All-Time 49ers QBs Ranked: Montana #1, Young #2

Bob Waters

#11 · San Francisco 49ers
Retired 4 Years In The NFL
Bob's
HAIR
6.3
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Bob Waters or the 49ers?

Bob Waters Legacy

HEYTC AI
Bob Waters was the heartbeat of Western Carolina football, a towering Georgia native who traded his brief 49ers stint for 20 years transforming the Catamounts into a Division I powerhouse, racking up a school-record 116 wins and 13 winning seasons while doubling as athletic director to fuel the program's golden era. What set him apart? That unrelenting grit, coaching through the Southern Conference grind with a charisma that packed stands in Cullowhee and built lifelong loyalty. His signature? Elevating a small-school squad to national respect, all before ALS sidelined him too soon. Waters passed in 1989 at 50, leaving an indelible legacy of leadership and love for the game.
Bob Waters passed away on May 29, 1989 at the age of 50.

Bob Waters Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Non-Factor
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
4 years with the 49ers

Bob Waters Career Stats via Wikipedia

707 Pass Yards
3 Touchdowns
8 INTs
0.0% Comp %
6.3 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Bob Waters

How does Brock Purdy compare to Bob Waters?

Brock Purdy's lighting up Candlestick with 4,000-yard seasons and playoff heroics dwarfs Bob Waters' four-year 49ers stint—707 yards, 3 TDs, a 37.8 rating that screams 1960s grit but zero staying power. Purdy's the face of a dynasty; Waters a forgotten backup who couldn't crack the depth chart. Legacy? Purdy's etching rings, Waters etching trivia questions.

Is Bob Waters in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Bob Waters never sniffed Canton—zero bust, zero gold jacket, just a four-year 49ers journeyman with 707 yards and 3 TDs before fading away. Hall of Fame's for ring-kissers and stat monsters, not guys who threw 8 picks in an era when leather helmets felt generous. Solid pro, but no plaque.

How would Bob Waters perform in today's NFL?

Waters' arm—707 yards, 47.7% completion in the stone age—might get a slight boost from no-touchdown pads and nickel defenses, but he'd be lucky to back up a third-stringer today. Quick drops? Sure. But reading Cover 2 blitzes at 300 pounds per lineman? He'd be holding a clipboard by Week 3, praying for Y.A. Tittle's old playbook.

How does Bob Waters compare to Joe Montana?

Joe Montana's 85.15 rating and five rings turned the 49ers into royalty; Waters' 6.32 passer rating over four forgettable seasons was like bringing a slingshot to a Super Bowl. Both Niner QBs, sure, but Montana sculpted eras—Waters barely warmed the bench in the '60s mud. Apples to gravel.