From 1981-1998
Bryan Knowles of Football Outsiders has been publishing his analysis-based rankings of all the dynasties in the history of the NFL. Using a dynasty points scale, DVOA, and a number of qualifying seasons and championships won. The San Francisco 49ers were always going to be on this list, but how high? The New England Patriots from 2001-2019 were first. The Niners from 1981-1998 were second, according to Knowles analysis.
Knowles goes down memory lane on how Paul Brown did not want Bill Walsh to become a head coach in the NFL. Brown gave Walsh terrible reviews when Walsh was with the Bengals as an offensive assistant for nearly a decade. Knowles also touched on how the west coact offense benefited from the rule changes in 1978 that prevented defensive backs from mugging receivers, which, in turn, opened up the short passing game.
Knowles is a 49ers fan at heart and said the most impressive part about the 49ers isn’t the five Super Bowls; it’s the continuity:
Every other team on this countdown has at least a few key personnel in common the entire time — a legendary head coach, an all-world quarterback, a two-way superstar. But the 49ers are a dynasty in the classical sense — a succession of rulers, keeping the reign going long after the founders have left. So Walsh begat George Seifert, who begat Steve Mariucci. Montana gave way to Young. Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon became Jerry Rice, and John Taylor became
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