Y.A. Tittle, the subject of one of the most indelible images in NFL history and a member of the 49ers' famed "Million Dollar Backfield," died Monday in his native Texas at age 90.
Funny, vivacious and stubborn, Tittle spent 10 seasons in San Francisco during the 1950s, playing under coaches like Buck Shaw, Frankie Albert and Red Hickey and teaming with famous 49ers like Joe Perry, John Henry Johnston, R.C Owens and Leo Nomellini.
He, Owens and quarterback John Brodie invented one of the great sports phrases during a practice in 1957 when they decided they needed to name the oddball -- but effective -- play that the high-leaping Owens kept making in practice.