – Courtney Jones
Playing a different type of football, Courtney Jones emerged as one of the top soccer players in the country during her years at Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif. The daughter of former 49er tight end Brent Jones, Courtney was a two-time NSCAA high school All-American in soccer and was twice named the Cal-Hi Sports player of the year. She is currently a member of the North Carolina Tarheels women’s soccer team.
8. Jerry Rice – Jerry Rice Jr.
As holder of nearly every NFL career passing record, Jerry Rice had more than his fair share of game-winning touchdowns for the 49ers during his 20-year career, 16 of those years with San Francisco. His son, Jerry Jr., has learned well from his father as he had a 35-yard touchdown run in the final minute to give Menlo the win in a season-opening victory over Hamilton two weeks ago. Rice was named the Bay League’s Utility Player of the Year last season.
7. Roger Craig – Rogdrick, Rometra, Damesha Craig
Roger Craig has five children with many of them making their mark in athletics. Oldest daughter Damesha was a track standout at St. Francis before heading to UCLA as a sprinter. Rometra was the USA Today California Player of the Year after helping lead Archbishop Mitty to a state championship in basketball. She later played two years at Duke before transferring to finish her college basketball career at USC. She is also a six-time national champion in Tae Kwon Do. Rogdrick was a member of the Texas Tech basketball team last year. He started his high school career at Valley Christian in San Jose, but transferred to Westchester for his senior year. Roger Craig played on three Super Bowl teams with the 49ers and was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.
6. Tim McDonald – Tim McDonald, Jr.
Tim McDonald Jr. has emerged as one of the top high school safeties in the country during his senior year at Edison High School in Fresno, Calif. He follows in the footsteps of his father, who is also his coach, Tim McDonald, who played on the 49ers during the 1995 Super Bowl season after starting his career with the Cardinals. McDonald Sr. began his football career as an All-American safety at Edison High School in the 1980s before playing college football at USC and enjoying a 13-year NFL career. Tim Jr. was an All-Fresno Area player as a junior and has committed to play at USC next year. Tim Jr.’s brother Tevin is a junior safety at Edison.
5. Joe Montana – Nate, Nick Montana
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has a pair of sons, both of whom play quarterback. Nate Montana was a backup quarterback for De La Salle last year on the Spartans’ CIF Division 1 championship team. He is currently a walk-on quarterback at his father’s college alma mater – Notre Dame. Nick, a junior, transferred from De La Salle to Oaks Christian over the summer and has already led the Lions to a pair of wins while throwing five touchdown passes in the two games combined.
4. Ronnie Lott – Ryan Nece
Ryan Nece is in his seventh season in the NFL, playing the first six years at Tampa Bay before signing with the Detroit Lions late last month. The son of 49er Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, Nece played at UCLA where he was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 pick at linebacker.
3. Wendell Tyler – Marc Tyler
Wendell Tyler helped shore up the 49ers running game en route to a victory over Miami in Super Bowl XIX. Tyler played four seasons with the 49ers after starting his career with the Los Angeles Rams. Tyler also had a stellar career at UCLA in the mid-1970s. Son Marc was an All-American at Oaks Christian and was ranked as one of the top high school running backs in the country in 2006 and was the Gatorade California Player of the Year. He is a redshirt freshman at USC.
2. Bubba Paris – David, Courtney, Ashley Paris
A starting tackle for the 49ers in three Super Bowls, Paris has had three children play basketball at the major college level. Twin daughters Courtney and Ashley led Piedmont High School to consecutive state basketball championships in 2004 and 2005 with Courtney earning national player of the year honors as a senior. Courtney was also the AP college player of the year as a sophomore at Oklahoma, becoming the first sophomore to ever achieve the feat. Ashley also plays at Oklahoma. David Paris helped lead Modesto Christian to the state basketball finals in 2001 and played at California for two seasons as a reserve on the men’s basketball team.
1. Manu Tuiasosopo – Marques, Zach, Matt Tuiasosopo
A member of the 49er defensive line during the 1985 Super Bowl season, Tuiasosopo has three sons, all of whom play professional sports. Marques is in his seventh season as a backup quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, after a standout career at the University of Washington. Zach Tuiasosopo is a fullback who has played for four NFL teams since graduating from Washington. In high school at Woodinville, Wash., Zach was ranked as one of the top linebackers in the country his senior year. Matt Tuiasosopo graduated from Woodinville in 2004 and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. He recently had his first Major League base hit in a game against the New York Yankees on Sept. 5.
