What if we said that one of the San Francisco 49ers' top priorities is re-signing Phil Dawson this offseason?
Loath to admit as so many fans likely are, reliable place-kicking has been a necessity for the 49ers over the past few seasons.
Since head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived three years ago, no team has attempted more field goals than San Francisco’s 130. That includes leading the NFL with 52 in 2011 and 42 in 2012.
David Akers earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors with a league-record 44 made field goals in 2011. He converted all four attempts in the playoffs that year and was a legitimate team MVP for the 49ers.
Akers regrettably crashed and burned the following campaign. He missed more field goals than any other kicker (13). His conversion rate was a dismal 69 percent. But in true throwback fashion, Akers rebounded miraculously in the postseason. He misfired on just one attempt and, most significantly, connected on all three tries in Super Bowl XLVII.
Dawson then signed with the 49ers as a free agent in 2013. The esteemed veteran quickly established his high-accuracy reputation after some initial stumbles.
He made a franchise-record 27 consecutive field goals from Weeks 5 to 17. Even more crucial during that span were his two game-winners.
Dawson first helped San Francisco reassert itself over the archrival Seattle Seahawks on December 8. His 22-yarder ensured a season-series tie and kept the 49ers in the divisional hunt.
Three weeks later, Dawson sealed the team’s No. 5 playoff berth versus the Arizona Cardinals.
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