Dec. 22, 1985

Coach Bill Walsh knows how fortunate the 49ers are to have a versatile and talented fullback lining up in the backfield behind Joe Montana. "Roger Craig is a great player," Walsh says. "He's been the key to our success this year."

Craig becomes the first player in NFL history to exceed 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a season. In San Francisco's 31-16 victory over Dallas at home, Craig breaks the 1,000-yard rushing mark on a 13-yard gain in the first quarter and goes past 1,000 yards receiving when he catches a 15-yard swing pass from Montana in the third quarter.

"When you get that close to a record, people begin to worry about when you are going to break it," Craig says. "I was conscious of the record in the game, but I was concentrating more on the things it would take to win."

Like carrying two Cowboys into the end zone on a four-yard run in the third quarter, the touchdown giving the 49ers a 17-16 lead. In the victory, which enables San Francisco to gain the playoffs as a wild card at 10-6, Craig rushes 13 times for 72 yards, boosting his season total to 1,050, and catches five passes for 50 yards, giving him 1,016 receiving.